Minerals, Trace Minerals, & Mineral Supplements, for Health and Longevity
Of all of the nutritional supplements, I feel that minerals and mineral supplements are the most important. Why? If you examine the lifestyle and environment of the people who live very long lives, you will notice that most of them live in primitive environments, have limited food choices (they only eat the food they grow, no processed, packaged, or junk foods) and are generally free of many of the stresses of modern life.
One thing they also have in common is water and foodstuffs with very high mineral content. The soils may be volcanic, glacial or marine in origin but the mineral content is very high. The same applies to their drinking water. A typical water from these mountain locations may have total dissolved solids over 1000 ppm. compared to 100 ppm. in my neighborhood. In the Hunza valley, they call the turbid, silty runoff from the glaciers "glacial milk" and the natives prefer it over the clear well water believing that it gives them good health. Many of them remain healthy and active for well over 100 years.
Our minerals come from food and water which get their minerals from the soil. The mineral content of the soil has been severely depleted by agriculture, especially poorly practiced agriculture, and erosion from deforestation. Farmers replace certain key macro minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that stimulate plant growth. They only replace trace minerals when their deficiencies are affecting crop production. Crops are grown for yield, not for maximum mineral content.
Foodstuffs grown on mineral rich soils have a higher mineral content, a higher natural sugar content and superior flavor. Some astute growers use a refractometer to monitor the health and nutritional status of their crops. A drop of juice squeezed on the refractometer lens will give a direct reading of the index of refraction of the juice which is determined primarily by the sugar content. This information then gives the grower a direct indication of the status of the crop in terms of the ripeness, mineral availability, and general health.
In addition to food crops that are deficient in mineral content, we loose additional minerals from food processing. One of the advantages of white flour over whole wheat flour is its superior shelf life. Whole wheat flour spoils quickly because it contains all the nutrients that support life and the bacteria, fungi, and rodents can tell the difference. White flour has had the germ and bran removed and with them much of the essential nutrition. You get the calories without the vitamins and minerals needed to metabolize them into vibrant energy. Vitamins and minerals are lost in food processing, storage and distribution as well.
This concept of mineral deficient soils and foods leading to mineral deficient humans with undesirable consequences is not a new one. United States Senate document 264 from 1936 expressed grave concern over the demineralized state of agricultural soils. Click Here to see some quotes from this document.
Farm animals exhibit a behavior called 'pica' when their bodies are deficient in minerals. They may chew fence posts, eat dirt or feces and other unorthodox materials in an attempt to obtain the missing minerals. After an appropriate mineral supplement the behavior ceases. Some believe that there is a parallel in humans that manifests as overeating ( and consequent obesity), craving for sweets and drug abuse.
Minerals act as a catalyst to essential enzymatic reactions in all aspects of the human body's metabolism. Low levels of minerals means that essential life functions are stressed. "Stressed" bodies are more prone to disease, infection, and injury. Read the section on STRESS to understand the general consequences of stress. The manifestation of mineral deficiencies can be apparent as in rickets, goiter, anemia and many more, or it may be subclinical and manifest as vague complaints like fatigue, chronic fatigue, depression, mood alteration, susceptibility to colds, flu, and allergies to name a few.
Mineral Supplements
It is important to take a balanced mineral intake because an excess of one mineral can cause a deficiency on another.
For general mineral replacement therapy, my current favorite supplements (The ones I take) are:
(1)
Advanced Essential Minerals (Vitamin Research Products product # 1841)
Six capsules per day at intervals. Take two capsules morning, noon and night. Six capsules per day supplies the recommended daily intake of essential minerals and trace minerals except iodine, calcium and iron in highly absorbable and utilizable forms. The iodine content is 70% of the RDA and the calcium supplied is 30% of the RDA. Females who are menstruating or pregnant and individuals with iron deficiency anemia may need additional iron as well.
(2) Calcium Hydroxyapatite Caps (Vitamin Research Products product #734.1)
Use this supplement only if you are trying to rebuild bone or are at increased risk of developing osteoporosis. If you are not in these categories, your diet plus the Advanced Essential Mineral supplement may provide all the calcium that you need. A suggested dose is two capsules per day in addition to Advanced Essential Minerals. Calcium Hydroxyapatite is the exact form of calcium found in bone. It also contains the other minerals and nutrients needed to make bone as well.
(3) Iron (Ferrous Gluconate) (Vitamin Research Products product #721.1)
Unless you are pregnant, having menses, or have iron deficiency anemia, you may not need extra iron. A simple blood test can determine the presence of anemia.
(4) Opti-Mag (Vitamin Research Products product #1830)
It appears that clinical or subclinical magnesium deficiencies are very common, especially in middle aged or elderly individuals. This is probably in part because magnesium is difficult to absorb through the digestive system in many of the forms that it comes in. Serious magnesium deficiencies can contribute to the manifestation of conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, hypertension, fatigue, diabetes, ADD, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches and other conditions. This supplement contains four of the more absorbable forms of magnesium. The suggested dose is two capsules per day in addition to Advanced Essential Minerals
(5) Calcium-AEP (Vitamin Research Products product #746.1)
Calcium-AEP (calcium 2-aminoethanol phosphate) is a form of calcium that is produced naturally within the human body. It has been shown to be essential for nerve impulse generation, nerve impulse conduction and muscle contraction. Deficiencies of Calcium-AEP may contribute to disorders such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, osteoporosis, lung diseases, etc. The suggested dosage is one to two capsules per day. Start with one per day.
Where to Get Minerals
To order Minerals from Vitamin Research Products,
CLICK HERE
