I was reading a magazine article the other day titled, “What are trace minerals?” and I ended up getting more confused by the minute. The author, with a Ph.D no less, was talking about how the body processes all these minerals and concluded that a lot of what we ingest as supplements just go to waste. Literally and apparently, figuratively.
I was thinking of the big bottle of supplements I just got at my local vitamin shop and thought to myself, “did I just waste $168.00?” I suddenly felt bad, not about the money, well, yes, about that too, but about the fact that I really did not know whether the benefits of minerals, as told to me by an expert, was just a sales ploy to sell more bottles of vitamins. Suddenly, I wanted to become more proactive about what supplements I take, and learn more about food minerals, trace minerals and the new fad of trace mineral drops.
In reality, most people have a pretty good idea of minerals and how they are able to keep the body healthy. These macro minerals include calcium, iron and potassium, together with others, that are highly beneficial for one’s well-being. But there are other types of minerals that are just as essential and perform various functions in keeping us in the best of health. They are this class of minerals called, trace minerals. And I was about to embark on a fact-finding mission to get to the bottom of this.
Trace minerals are basically used by the human body to set enzymes in motion, maintain the activity of cells, and absorb, as well as make use of all other minerals. Trace minerals, though highly essential for a healthy body, are not made. Rather, they are sourced from food or other mineral supplements. This is why like macro minerals, they are considered food minerals.
What makes them different from macro minerals is that they are only needed in very tiny amounts. Trace amounts. Nonetheless, a lack in any of these necessary trace minerals could result in serious medical conditions, including cancer. Maintaining a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains together with proteins could provide sufficient nutrition to help the body perform its normal functions. Because that is the goal, for the body to be at optimum health in both function and appearance.
Still, as one ages, the use of supplements becomes a necessity. In cases of diets that consist of a lot of sugar as well as processed foods, the benefits of minerals are rarely experienced. As a matter of fact, they could limit the body’s absorption of vital trace minerals. In my readings, I also learned that trace mineral health means the body having adequate amounts of minerals for it to be in a constant state of homeostasis or balance. Everything we take, everything we eat, interacts with the other hundred other things we’ve eaten already, and there, inside the body, a chemical reaction takes place. For good or for worse, the body as a whole, either benefits or suffers. This is the more reason why we should really be careful about what we eat or take.
There are several types of trace minerals, each one of them performing their own specific functions in the body. These include iron, zinc, cobalt, manganese, copper, iodine, fluoride, and phosphorus. All of these minerals except iodine, which can be taken from salt, are found not only in food but in mineral water and mineral formulations that one can buy anywhere. Trace mineral drops are a good source of supplementation for trace minerals as well.
When it comes to food minerals, whether macro or micro minerals, more does not necessarily mean better. Too much of one thing can make anyone sick, as in the case of vitamins and other herbal types of supplements. Although they are all natural, food minerals must not be considered as potent medications. Taking them in large doses is not recommended. It is still best to follow the advice of a doctor or a nutritionist to ensure that the proper amounts of minerals are taken, enough to keep healthy and fit.
At the end of my research, I realized that I know a lot of this already. The more organic and unprocessed food we eat, the better. This is because we get a full dose of the benefits of minerals found in fresh fruits and vegetables. Trace mineral drops are essential in helping the body maintain its own state of balance, but again, just like other supplements, too much of these minerals is counterproductive.
A varied diet made up of fruits, vegetables, grains, starches and protein is necessary for the body to get all its mineral needs. Food minerals are the most common and easiest to get. They are already in the foods we eat. You don’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars but just be aware of mineral rich food. Example, if the body needs iron (especially for pregnant women and women who are prone to having heavy menstruation), then the best source is food rich in this mineral. Poultry, fish and meat are great contributors of this trace element. The body absorbs well the form of iron from these foods.
Once again, common sense wins. Too much of something, is truly too much. Don’t overindulge in taking all those supplements. The Ph.D. author was right, we tend to compensate when we’re guilty, in this case, taking too many supplements when we know that we’ve eaten poorly the last few days.
So the next time you want to reach for another one of those chocolate frosted doughnuts, just think about this: the sugar in that doughnut will contribute to your being overweight, stressed, and sick. Would you rather be sick than healthy? I didn’t think so.
