When dinosaurs roamed the earth 70 million years ago, they likely walked on soil abundant with minerals. Plants and fruits likely contained at least 77 minerals, which became water-soluble as they transmuted through the root system to become part of a luscious, succulent, vibrant and life-sustaining source of food. Plant-derived minerals have been encapsulated in the earth as a pure food since that time. Our bodies need a steady stream of minerals – many in trace amounts – to function properly.
Of the 90 nutrients essential to human health, the minerals (as opposed to the vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids) comprise 60 out of 90. Dr. Wallach tells us that for every nutrient we go without for a sustained amount of time we become subject to, on average, 10 separate, degenerative diseases. Do the math and you quickly understand how important it is to know what minerals your body needs.
Plants can manufacture vitamins, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, fatty acids, fibre, etc., but they cannot manufacture minerals. They must get the minerals they need and we need from the soil they grow in. Our diets are impoverished and our health put at risk due to the impoverishment of our range and crop soils. In today’s world of low nutrient content foods, processed food and high carbohydrate diets it is essential that we eat the right foods to obtain the minerals and vitamins our bodies require to optimism itself.
Essential Trace Minerals and their functions:
Iodine
Essential for healthy thyroid function due to the role it plays in the production of thyroid hormones. In this role, it is helps regulate metabolism and energy production in the body, as well as cellular oxidation. Since thyroid hormones plays a role in all body functions, iodine is of vital importance to overall health.
Calcium
It is vital for building strong bones and teeth
Hydrogen
Essential to the production of the body’s principal energy source, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This element is the source of protons necessary for ATP production.
Phosphorus
It is found in every cell of the body, but mainly in the bones and teeth. Phosphorus also helps form DNA and RNA, catalyzes B-complex vitamins, and is involved in cellular communication and numerous enzymatic reactions. It also helps produce energy and increase endurance.
Nitrogen
Plays an important role in digestion of food and growth
Oxygen
Oxygen breaks down sugars into carbon dioxide and water. Highly metabolically active tissues such as the brain, kidney, and heart, require large amounts of chemical energy to maintain normal function. Oxygen and glucose are the sources.
Carbon
The carbon atom is perfect to build big biological molecules. The carbon atom can be thought of as a basic building block.
Sodium
Helps maintain the body’s fluid balance in and out the cells. In so doing it regulates the body’s acid-base balance. It also helps transport carbon dioxide, and plays a role in muscle contraction and nerve transmission. In addition, sodium is involved in the production of hydrochloric acid, and helps transport amino acids into the bloodstream to all the cells of the body
Fluoride
Essential for healthy bone and tooth formation as it helps the body retain calcium.
Chromium
An essential component of glucose tolerance factor (GTF), which enhances insulin function, making it essential for proper carbohydrate metabolism and regulating blood sugar levels. By improving how glucose is transported into the cells, chromium and GTF are also important for energy production. Research suggests that chromium may also be useful for regulating body cholesterol levels.
Cadmium
It is thought to be involved with metabolic activities.
Palladium
Serves primarily as a transport mechanism to significantly improve the uptake of lipoic acid, while also having an effect on the electrical potential of the cell.
Aluminum
t is now thought to be involved in the action of a small number of enzymes.
Nickel
Some scientists believe that nickel affects hormones, cell membranes, and chemicals called enzymes.
Silicon
Used with calcium to grow and maintain strong bones. It is also important to the formation of connective tissues such as ligaments and tendons. Silicon is also important for the growth of hair, skin, and fingernails.
Vanadium
Involved with helping the body convert some foods into energy. This element is also thought to help bones and teeth form properly.
Lanthanum
A natural mineral that works by holding on phosphate from the diet so that it can pass out of your body.
Gallium
Inhibits the body’s production of a major chemical messenger called interleukin-6 beta that promotes inflammation.
Rubidium
The human body tends to treat Rb+ ions as if they were potassium ions, and therefore concentrates rubidium in the body’s electrolytic fluid.
Indium
May enhance the absorption of all other minerals in a healthful matter. It may also help the healthy mineralization of organs.
Cobalt
As well as being a component of cobalamin (vitamin B12), it plays an essential role in the production of red blood cells, and is involved in a number of enzymatic reactions.
Copper
It aids in the manufacture of collagen and hemoglobin, and, along with iron, is necessary for the synthesis of oxygen in red blood cells. It also acts as an antioxidant, increases iron absorption, and serves as a catalyst for a variety of enzymatic reactions.
Iron
Its primary function is the manufacture of hemoglobin, which is integral to the transport of oxygen throughout the body. Iron is also essential for healthy immune function and energy production.
Manganese
Essential for proper brain function and the overall health of the nervous system. It also helps metabolize proteins and carbohydrates, and is required for cholesterol and fatty acid synthesis, as well as collagen formation.
Molybdenum
Necessary for the body’s proper utilization of iron, and aids in metabolizing carbohydrates. It also helps the body detoxify potentially toxic sulfites commonly used to preserve food. Molybdenum is an essential trace element with low potential for toxicity.
Selenium
An important antioxidant capable of performing many of the same antioxidant functions as vitamin E, including protecting cellular membranes from free radical damage, and minimizing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Selenium also aids liver function, assists in the manufacture of proteins, helps neutralize heavy metals and other toxic substances, and acts as an anti-carcinogen.
Sulphur
A necessary nutrient for collagen formation, and is involved in the synthesis of protein. Sulfur helps maintain the health of hair, skin, and nails. It also plays a role in a number of enzymatic reactions, and contributes to the process of cellular respiration.
Zinc
Necessary for the proper function of over 200 enzymatic reactions in the body. It also acts as a potent antioxidant and detoxifier, and is essential for growth and development, healthy body tissues, regulation of insulin, and proper immune function. As well, zinc plays a vital role in cellular membrane structure and function, and helps maintain adequate levels of vitamin A in the body.
Magnesium
Acts as a muscle relaxant in the body, and is involved in hundreds of enzymatic reactions. Magnesium is an important nutrient for the heart, especially in preventing spasms of the coronary arteries, which can cause heart attacks. It is also needed for energy production, the maintenance and repair of cells, healthy cell division, proper nerve transmission, hormone regulation, and the metabolism of proteins and nucleic acids.
Chloride
An essential part of hydrochloric acid (HCl), a vital stomach digestive acid, and also plays a role in regulating the body’s acid-balance. It is also useful in helping the liver eliminate toxins, and for transporting carbon dioxide to the lungs for excretion.
Lithium
Enhances moods and alters the electrolyte balance in the brain.
Beryllium
Supplies both the body’s need for oxygenation and for vital trace nutrients to feed the cells.
Boron
Influences calcium and magnesium metabolism. Boron is thought to be useful to increase muscle mass, increase muscle strength, maintain bone density, improve calcium absorption, and decrease body fat.
Copper
Helps your body utilize iron, reduces tissue damage, and is important in helping the body form strong connective tissues
Chromium
Enhances the effects of insulin, a hormone necessary for metabolism and storage of protein and carbohydrates.
Zinc
Is important for normal growth, sexual development, strong immunity, and wound healing.
Germanium
Attaches itself to oxygen molecules making our bodies more effective at getting oxygen to the tissues in our body. The increased supply of oxygen in our bodies helps to improve our immune system. It also helps the body excrete harmful toxins.
Trace Minerals: Working Together For Optimum Health
bromine, antimony, silver, ruthenium, rhodium tellurium, scandium, titanium, cesium, barium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, hafnium, tantalum, tungsten, rhenium, osmium, iridium, platinum, gold, mercury, thallium, lead, bismuth, polonium, astatine, francium, radium, actinium, thorium, protactinium, rubidium, strontium, yttrium, zirconium, niobium uranium, tin, neptunium and plutonium.
The ions of the trace minerals function by maintaining the body system at a cellular level. They promote balanced electrolytes, maintain your body in homeostasis, maintain fluids, and replenish your supply of electrolytes when you perspire excessively. As well, these trace minerals perform a number of other important functions: help regulate body water content, absorption of food particles through the intestinal tract, assisting in the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in your body, promoting vascular health, regulating your sleep, and promoting a healthy pH balance in your cells, mainly your brain cells.
Please note: This article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Results may vary from individual to individual.
