Ionic Trace Minerals
What are Ionic Trace Minerals? An ionic mineral is an element that has a charge, either
positive or negative. On the molecular level, that means the element has
either one too many or too few electrons. This unstable ionic state allows
the element to bond readily with water, making it possible for the body to
absorb it. In this state, an element has specific positive or negative
electrical signatures that cause a dynamic equilibrium to take place. The
body can then assimilate minor changes to move nutrients to the areas that
need them.
What Are Trace Minerals? You may collect silver coins, wear a platinum ring, or have a gold filling.
You've likely sipped tea poured from a copper kettle, eaten a cookie from a
fancy tin container, or traveled on an airplane made of titanium. But did
you know that these elements and many others -- in very small, balanced
trace amounts -- are critical to your health? Although trace minerals are no
longer as common in the foods you eat, they exist plentifully in their
proper proportions in the mineral-rich waters of the earth's oceans and
seas.
Where Have All the Minerals Gone? Traditionally, eating fresh grains, fruits, and vegetables grown in
nutrient-rich soil have been the primary supply for the full spectrum of
ionically charged minerals.
Unfortunately in today's world, naturally occurring, nutrient-rich soil is
becoming a thing of the past. Eons of vegetation growth and aggressive
modern farming techniques have brought many of the earth's minerals to the
surface where they have been washed away.
Synthesized fertilizers are routinely applied to farms and fields where
minerals have been depleted. But man-made fertilizers provide only enough
mineral substance to support basic plant life. Numerous trace minerals so
essential to human life are never replenished.
Why Is Absorption so Important?
You cannot benefit from minerals unless you can absorb them. The absorption
of minerals primarily takes place within the small intestines. As food
matter passes through the intestines, minerals transfer into the blood
stream through the walls of the intestines. This can only happen if the
minerals are ionically charged. Although stomach acid helps ionize the
minerals in foods, a mineral supplement should contain already naturally
ionized minerals to be fully absorbed.
Why Ionic Minerals?
Minerals that are absorbed in their ionic form are in true liquid solution
and have either positive or negative charges. They also have unique
properties that distinguish them from each other and allow them to freely
take part in biochemical communication throughout the body. These
communications help nutrients move to those areas of the body that are in
most need of their help. Imbalances of any of these ions or certain trace
ions in the body . . . can lead to dysfunction in the conduction of
electrical messages. This dysfunction quickly leads to a general body
disturbance and loss of ability to maintain somewhat stable internal
conditions.
The Benefits of some Trace Minerals
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Boron
Reduces Calcium loss from bones.
Cesium
Enters cancer cells and produces
alkaline condition, causing cancer
cells to die.
Chloride
Is an essential mineral occurring in
the body mainly in compound form
with sodium or potassium.
Chromium
This mineral is now being recognized
as important in carbohydrate
metabolism. Organic chromium is an
active ingredient of a substance
called GTF (glucose tolerance
factor); niacin and amino acids
complete the formula. Chromium
stimulates the activity of enzymes
involved in the metabolism of
glucose for energy and the synthesis
of fatty acids and cholesterol. It
appears to increase the
effectiveness of insulin and its
ability to handle glucose,
preventing hypoglycemia or diabetes.
Cobalt
Is an essential mineral and is an
integral part of Vitamin B12. Cobalt
acts as a substitute for manganese
in activating a number of enzymes in
the body. It replaces zinc in some
enzymes and activates others as
well. It is necessary for normal
functioning and maintenance of red
blood cells, as well as all other
body cells. It is present in ocean
and sea vegetation, but is lacking
in almost all land grown, green
foods.
Copper
Is found in all body tissues. During
growth, the largest concentrations
occur in the developing tissues. It
is also one of the most important
blood antioxidants and prevents the
rancidity of poly-unsaturated fatty
acids and helps the cell membranes
remain healthy.
Fluorine
In its active form, fluoride, it is
present in the soil, water, plants
and all animal tissue. Minute
amounts are found in nearly every
human tissue, especially in the
skeleton and teeth.
Gallium
May reduce brain cancers.
Germanium
Highly efficient electrical
initiator; aids in oxygen
utilization; enhances immune system
function.
Gold
May reduce active joint
inflammation.
Iodine
Is a trace mineral, most of which is
converted into iodide in the body.
It aids in the development and
functioning of the thyroid gland and
is an integral part of thyroxine, a
principal hormone produced by the
thyroid gland. Iodine plays an
important role in regulating the
body's production of energy,
promotes growth and development and
stimulates the rate of metabolism,
helping the body burn excess fat.
Mentality, speech and the condition
of hair, nails, skin and teeth are
dependent upon a well functioning
thyroid gland.
Iron
Is a mineral concentrate in the
blood, which is present in every
living cell. It is the mineral that
is found in the largest amounts in
the blood. It is involved in
respiration by being the main
carrier vehicle for getting oxygen
to all the cells in the body. It is
essential to the oxidation of fatty
acids.
Lanthanum
May reduce chronic fatigue diseases.
Lithium
Plays a key role in eliminating
clinical depression.
Manganese
Plays an important role, as an
antioxidant, in the prevention of
toxic oxygen forms. It may play a
part in the degenerative process
called aging. It also plays a role
in activating numerous enzymes that
are necessary for utilization of
choline, biotin, thiamine and
Vitamin C complex. It is a catalyst
in the synthesis of fatty acids,
cholesterol and mucopolysaccharides.
Molybdenum
It is found in practically all plant
and animal tissues, but very
scarcely in the earth itself. The
final stages of making urine are
aided by molybdenum, which also
helps promote normal cell function.
Nickel
Is an essential trace mineral found
in the body. Human and animal tests
show that nickel may be a factor in
hormone, lipid and membrane
metabolism and cell membrane
integrity. Significant amounts are
found in DNA and RNA and nickel may
act as a stabilizer of these nucleic
acids.
Selenium
Is an essential mineral found in
minute amounts in the body. It is
one of the essential body substances
that can be used in a preventive
manner for many diseases, including
cancer, arterio-sclerosis, stroke,
cirrhosis, arthritis and emphysema.
Selenium functions either alone or
with enzymes. It is a natural
antioxidant that protects against
free radicals and appears to
preserve elasticity of tissue that
becomes less elastic with aging. All
diseases that are associated with
aging are affected by the workings
of Selenium.
Silica
Increases collagen in growing bones
by 100%.
Silicon
Present in the tissues of skin,
fingernails, bones, lungs, trachea,
lymph nodes, tendons and aorta. The
lungs have highest concentration
because of their exposure to the
air.
Sodium
Is an essential mineral that is
found in every cell in the body, but
predominantly in the extracellular
fluids, the vascular fluids (blood
pH) within the blood vessels,
arteries, veins and capillaries, and
the intestinal fluids surrounding
the cells. It functions with
potassium to equalize the
acid-alkali factor in the blood.
Along with potassium, it helps
regulate water balance within the
body and it helps regulate the
distribution of fluids on either
side of the cell walls.
Strontium
Can replace Calcium in many
organisms including man; essential
trace element.
Sulfur
Important mineral used in several
amino acids with the body; involved
in functions of hemoglobin, insulin
hormone, adrenal hormones, enzymes
and antibodies.
Tin
Animal studies show deficiencies
cause poor growth and poor feeding,
hearing loss and male pattern
baldness. May have cancer prevention
properties.
Vanadium
Aids in glucose (blood sugar)
oxidation and transport. Enhances
insulin effectiveness (aids with
blood sugar problems), decreases
cholesterol production, increases
effectiveness of heart muscle
contraction, and has Anti-Cancer
properties.
Zinc
Is an essential trace mineral
occurring in the body in larger
amounts than any other trace element
except iron. It is present in all
tissues. Zinc is known for its
ability to fight disease and to
protect the immune system. It is
involved in the Krebs cycle and
energy production. More recently,
blindness in the elderly has been
found to be arrested by zinc. It is
also credited with increasing male
sex drive and potency because of its
ability to regulate testosterone in
the prostate. |
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