More Information on Minerals and Health

More on Minerals for Health

The importance of minerals and trace elements can not be overstated when it comes to health and disease. Many afflictions have their roots in a mineral imbalance, or a deficiency. Or, just having a certain disease or health issue may deplete the body of certain essential minerals or vitamins. I have touched on this theme before, and feel it should be an important part of everyone's focus for optimum nutrition. A good progressive multivitamin should include a broad selection of trace minerals. For some of these minerals, an RDA has not been established. Some minerals are essential for optimum health, but required at very minute levels. The true picture is a complex one and no one person could possibly catalogue all the bodily processes that take place. The importance of minerals to our health is a topic that is very important, one which I have touched before, and I have more to add that can't be covered in this one article.

I wanted to touch on some deficiencies and corresponding health issues or illness. Rickets is related to a Calcium deficiency. My mom suffered with it as a baby during World War II. Scurvy was a disease affecting early travelers to North America and related to a Vitamin c deficiency and was overcome in later years by crews of ships eating limes while crossing the Atlantic to ensure Vitamin C uptake. Zinc deficiency can relate to many illnesses starting with Prostate Cancer and extending to impaired immune function and the common cold. Iron deficiency can lead to Anemia and death. Hemorrhoid sufferers have a deficiency of Vitamin K, Magnesium deficiency may lead to the disease of Gout. Alzheimer's disease research has shown a relation to too much Aluminium but may ultimately be caused by a mineral imbalance allowing Aluminium to accumulate in the brain. Calcium, magnesium, and Vitamin D deficiencies may contribute to Osteoporosis.

Supplements and herbs that are recommended for establishing mineral balance are Kelp, Alfalfa, Irish Moss, Icelandic moss, spirulina, blue green algae, barley greens, and wheat grass juice just to name a few. Also, one of the main virtues of juicing, may be not so much the vitamin content of juiced vegetables and fruit, but likely the trace minerals provided for easy absorption. Most minerals are best taken from vegetable and fruit sources and many minerals sourced through other means may not be very well absorbed in the human digestive tract.

So take your vitamins, but do not forget your minerals as well to establish a healthy you. If you suffer with Gout, Hemorrhoids symptoms, or would like additional suggestions for herbs for Gout or Hemorrhoids, please visit www.westernherbal.com