Minerals and Your Health
There’s a direct correlation between mineral deficiencies and illness
or disease. Dr. Linus Pauling, the winner of two Nobel Prizes in
Medicine, believes that every sickness, every disease and every ailment
can be traced to a mineral deficiency. Deficiencies are largely
believed to be rare in our society, when in fact they are really very
common. For example: the average American diet provides only 40%
of the RDA of Magnesium, leading authorities estimate 80% of the
population is deficient in magnesium, 68% of the population receive
less than 2/3 RDA of Zinc, 80% of the population is deficient in
chromium.
We should obtain balanced levels of minerals and vitamins from our
food, but this does not occur because our food is stripped of its
nutrients in processing ando ur food is grown in soil that is depleted
of minerals and vitamins. Soil is destroyed with chemical
fertilizers, insecticides, overuse of soil, etc., which makes our
society more deficient everyday.
Minerals work as building blocks for our bones, muscles, teeth, nerves,
connective tissue and body fluids. They are cofactors to enzymes
that speed up the biochemical reactions required by the body to
function effectively and are also cofactors with vitamins. Each
vitamin needs a specific one to make it work. Vitamins can’t be
utilized if minerals are not present. Therefore, if you’re taking
vitamin supplementation without the proper mineral balance in your
body, it is useless.
Minerals are necessary for every biochemical process and activity of
the body. They are responsible for maintaining the (pH) balance of the
body, proper cellular metabolism, nerve conduction, muscle function,
organ function, hormonal secretion of glands, digestive competence.
They are also necessary for activation and utilization of amino acids,
carbohydrates, enzymes, fats, oils, phytochemicals, proteins, sugars,
and vitamins, providing nutrients into our cells, and removing wastes
from all cells, tissues, fluids, glands and organs. They provide
structure and function for the hair, skin, nails and five senses.
They are essential to the anti-oxidation process and protect us from
toxic heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium, aluminum, arsenic, and
lead.
If minerals are not present in the body in adequate amounts, the body
will find alternative pathways to use, which are less efficient, and
this will lead to chemistry imbalances, which leads to deterioration in
the organs, glands and body systems. The result will be poor
health and degenerative health conditions.
Most of us know that osteoporosis is linked to a deficiency in calcium,
but most are not aware that diabetes and hypoglycemia are connected to
chromium, and vanadium and that cancer and heart disease are connected
to selenium and copper. Anxiety and depression are linked to
selenium, magnesium and many others. Muscle pain and spasms are
connected to magnesium.
The list of symptoms that can develop as a result of
deficiency is vast, but here are some of the most common:
Depression
Thyroid disorders
Compromised immune function
Liver dysfunction or not functioning optimally
Anxiety
Hypertension
Headaches
Migraines
Insomnia,
Stroke
Arthritis
Hypoglycemia
Diabetes,
Cancer
Osteoporosis
Arteriosclerosis
High cholesterol
Fatigue
PMS
Binging/cravings food
Obsessions
Muscle pain/spasms
Asthma
Heart disease
Candida overgrowth
Irregular heartbeat
Cancer
In more serious cases, even an unexpected sudden onset of death, which
is often unexplained.
Two Types
There are two types of minerals. Macro and Trace. The body
needs larger amounts of macro and a small amount of trace.
Macro may consist of:
Calcium
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Sodium
Potassium
Chloride
Sulphur
Trace may include:
Manganese
Iron
Copper
Iodine
Zinc
Cobalt
Selenium
Boron
Chromium
Molybdenum
Minerals are the cornerstones to good health. They are essential
for all prevention and treatment programs. It is important
to work with a physician knowledgeable in this area and not treat
yourself, because supplements should be highly absorbable, balanced and
individualized. The symptoms of mineral deficiency overlap with
many other illness symptoms and it will be necessary to rule out or in
other factors that may need addressed.
The average M.D. or even Nutritionist is not educated in the facts
about soil depletion and the epidemic of nutritional deficiencies in
our society. An orthomolecular doctor, doctor of environmental
medicine or a clinical ecologist would be a good choice.
Treating yourself with random supplementation can cause problems,
because too much of a particular mineral can create illness or disease
as well. They need to be balanced and individualized to meet your
specific needs. Some need to be taken in conjunction with others
to work properly or taking one without another can cause a deficiency
in another area.
Blood tests can be taken to determine which minerals and vitamins you
need and how much. These are not the basic tests the average MD
would use. A doctor with a biochemical, nutritional approach
would be educated about which tests are necessary and guide you in the
proper direction.
Some information on this web site has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information on this web site or in emails is designed for educational purposes only and should not
be taken as professional medical advice. I am not a medical doctor and this information is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. With all medical conditions consult a qualified medical professional.
Web site and all
contents
© Copyright Cynthia
Perkins
2007, All rights reserved.
