Minerals: Where to Find Them and
Why We Need Them More Than Ever
It’s safe to say that most of us are familiar with the word “mineral” and know to a certain capacity that minerals are required in our diet to keep our bodies working at optimal health.
What we may not know, however, is that we are increasingly seeing multiple mineral deficiencies and that this is causing an arsenal of different health maladies and chronic symptoms within our bodies.
There’s good news!
There are wonderfully easy ways to ensure that you are getting the minerals that your body needs. At Nature’s Vibe, we have multiple trained practitioners who are happy to guide you and make sure you’re getting exactly the right type of minerals just for you.
Where do these minerals come from anyways?
Minerals are absorbed into plants as they grow and by animals and come from the water, soil and rocks surrounding the food source that absorbs it.
It should also be noted that processed and “man-made” foods like breakfast cereals, store bought plant-based milks and other snack foods may also be fortified with minerals.
Regardless of the food source, since our bodies are not able to manufacture their own essential minerals, we have no choice but to get them through our diet.
Meet the Minerals:
As necessities for human health, minerals are classified into two main groups:
- Major Minerals: These are minerals that are used and stored in large quantities in the body and include: Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Phosphorus, Sulfur.
- Trace minerals: These tiny (hence, trace) minerals play an equally important role in the body, only we require them in much smaller quantities. Minerals in this category include: Chromium, Copper, Fluoride, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Selenium, and Zinc.
Why are we Seeing so Many Mineral Deficiencies?
It is becoming increasingly difficult for most of us to get the amount of necessary quality minerals that our body needs on a daily basis.
Why is this?
It is important to first take a look at the foods that we eat and where they are coming from.
Foods like dark leafy green vegetables, fresh fruits, legumes and whole grains offer up a plethora of minerals but mineral content in our food has been on a steady decline over the past few decades (especially since the beginning of commercial farming).
We also must consider the GMO factor and how genetically modifying our food will modifies the nutritional content.
Cooking food, additionally, significantly lowers its mineral content as opposed to consuming the food in its raw form.
Mineral Rich Foods
This is not to say that all hope is lost within our food!
A whole food diet is still the best way to maximize your nutrient intake, which includes your mineral intake.
As mentioned earlier, some of the most mineral dense foods that you should strive to eat on a daily basis include: dark leafy green vegetables (especially kale), a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains (including brown rice) and raw nuts and seeds (like pumpkin, sunflower seeds and Brazil nuts).
Animal products including salmon, chicken, liver and other lean meats also provide ample mineral sources.
As with all the food we consume it is always recommended to be mindful as to where it is sourced, how far it has had to travel from and what chemicals or modifications (if any) have been made. These will all affect and compromise the nutritional integrity of your food.
Mineral Loss and the Keto Diet
Another big reason we are seeing a decline in minerals can be directly related to the vastly popular, rebirth of the Ketogenic Diet.
In short, the Keto diet uses fats to supply as much as 90% of a person’s daily calories. The goal of the keto diet is to force the body into using ketone bodies (which are a type of fuel that the liver produces from stored fats) instead of relying on glucose that comes from carbohydrates. It is important to note that the brain is not able to use ketones for fuel and does require glucose as its main source of energy.
So just how does the Ketogenic Diet take such a toll on the body’s mineral content?
A lot of mineral-rich foods (including a wide variety of fruits, legumes, rice and other whole grains) are not permitted within the keto diet.
Secondly, we can begin to see a shift in the chemical balance of the blood in those on this diet.
The body reserves a certain amount of fluids that it uses to balance our blood sugar when we are metabolizing carbohydrates in our diet. However, when these carbohydrates are cut from the diet, that water is no longer needed and people tend to see a loss in initial “water weight” . Fluid loss means mineral loss, which explains why many people on the keto diet experience undesirable symptoms including (and not limited to): excessive thirst, headaches, muscle cramps, fatigue and brain fog.
We are all Unique and Have Different Mineral Requirements
Lastly, because each and every one of us as human beings have highly individualized needs (due to the fact that our bodies are all biochemically different), we all require varying amounts of each mineral.
Our overall health, both mental and physical play a major role in our mineral requirements and minerals can be used as effective forms of natural medicine in specific cases. This is why it is so important to work with a trained healthcare practitioner in determining what your requirements may be.
Minerals at Nature’s Vibe
At Nature’s Vibe we offer a variety of mineral supplements from reputable brands and sources and are trained Healthcare Practitioners who will be able to help you to find the mineral blend that will work best for you.
Examples include:
Trace minerals from:
- Deep ocean water extracted natural mineral blends
- Electrolyte hydrator powders
- Volcanic minerals
- Oligotherapy minerals
Single Minerals (Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, etc) in capsules or liquid combinations
Learn more about us at Nature’s Vibe to see how our alternative health care team can help guide you on your wellness journey.
Or better yet, drop by and say hi!
We would love to see you at our lovely new location at 38 Grand Ave South (Cambridge, ON – West Galt) with plenty of free parking behind the Clinic & Store.
Come on in, we’d love help you teach you how a whole food diet, with the proper mineral supplement, can help you and your body thrive.
Tanya Church, BA, HON, RHN
Registered Holistic Nutritionist
