Maximize Your Minerals

Source: PHQandA, Message 207.

(NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. CONSULT WITHYOUR NATURAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER.)

BORON

Function: Helps prevent bone loss and demineralization; modulates immune and inflammatory processes.

Deficiency Symptoms: No deficiency symptoms identified.

Increases Need: Diets that are low in fruits and vegetables.

Suggested Intake for Adults: No RDA established; becomes toxic at 1 gram.


CALCIUM

Function: Helps in the formatin of strong bones, teeth, muscle tissue; regulates heart beat; essential to muscle action and nerve function; aids inblood clotting.

Deficiency Symptoms: Soft, brittle bones; back and leg pains; heart palpitations. Excess protein and high-phosphorous foods such as softdrink is increase excretion.

Increases Need: Poor dietary intake, excess protein, physical and emotional stress, growth, pregnancy and lactation.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 800 to 1,500 mg. daily. Vitamin D increases calcium formation. Boron decreases calcium excretion.


CHROMIUM

Function: Aids insulin function (use blood sugar for energy production).

Deficiency Symptoms: Atherosclerosis, glucose, intolerance, fatigue.

Increases Need: High intake of processed foods, aging, diabetes.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 50 to 200 mcg. daily.


COPPER

Function: Helps the body absorb and use iron to synthesize hemoglobin;is an important constituent of enzymes required for energy production.

Deficiency Symptoms: Anemia, skeletal defects, degeneration of the nervous system, reproductive problems.

Increases Need: The illness sprue (a malabsorption disease) and celiac disease.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 2 mg. daily


IRON

Function: Essentiala to red blood cell formation.

Deficiency Symptoms: Anemia; may compromise learning ability and endurance.

Increases Need: Poor diet, growth, menstruation, pregnancy, antacid use.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 10 to 15 mg. daily. Vitamin C increases absorption.

Caution: Iron overload may increase risk of heart attack.

MAGNESIUM

Function: Aids enzyme activation, nerve and muscle function, and calcium and potassium balance; prevents cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Deficiency Symtoms: Weakness, muscle tremors, weight loss, nausea, irritability, hair loss.

Increases Need: Diarrhea, diuretics, excess alcohol, deficient protein intake.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 300 to 500 mg. daily.


MANGANESE

Function: Works with enzyme that facilitate carbohydrate metabolism;necessary for normal development of skeletal and connective tissues.

Deficiency Symptoms: Glucose intolerance

Increases Need: Diets high in refined carbohydrates, pregnancy, rapid growth.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 2 mg. daily


MOLYBDENUM

Function: A component of enzymes involved in alcohol detoxification, uricacid formation and sulfur metabolism. Needed for DNA/RNA metabolism.

Deficiency Symptoms: Inability to detoxify sulfites; deficiency may cause sulfite sensitivities.

Increases Need: Insufficient dietary intake of whole grains, legumes, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 200 to 400 mcg. daily.


SELENIUM

Function: Activates glutathione peroxidase, which protects cells from free radical damage.

Deficiency Symptoms: Muscular weakness and discomfort.

Increases Need: Diets high in refined foods.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 70 mcg daily.


VANADIUM

Function: May function in hormone, cholesterol and blood sugar metabolism.

Deficiency Symptoms: Elevated cholesterol levels and faulty blood sugar control.

Increases Need: Poor blood-sugar control in people witn noninsulin dependent diabetes.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 50 to 100 mcg. daily.


ZINC

Function: Involved in many enzymes regulating metabolism and protein synthesis. Aids in healing and immune function and in development of there productive system.

Deficiency Symptoms: Retarded growth, slow healing, loss of appetite.

Increases Need: Infection, poor diet, alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, renal disease.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 15 mg. daily

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