Ideally, we would get all our trace minerals from our food. But, unfortunately, our soils aren’t as healthy as they used to be. A 1992 study found that soils today contain 86% fewer minerals than they did 100 years ago. Heavy food processing and poor diets mean that most people don’t get nearly enough, resulting in widespread mineral deficiency and chronic disease.
What Are Trace Minerals?
Trace minerals are ionic, meaning they carry a “charge” which gives them special catalyzing potential (catalyzing means to cause or accelerate a reaction). They are vital for the human body, even though our bodies don’t need much to see big results.
Of the 103 known minerals, at least 18 of them (and likely far more) fall into the trace mineral category. These include iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, copper, phosphorus, molybdenum, iodine, chromium, potassium, selenium, sodium, chloride, sulfur, and boron. Our bodies require each one in proper balance to facilitate health and well-being.
Functions of Trace Minerals:
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Nourish hair and skin
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Serve as reinforcement for bones, cartilage, and other bodily tissue
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Enhance circulation
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Produce red blood cells
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Facilitate nerve impulses
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Promote a strong immune system
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Ward off heart problems
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Protect against the formation of cancer cells
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Improve digestion and bowel function
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Facilitate the transfer of nutrients across cell membranes
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Regulate the body’s maintenance and growth of cellular and muscle tissue
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Balance the contraction and relaxation of muscle tissue
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Provide both structural and functional support for the body’s vital systems
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Normalize pH levels and prevent an overly acidic state inside the body
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Improve cellular communication
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Liquefy stagnant and toxic lymphatic fluid
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Facilitate countless metabolic processes for maintaining life
Common Deficiency Symptoms:
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Anemia (lack of iron)
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Poor digestion, brain fog, poor appetite, and chronic fatigue (lack of magnesium)
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Excessive fluid loss, abdominal pain, and bloating (lack of potassium)
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Loss of libido, poor immunity, inability to fully digest protein (zinc deficiency)
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Muscle cramping, tingling in the extremities, and irregular heartbeat (calcium deficiency)
How Does the Body Get Maximum Benefit from Trace Minerals?
It is in the small intestine where ionic trace minerals are pulled through mucous membranes and delivered to the bloodstream where they can immediately begin their work. Too much of one can lead to imbalances in others, and they need to be in ionic form to be well absorbed.
Ways to avoid trace mineral deficiency:
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Eat fruits and vegetables grown organically using bio-dynamic farming methods that enrich the soil with beneficial bacteria and trace minerals. Conventional produce is typically grown in “dead” soils that are sprayed with pesticides and herbicides that further deplete their mineral content.
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Eat grass-fed, pastured varieties of meat. Grasses and other plants are loaded with vitamins and trace minerals that end up in the meat. Conventional meat derived from animals fed grains is typically lacking in trace minerals and important nutrients.
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Take dietary supplements to replenish your body with highly bioavailable, ionic trace minerals. Those derived from natural seawater often contain the full spectrum of ionic trace minerals for maximum potency and effectiveness.