There are many topics about nutrition that are controversial, but mineral deficiency isn’t one of them. It’s widely known and accepted that our farming soils are not rich in required minerals that our bodies need, and while synthetic fertilizers help plants to grow, they don’t provide for human nutrition.
History of the Minerals in Our Food
In 1936, the US Senate was presented with the results of a scientific study it had commissioned on the mineral content of our food. The results showed that many health problems could be attributed to the fact that our soil no longer provided plants with minerals that are essential to human nutrition and ultimately, our health.
This was reaffirmed this year by another congressional hearing discussing what to do about our deficient soils. Here is part of what was said in Senate Document 264 of the 74th Congress, 2nd Session, 1936:
“… 99 percent of the American people are deficient in … minerals, and … a marked deficiency in any one of the more important minerals actually results in disease.”
“Do you know that most of us today are suffering from certain dangerous diet deficiencies which cannot be remedied until the depleted soils from which our foods come are brought into proper mineral balance? The alarming fact is that foods–fruits and vegetables and grains–now being raised on millions of acres of land that no longer contain enough of certain needed minerals, are starving us–no matter how much of them we eat!”
“We know that vitamins are complex chemical substances which are indispensable to nutrition, and that each of them is important for the normal function of some special structure of the body. Disorder and disease result from any vitamin deficiency.”
“Laboratory tests prove that the fruits, vegetables, grains, eggs and even the milk and meats of today are not what they were a few generations ago. No man of today can eat enough fruits and vegetables to supply his system with the mineral salts he requires for perfect health…”
What Does This Mean for Your Health?
Remember, this was in 1936. Nothing has been done to remedy this problem. Instead, we’ve ignored it, and we take medications that allow us to ignore the symptoms of the disease we have from poor nutrition. In addition to deficiency, modern farming practices add herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, insecticides and genetic modification which alters proteins in the plant. Many of these proteins your body rejects, which we call allergies.
Why Minerals Are Important For Your Body
Minerals are used in many ways in your body, and mineral deficiency could be the cause, or at least contribute, to almost any health problem. Here are a few health issues or symptoms that mineral deficiency is known to cause:
- Muscle cramps
- Lack of energy
- Low immune system
- Hormone imbalance
- Hypertension
- Skin and hair problems
- White spots on fingernails
- Yeast/fungal infections
- Slow healing cuts
- Foot odor
- Diarrhea
- Vision problems
- Stunted growth
3 Ways to Avoid Mineral Deficiency
So, everyone is deficient in minerals. Now, what? There are three solutions for individuals to remedy their mineral deficiency.
Solution #1: Eat Organic Foods
You can eat organic foods grown on land that has not been farmed continuously for decades, as well as eating meats and protein from grass-fed and free-range animals. However, this option can be difficult and expensive at times. In our fast-paced society, many families don’t have the time it takes to source these foods and maintain supply. It may become less expensive over time as more people demand better quality food.
Solution #2: Supplement Minerals Back Into Your Body
With this solution, you need to be careful as to which supplement you choose. It is important to use a mineral supplement that is chelated, meaning the mineral is bonded to a protein. The protein, being a charged particle, will attract itself to your cells, bringing the mineral with it.
Minerals by themselves have no mechanism to get to the cell. If you get a mineral supplement that is not chelated, it’s no different than eating mineral rich dirt; it will do nothing for you.
Solution #3: A Combination of Mineral Supplements and Organic Foods
The best solution is to supplement chelated minerals with the consumption of more foods that are local or organic. Since the “cides” are used in growing plant foods and hormones and antibiotics are used in animal foods, getting better quality foods that don’t include these negatives is a better idea.
Even with organic or local foods, you don’t really know the soil content from where they are grown. It’s best to be safe and supplement the minerals your body needs. You could think of it as the cheapest insurance policy you’ll ever buy!
Take Control of Your Health with Healthy for Life
Mineral deficiency can take years to re-mineralize, so if you’re taking mineral supplements and not noticing any changes, keep going! Your health is improving even if you don’t notice outwardly. If you’re ready to start providing your body with the minerals it needs, we can help. Learn more about how the Healthy for Life program can help you on the path to lifelong health!