"Minerals" for the body

So next, we're going to take a few days and talk about "minerals" that the body needs for optimal health.

We just finished the series about vitamins . . . especially the important B's we need for good health and weight loss.

So . . . if you missed that series . . . you may want to go back to my archives and read them. It's need to know information. Especially . . . if you're going to continue with my next series on "weight loss" coming up soon. And if you missed out on purchasing the "compliant" raw B-complex I found . . . click here for the link and put it in your shopping cart to purchase today.

Okay . . . although minerals are all considered micronutrients . . . vitamins and minerals differ in basic ways. Vitamins are organic and can be broken down by heat, air, age or acid. And they're much more delicate. Whereas, minerals are inorganic and hold on to their chemical structure. And with this . . . all vitamins are needed by the body. And only "some" minerals are required for nutrition.

So now you ask . . . what are the "major" minerals that the body needs???

Well . . . that would be . . . calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine and magnesium. We spoken a lot about "magnesium" in past Health tips and its importance to the body.

Now . . . foods that are full of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) can help strengthen cells, fight against harmful viruses like this Covid-19 and boost the immune system.

So what if we lack in these important minerals???

Well . . . mineral deficiencies can lead to a variety of health problems such as weak bones, fatigue and a decreased immune system.

You see . . . the body uses minerals for many different jobs . . . like keeping the bones, muscles, heart and brain working properly. They also make enzymes and hormones.

Okay . . . so guess what??? As with most things in life . . . it's not that simple . . .

We not only need "major" minerals . . . we need "trace" minerals such as iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, iodine, bromine, fluoride, chromium and selenium.

Now . . . "trace minerals" are needed in very small amounts. And are also called "micro-minerals". These are the "essential" minerals that the human body "must" get from the food we eat. And even though we don't need a lot . . . they are still "crucial" to our health and development.

Just like vitamins . . . minerals help the body grow, develop and stay healthy.

And if you're looking for just how important these "trace" minerals are . . . here are a few examples . . .

Chromium helps "insulin" regulate glucose (blood sugar) levels.

Copper aids in the formation of bone and cartilage and helps the body use iron properly.

And Fluoride aids in the formation of bones and teeth and helps prevent tooth decay

So how can we tell if we're "trace mineral" deficient???

Well . . . you may be anemic, fatigued, have poor digestion and appetite, experience brain fog or have a irregular heartbeat.

But one of the easiest ways . . . is to look at your finger nails . . .

Do they have white spots on the nails??

Are there vertical lines in them??

Are they brittle and break easily or split??

Then you are most likely mineral deficient!!!

So how do we fix this problem???

Well . . . that would be eating foods like . . . meat, fish, shellfish, organ meat, beans, avocados, milk and dairy, fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds

As you can see . . . this is a good variety of foods, meaning a well balanced diet.

Now . . . if you're "not" deficient and have a healthy immune system . . . how long are minerals actually supposed to stay in the body???

Well . . . the liver puts vitamins and minerals in storage for the times when they may be lacking in the diet. For example . . . the liver can store vitamin A and vitamin B12 for about "4 years" in the body. So none of us should be deficient in these two . . .

And the liver can store vitamin D for about "4 months". So even if you live in an area that the sun doesn't shine much in the winter months . . . if the body is functioning properly . . . the body should have enough vitamin D stored up to last until spring.

So the question for today is this . . . why are we all deficient in Vitamin A, B12 and D???? Why is the medical profession always telling us we deficient and telling us we need more???

Well . . . tomorrow we'll continue and talk about some of the "trace" minerals that I feel need to be recognized and answer this question.

As always, feel free to contact me here.