Trace Minerals

Trace Minerals - What Are They?

Trace minerals, including iron, copper, zinc, selenium, strontium, molybdenum, manganese, fluoride, iodine, chromium, cobalt, and vanadium, are essential nutrients like macrominerals (sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sulphur), which the body cannot produce. Trace minerals must come from food, beverages, and, also, from supplements.

Because they are essential, trace minerals must be supplied regularly and adequately to prevent deficiency. While they are found in many dietary staples, trace minerals in most foods have diminished significantly in the last few decades, thanks to modern farming practices that focus primarily on production volume rather than nutritional density. The result has been a steady and dramatic decrease in the nutritional value of the foods over the last 50 + years. That’s why even those that adhere to the cleanest diets are most likely not getting an adequate quantity of healthy trace minerals regularly and may be at risk of deficiency. Fortunately, you can easily top up your levles with supplements. 

Benefits of Trace Minerals

• Energy, Metabolic, & Mood Support
• Helps Maintain Mineral Balance in the Body
• Ideal Solution to Nutrient Depleted Soils & Foods
• Promotes Healthy Bones, Joints, & Teeth

Who Needs A Trace Mineral Supplement?

Trace minerals each offer very distinct health benefits. These include:

• Boron: activate vitamins and minerals necessary for healthy bone formation, and promote healthy brain function and immunity.
• Chromium: helps regulate glycemia and metabolism; promotes healthy weight management. 
• Copper: involved in energy production, metabolism, and the production of hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen). 
• Iodine: is an integral part of thyroid hormones. Helps support metabolism, weight management, mental development, and brain function. 
• Iron: is essential to form red blood cells, muscle growth, and energy production.
• Manganese: involved in carbohydrate, protein and cholesterol metabolism, cartilage, and bone formation, and promotes wound healing.
• Molybdenum: a cofactor to enzyme production. Plays a crucial role in breaking down sulphites in food and prevents its build-up in the body. 
• Phosphorus: critical to our acid-base balance, energy production and hormone activation. Intimately involved in bone health. 
• Selenium: potent antioxidant, immune function, reproduction, thyroid hormone production and thyroid function.

Trace Minerals Potency, Forms & Formats

Trace minerals are widely available in health food stores and through your favourite online supplement retailer in forms such as capsules and liquid. It goes without saying, of course, that the potency of each trace mineral in these supplements will vary according to the quantities required by the body. Always follow label instructions carefully.

Final Thoughts

Trace minerals are important cofactors in numerous enzymatic reactions and are essential for proper hormone and neurotransmitter function. Some of the most apparent signs of a deficiency are anemia, fatigue, or irregular heartbeat. Poor digestion and appetite, chronic fatigue, and brain fog may also be signs of low levels of these nutrient, such as iodine. For optimal efficacy, look for a supplement formulated for optimal absorbability.

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