MINERALS

MINERALS

Minerals can be divided into three categories. The Macro (large) Minerals, Trace Elements and Ultra Trace Elements.

Macro Minerals are bulk elements that are required in quantities of several hundred milligrams per day. They are mainly involved with structure (bones and cells). These minerals are Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium and Chlorine.

Trace Elements include Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Iodine, Chromium, Selenium, Molybdenum, Cobalt and Sulphur. These are required in smaller quantities than the Macro Minerals, and have a more subtle, but equally vital effect on metabolism.

Ultra Trace Elements are those required in minute amount. Examples are Vanadium, Boron, Nickle, Tin and Lithium. All play an important and essential role in maintaining life.

In addition to the above elements, our bodies require Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen and Carbon. These are available in either the air that we breathe, or as components of all the living matter that we eat.

We will examine dietary sources and their main function within our bodies. Note that an excess of any mineral can be dangerous. The idea is that we should have enough, not an excess.

CALCIUM

Calcium is the bodies most abundant mineral. About 99% of all calcium is found in bones and teeth, and the rest is in solution aiding various biochemical functions. Calcium and Magnesium are needed together in a ratio of about 2:1. Notwithstanding a specific calcium or magnesium deficiency, these nutrients should always be taken together. An excess of one will create a deficiency of the other. Sufficient stomach acid must be present to ensure the absorption of calcium from our food.

Best Natural Sources

Dairy products, sesame seeds, green leafy vegetables and broccoli.

Supplemental Sources

The most absorbable supplemental sources are the Calcium Chelates and the Calcium Orotates. Remember that unless there is a known specific deficiency of calcium, it is better to provide it in a formula together with Magnesium and Zinc. Other sources include calcium lactate, calcium sulphate and calcium gluconate. These may be suitable also. Calcium carbonate, bone meal and dolomite are hopeless calcium supplements. They are alkalising to the stomach, thus further reducing stomach acid which is vital for digestion, and essential for the efficient absorption of calcium.

Official R.D.A.Intake

About 800mg per day.

Recommended Daily Intake

A good quality of diet, including yoghurt and a little cheese, plus nuts, seeds and green vegetables will provide most, if not all of the daily calcium requirement. Those avoiding dairy products entirely or on a very poor diet, may be well advised to use a calcium/magnesium/zinc supplement, providing up to 500mg of chelated calcium per day.

Pregnant women, post menopausal women and older men are well advised to supplement with these minerals daily. Sufficient stomach acid (HCI) is essential for the correct absorption of calcium.

Toxicity

All minerals are toxic if provided in excessive amounts. Calcium, given on its own in large doses will eventually unbalance the Calcium/Magnesium ratio and cause other mineral imbalance.

MAGNESIUM

Magnesium is potentially as common a mineral deficiency as calcium. Excessive calcium supplementation further adds to this risk. Most of the magnesium in our body is contained in the teeth and bones. Diets high in processed or refined (junk) foods are often deficient in magnesium. Even more likely if processed bran is added to a poor diet, because this further binds what little magnesium there is.

Those with blood sugar problems are often deficient in magnesium. Muscle cramps can be a sign of sodium, calcium or magnesium deficiency. Both Magnesium and B6 can be of real value in alleviating the symptoms of P.M.S. Magnesium and potassium are necessary for correct heart function they are the heart salts. Both of these nutrients can be excreted excessively when diuretics are used to reduce fluid retention, as is often the case with high blood pressure (hypertension). Magnesium is an important mineral, and magnesium deficiency is not widely understood or looked for.

Best Natural Sources

Nuts, green vegetables, whole grains and soya beans. The idea for ensuring sufficient supply of all minerals is to improve the quality of ones diet.

Supplemental Sources

These can be same as for calcium. That is, provide magnesium in a balanced mineral supplement, with calcium and zinc. In the case of a specific magnesium deficiency, Magnesium Chelate or Magnesium Orotate are both well absorbed.

Official R.D.A. Intake

About 400‑600mg per day.

Recommended Daily Intake

Enough will be provided by the diet if it is of good quality and there is no P.M.S., or blood sugar problems or any reason to suspect a magnesium deficiency. If there is concern over a possible deficiency, 400mg of Magnesium Orotate or Chelate per day should correct it.

Toxicity

Relatively safe, but don't greatly exceed the R.D.A.

SODIUM

Sodium is intimately related to the bodies fluid balance and blood pressure. The more sodium that is in the tissues the higher the blood pressure. Dietary sodium comes mainly in the form of table salt and increasingly from sodium nitrates and monosodium glutamates, used as preservatives and flavour enhancers. The average person consumes about 10 times as much sodium as their body needs. This contributes to high blood pressure and excessive fluid retention and the related heart and weight problems that go along with these.

Possibly a more insidious source of sodium is from our tap water, which is heavily laden with sodium and other inorganic minerals and salts. Sodium is lost during excessive sweating. Generally speaking, nobody should add salt to their food. An exception to this rule are those people who do heavy work and may perspire a lot. A sodium deficiency is more dangerous in the short term than an excess. Deficiency signs include nausea, vomitting, dizziness, cramps, exhaustion and possibly circulatory failure.

ZINC

Zinc is a very important mineral involved in a wide range of metabolic activities. It is often deficient in Western Diets and is especially lacking in vegetarian diets. It is the Phytates (organic acids), found in the high grain content of vegetarian diets, that bind zinc and render it inabsorbable.

Zinc is necessary for growth and development, hair growth, skin, wound healing, insulin production, immunity, smell and taste and fertility. There are high concentrations of this mineral in semen. As much as 5mg can be lost in each ejaculation. Sufficient zinc is very important during pregnancy, to ensure proper growth and development of the foetus.

The importance of this mineral cannot be overstated.

Best Natural Sources

Oysters, meats, liver, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, whole grains, almonds, eggs and milk.

Supplemental Sources

Zinc Chelate is one of the most effective and absorbable zinc supplements. Some research has shown, that zinc absorption is improved greatly if it is taken as Zinc Gluconate lozenges and dissolved in the mouth.

Where maximum absorption is required, the zinc supplement is best taken away from food, preferably before bed. Zinc and Iron are antagonistic. For best results take them 8 hours apart.

Official R.D.A. Intake

Up to 200mg of Zinc per day is quite safe. For longer periods, or as a maintenance dose 20mg, or up to 50mg per day is quite sufficient. Use 50mg of Chelated Zinc per day during pregnancy, taken separately from an Iron supplement.

Toxicity

Long term, high dose Zinc supplementation would eventually interfere with the absorption and utilisation of many other nutrients, principally Iron and Copper. Stick to about 20mg of Chelated Zinc as a long term maximum daily dose.

IRON

Iron deficiency is possibly the most wide spread nutritional deficiency in the world. Most of our bodies iron is found in the red blood cells (erythrocytes), where it is a component of the oxygen transporter, Haemoglobin.

The most common result of Iron deficiency is anaemia. Symptoms include fatigue, obvious heartbeat on exertion, low blood pressure, concave nails or nails with trenches running across them. Iron is necessary for immunity. Also for the production of stomach acid. A lack of B12, or stomach acid, can result in mal absorption of this mineral. Subclinical iron deficiency is epidemic. Groups at greatest risk are pregnant women, vegetarians, those on poor diets, especially if this includes high coffee or tea intake, and those with heavy menstruation. Please note that you don't have to be anaemic to be iron deficient.

Best Natural Sources

Organ meats like liver, kidney and heart; egg yolk, legumes and molasses.

Supplemental Sources

Ferrous Fumatrate and Ferrous Gluconate make suitable iron supplements.

Vitamin C greatly increases the absorption of iron, and B12 is also necessary. Ideally these two nutrients should always accompany iron supplements. Remember that Iron is antagonistic to both Vitamin E and Zinc, and should be taken 8 hours apart from these nutrients. 50‑100mg of Ferrous Fumerate or Gluconate, taken with vitamin C and B12, can restore reduced iron levels within about one month. A longer term maintenance dose of 20‑30mg of ferrous fumerate or gluconate would be quite safe. Both Iron and Zinc are very important during pregnancy. A doctor can take a blood sample and have it checked for iron, folate and B12. A subclinical iron deficiency can still exist even when iron levels appear normal. Serious states of pernicious anaemia may require Iron, B12 and Folate injections.

Toxicity

Excessive iron supplementation can cause long term liver damage. Excessive iron injections can result in a build up of haemocydrin which can damage lungs and kidneys. Avoid excesses. Iron can be constipating, however vitamin C often helps to loosen bowels.

Testing for Compatibility

I believe that all vitamin and mineral preparations should be tested for each individual, to determine their compatibility. Many preparations are simply not in a persons best interest, even though the evidence would indicate their use. The bodies requirements can change quite quickly. One week on a particular Mineral or Vitamin may be enough to supply what was lacking. To continually take that nutrient can lead to an excess which may be just as harmful as a deficiency. Later in this course we will learn how to do a simple muscle test, and other quick testing procedures. Always check nutrients for compatibility and continue to check over a period of time.

Supplementation

It is very important to understand that mega dose supplementation is a therapeutic process, and that therapeutic processes, whether dietary, vitamin, herbal or homoeopathic, must not be continued ad infinitum.

Restrictive diets or large doses of nutrients or herbs may be appropriate for 2 weeks, 1 month or even 3 months. Longer than this and there is a definite risk of oversupplying and a risk of unbalancing other nutrients. A good example would be the long term use of high dose Zinc, blocking Iron and Copper absorption.

Large doses of a particular nutrient may be necessary to correct an imbalance however an oversupply will create its own imbalance. Intolerances can develop to supplements used repeatedly, just as they can to foods.

Guideline Maintenance Doses

Most people require supplements because of nutritional shortfalls created by stress and processed and stored foods. The more that these problems are overcome, the less will be the requirement for Supplementation. The following guidelines will help:‑

Test all supplements for compatibility and continue to check weekly or monthly.

For long term application use, maintenance doses only.

Regularly change formulas to avoid intolerances.

The fact that many people 'get bored' or 'lose confidence' in high dose supplement programmes is probably the greatest safeguard against the potentially harmful effects of these practices. It is mandatory to regularly check compatibility of any therapeutic agent.

Herbal teas have become a popular substitute for tea and coffee. Herbs are a therapeutic agent and it is not safe to drink herb teas indiscriminately. Always check compatibility. Don't just assume that because herbs are 'good for you', that all will be suitable.

Megadoses short term Megadoses of nutrients can effectively improve the metabolism, rebuild organs and tissues and detoxify. As soon as possible, wean off to a maintenance dose or nothing. Two nutrients which may be exceptions to this advice are vitamins C and E. The protective properties of these two vitamins are such that they are now required by most people daily.

WATER

Water is the most abundant substance in the human body. It is a component of virtually everything, except tooth enamel and bone. We are about 70% water, 25% protein and 5% minerals. You can regard the body as being water, thickened with protein, which prevents us from 'running away'. This gelatinous mass is then hung on a skeleton made up of minerals. Not a very flattering analogue, but it does put things in perspective.

Water performs many functions. A few of the more important ones follow:

Most reactions in our body (of which there are millions every second) will not take place unless the reactants are dissolved. For example, the water component of our blood dissolves oxygen from our lungs and in this way it can be transported to our cells. Carbon dioxide is removed in the same way.

Almost every cell in our body is bathed in interstitial fluid, which is almost entirely water.

Most of the molecules in our body are suspended in water and are thus able to come into contact with other molecules. Indeed, water is often a part of these chemical reactions.

Water is a great stabiliser of body temperature. It absorbs and releases heat very slowly.

We have seen that the digestive tract utilises some 2 gallons of water per day. Much of this is reabsorbed, however a certain amount needs to be replenished daily.

Water also acts as a lubricating medium. It is the major part of the mucus and other lubricating fluids. Lubrication is especially necessary in the chest and abdomen, where internal organs touch and slide over each other.

Finally, water is the flushing medium which is used to clean the kidneys. These vital organs filter our entire volume of blood about every 5 minutes. Sufficient clean water must be passing through the kidneys to collect the wastes from this process. If these toxins are not removed they will remain in the tissues.

How Much Water Do We Need?

Now let us look at some of the practical aspects of using water for healing. Please be very clear that following appropriate dietary modification, the next most important step in nutritional improvement is to provide the body with sufficient clean water.

Most human bodies require 6‑8 small glasses of pure water every day if they are to function efficiently. Part of this can be made up from the water contained in freshly squeezed fruit or vegetable juices, but not from other drinks like tea or coffee. Water, or any drink for that matter, should not be taken with meals. Ideally, small amounts of water should be taken hourly.

This keeps clean water passing through the kidneys so that they can flush poisons from our bodies. There is little point in drinking more than half a glass, half hourly, as this excess will just pass out as clear urine and will not be used to flush.

Tapwater and Salts

Tap water is not suitable for human consumption. It is heavily laden with inorganic salts, additives and toxic chemicals and is slow poison. How many times have you heard some one say, 'I don't like water, so I never drink it'. The majority of people are highly intolerant to the toxins and salts in tap water and unconsciously avoid drinking it. However their bodies are still dependent upon some fluids for survival, so they have soft drinks, tea or coffee to disguise the flavour of the water. It is literally the only way they can get it down.

One risk from drinking tap water is its high mineral content, particularly mineral salts. A concentration of salts in our tissues favours fluid retention, and so we retain too much fluid in our bodies. Similarly, salts 'preserve' our insides just as effectively as they preserve salted meats and fish. This causes hardening and inelasticity of our arteries. Both fluid retention and hardening of the arteries are major contributing factors in hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart disease. Salts collect in our tissues from the tap water that we drink, and from other dietary sources. As well as this, we are not drinking enough water (of any sort) to help flush them away.

The problem of salt build up is easily rectified by drinking distilled water only for a period of time. This will draw salts out of the tissues. Later, one should switch to filtered water.

Other Pollutants in Water

Many other chemicals are added to our tap water before we drink it. At the very least this will include Flourine.

Most drinking water comes from three main sources:‑

‑ Surface dam water, to which is added chlorine and Flourine.

‑ Deep artesian water, which is added to the dam water.

Ground Water, which is heavily saturated with suspended matter and dissolved acids (which give it the brown colour). To clear this water, aluminium sulphate (alum) is added as a coagulant, and then chemical polyelectrolites are added to further settle the coagulated wastes. This water is then passed through sand filters to remove the settled particles. Some of the chemicals remain in the water. This water is then added to the scheme water.

So we have the situation where our water is heavily saturated with inappropriate mineral salts and a large amount of added chemicals. Other pollutants also seep in. It is now established that there is no water supply in the U.S.A. which is not contaminated with the toxic residue from the dry cleaning fluid. Some ground pollutants must also reach our water.

This is a faily dismal picture but the fact is that things are not getting better, they're getting worse. It's clear that we are slowly poisoning our planet, and one of the first places that this shows up is in our drinking water.

So, What Water is Best?

There are about five main sources of water that you can drink. The first is tap water and we have seen why that is not a choice. The second is bottled mineral water, which can be quite high in mineral salts. It is however, reasonably pure and is quite acceptable to drink socially. The other three choices bear more detailed analysis.

Distilled Water

This is produced by boiling water and condensing the steam. This water is very pure. It also carries a negative polarity as a result of the distilling processes. This polarity is aggressively attracted to trace minerals and other elements that make up what we could call whole water. Because of its purity, it is also highly absorbent of salts and other minerals. Distilled water is therefore very effective at leaching excessive minerals and salts from the body. It is also very sweet and pure tasting. Because of its ability to remove minerals it must only be used exclusively for short periods of up to 6 months. Longer than this and it can begin to leach essential minerals from the body. Distilled water, taken as 6‑8 small glasses, not more than 1 every half hour, is therefore indicated in any therapeutic dietary approach to disease, for short periods of time. It is spectacularly effective as an adjunct to the treatment of hypertension and arthritis. Please note the de‑ionised water from the supermarket is created using a different treatment. A little won't hurt, but it is not the same as pure distilled water.

Tank Water

Tank water is probably the ideal water to drink, but there are some factors that must be considered. The roofs of houses in the metro area are constantly collecting heavy metals like lead, from car exhausts, and other airborne pollutants. Roofs and gutters are not always clean. Nor are the collection tanks. Roofs in rural areas may even be more suspect, especially if there is crop dusting or aerial or spray pesticides being used. Always consider these factors, and the source of tank water before using it.

Filtered Water

It's quite an inditement on our modern society, but with all things considered, filtered water is probably the best choice. There are a number of types of filters available. These include simple carbon filters. Also more sophisticated carbon filters with silver mesh components which destroy bacteria. Then there are the more expensive reverse osmosis filters which produce very clean water, whilst still retaining a certain amount of the precious trace minerals. All filters retain trace minerals but their individual effectiveness at removing pollutants is proportional to their cost.

Summary

In summary, tap water should never be drunk or used for cooking or making beverages. With few exceptions, we should all drink 6‑8 small glasses of clean water throughout the day. A lesser quantity would be acceptable if some fresh juices are included in the diet. Therapeutically, distilled water is the first choice, then moving on to filtered water or clean rain water.

Most people will notice a considerable improvement in their health when they begin to take the right amount of clean water each day.