On this episode of Food as Medicine, we continue our discussion on the ABCs of Minerals with clinical nutritionist, Rick Wagner. Rick is the founder and CEO of Eidon Minerals, an industry leader in top quality mineral supplements, and our “go-to” on all things mineral.
If you missed Part 1 of our discussion, be sure to go back and watch the video. It will help you to really understand how important minerals are to maintaining all aspects of your health for the rest of your life.
In Part 2, we give you a literal “A to Z” of our favorite minerals. We go through each mineral to give you a thorough understanding of what it does in your body, how it contributes to various bodily functions, and how it can ultimately help you feel and look better.
Boron is derived from Borax and found naturally in seawater, fruits, and vegetables. Scientific studies have shown that it influences the metabolism of several other nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous.
Boron plays several metabolic roles in the body, including helping bone growth, hormone production, magnesium absorption, and reducing C-reactive protein (an inflammatory marker for the heart).
It also helps your body produce the enzymes it needs to use your antioxidants better and is essential for parathyroid function, which controls the level of calcium in your blood.
To find out more or purchase, click here.
Calcium is the most abundant mineral found in the body and comprises approximately 1.5% to 2% of an adult’s body weight. Most calcium is found in our teeth and bones, where it is stored for future use. Every cell and organ in the body depends on calcium to function properly.
The body uses calcium for digestion, normal blood clotting, nerve signal transmission, energy production, digestion, and acid-alkaline balancing of the blood.
To find out more or purchase, click here.
Chromium is one of my personal favorites and critical to blood sugar regulation and management, healthy cholesterol production, and sugar and fat metabolism. If you have trouble regulating your blood sugar, have sugar cravings, feel hungry even after eating a solid meal, or have frequent mood and/or energy swings, then you most likely have a chromium deficiency.
Refining carbohydrates has removed chromium and other essential minerals from our foods. If you’re not eating complete, unrefined whole grains, then chances are you aren’t getting enough of this important mineral from your diet.
To find out more or purchase, click here.
This powerhouse mineral is responsible for developing and maintaining your blood, bones, nerves, and connective tissues. Your body also needs copper in order to utilize iron and zinc and to maintain a strong cardiovascular system. Copper, along with iron, is required to produce hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to all your cells.
Many of you may not know that copper is required for collagen production. We’re huge fans of collagen at The Whole Journey – it’s great support for immune and gut health as well as bone and joint healing and skin elasticity.
To find out more or purchase, click here.
We love iodine because it’s a primary support for your thyroid gland. The thyroid takes iodine from your body and uses it to make T4 and T3, hormones your body needs for energy production.
But we can’t talk about iodine without also talking about selenium. They work synergistically to produce thyroid hormones, regulate your immune system, maintain healthy breast and prostate tissue, and protect against oxidative damage.
Those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or elevated thyroid antibodies can’t take iodine alone and must pair it with selenium (and should do so only under the direction of a health care practitioner).
Several scientific studies have found that deficiencies in iodine and selenium may contribute to the development of cancer, especially breast, prostate, stomach, and thyroid.
Rick notes that one of the root causes of cancer is the presence of excess heavy metals in the body, particularly mercury. These metals can deplete your iodine and selenium stores. Having adequate mineral levels is a simple and critical way to safeguard your health and protect against cancer.
To find out more about iodine or purchase, click here.
To find out more about selenium or purchase, click here.
Rick calls silica the most “underrated and misunderstood mineral” and it’s the reason why he created Eidon Minerals. Silica helped him make huge strides in his own health, restoring full mobility to his neck and allowing him to avoid surgery for bone spurs.
Silica is critical to building and maintaining healthy collagen levels and managing calcium use and storage in the body. It is also needed for healthy teeth and gums and bone strength.
Ladies, it’s also a great beauty product for your hair, skin, and nails.
To find out more or purchase, click here.
Sulfur’s primary role is reducing your body’s inflammation set point. Inflammation is your body’s natural response to any kind of foreign invader, and we need it to survive.
Our collective inflammation set point has drastically increased over time. We are overfed and undernourished; exposed to environmental toxins; and stressed, anxious, depressed, and exhausted. Studies show 80% of us are living off of stress hormones and we don’t even realize it since that way of living has become so normalized.
All of these factors cause our bodies to live in a chronic state of inflammation. Time Magazine called inflammation “The Secret Killer” and it is now known to be the root cause of many diseases like cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Sulfur can help reduce your inflammation set point, which is critical for your overall health and wellbeing. It is mainly found in cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage.
To find out more or purchase, click here.
Magnesium is well-known for building strong bones, relaxing our mind and muscles, and supporting bowel regulation. However, the benefits go so far beyond that; magnesium has a role in over 300 biochemical processes in our body, as it is the 4th most abundant mineral in our body!
People with adequate magnesium levels have a 17% lower risk of developing metabolic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. It’s also an essential mineral to regulate blood pressure and brain receptors, supporting cognitive health.
Magnesium is mostly found in our bones and soft tissue. While it is so abundant and necessary for our health, over 65% of people are depleted in magnesium. This is because it is easily depleted by stress, excessive sweating, medications, and diarrhea. It’s often very low in those with hormonal imbalances (adrenal and thyroid dysregulation), those on medications that block absorption, and those with poor digestion.
To find out more or purchase, click here.
Zinc is well-known for being an immune-system powerhouse, but its role extends far beyond that. It is also essential for mood regulation, wound healing, and strengthening your myelin sheath, which is the electrical insulator of your nerve cells. There are at least 300 different enzymes in the body that rely on zinc to function.
Zinc can be rapidly depleted when you’re fighting an illness, particularly a viral infection. Those at risk for zinc deficiencies include older adults, people with gut issues, vegetarians and vegans, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with disordered relationships to food or alcohol.
One easy way to determine if you are deficient is to do the “Zinc drink test:” Hold 2 teaspoons of liquid zinc sulfate in your mouth for at least 10 seconds (you can spit it out after). Zinc regulates your taste and smell, so if you are deficient in zinc, the liquid will taste like water and if you have adequate zinc levels, it will taste bitter.
To find out more or purchase, click here.
To replenish your mineral stores, Rick recommends that your first do a hair mineral analysis. This is the most cost-effective and accurate way to determine your individual mineral status. It’s a non-invasive test that sends a sample of hair, usually from the back of the neck to a lab for analysis. The results include personalized mineral recommendations, including how much to take and when to take them. You can do this completely on your own without having to rely on or pay a health practitioner.
We love Eidon’s Multiple Mineral formula to cover all your bases and provide you with a stable foundation to maintain mineral balance. Minerals work in precise balance to one another, and this formula has the perfect mineral ratios so that they do not create an imbalance.
Be sure to add a high-quality sea salt into your diet, as it contains every mineral you need, especially your electrolytes (sodium, chloride, magnesium, and potassium). If you are using table salt, be sure to switch to sea salt, as it’s actually creating more of a mineral deficiency in your body. See our recent blog post 8 Healing Benefits of Salt for the types of salt we recommend.
