Why are minerals essential for health?
For most of us, minerals are necessary for strong bones and teeth, but they have many other functions. In addition to giving us shape and support for our skeleton, minerals are the "spark of life." Minerals are essential in the diet, and each plays a unique and often multifactorial role, acting at all levels of the body—cells, tissues, organs, and the entire organism. All of our bodily processes depend on the action of minerals to activate enzymes that carry out the bodily functions we take for granted. Without proper mineral ratios, the properties and functions of enzymes, vitamins, or amino acids could not be implemented.
What are minerals?
Minerals are the building blocks responsible for every activity in every cell of our body. Cellular functions require a proper chain of events that begins with minerals. Without the right minerals, we wouldn't be able to move an eyelid or form a thought.
The key ingredients of life
All the minerals that exist on Earth also exist within us and all living things. Quantum physics shares the philosophy that we are one with all things. Just as the Earth must maintain its balance to function optimally, our bodies also need balance. When provided with the right materials in the right form (from nature), the body can do amazing things to promote its own health. The Earth naturally provides us with minerals through water and food.
Today, with current agricultural practices depleting the soil of necessary minerals and water supplies being polluted and poisoned, our population has become minerally malnourished.
What do minerals do in the body?
Only a mineral can catalyze or activate an enzyme. Although it is very difficult to measure the content of each cell (in fact, this ability still eludes our current scientific measurement technology), it is safe to assume that most cells require a full complement of all minerals to function properly. We know that some organs require higher concentrations of certain minerals.
Mineral deficiencies
Deficiencies in specific minerals can lead to acute and chronic health problems. Sudden heart attacks occurring during physical activity are often the result of mineral depletion of immediate cellular stores of potassium and magnesium. Never forget that your physical health depends on your cellular health. Everything begins and ends at the cellular level.
Here are some chronic and acute health problems associated with the deficiency of one or more minerals:
osteoporosis
heart disease
Cancer
Arthritis
Goitre
Gastrointestinal disorders
Periodontal disease
Anemia
I believe most human ailments can be described as symptoms of chronic nutrient deficiency. Some diseases are contracted through direct exposure to bacteria, viruses, amoebas, or other pathogens, but an optimally functioning immune system can defend us against these pathogenic invaders. A proper mineral balance is necessary to keep our immune system strong and healthy. Deficiencies in zinc, selenium, silica, and sulfur, which result from poor diet or excessive stress, can jeopardize our immune health.
The 3 Main Minerals for Your Body
The three main minerals essential to the body are calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Calcium
Calcium is essential for maintaining healthy teeth and bones, muscle function, normal blood clotting, and the transmission of nerve impulses. Good sources of calcium include raw, organic dairy products such as goat or sheep milk, yogurt, and cheese, as well as dark, leafy green vegetables such as spinach and kale.
Potassium
Potassium plays a crucial role in maintaining proper pH balance, supporting a healthy nervous system, and muscle contractions. It's found in fruits like bananas, oranges, and avocados, as well as vegetables like potatoes and spinach.
Magnesium
Magnesium is important for energy production, muscle relaxation, and cardiovascular health. Foods rich in magnesium include raw and organic nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dark leafy green vegetables like spinach.
These minerals play an essential role in maintaining overall health and are optimally obtained through a balanced diet rich in a variety of nutrient-dense foods.
