Category: Minerals

Lead – Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

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Lead

Acid/Alkaline :: Acid -forming

Very little is known regarding this mineral and therefore our information is very sketchy.

Uses and Benefits of Lead

Uses and benefits of lead are unknown, but some are :-

  • Lead interferes with hemoglobin formation and can create iron deficiency anemia.
  • Lead is a protoplasmic poison, which means it interferes with the proper life-energy enzyme exchange in the living body.

Deficiency Symptoms of Lead

  • Lead is one of the most common and persistent neurotoxins in the environment.
  • Causes damage even at low levels. Lack of will power, fatigue, lack of abstract thinking, allergies, anemia, headaches, weakness, hyperactivity in children, brain dysfunction, causes behavioral and learning problems, especially in children.

Toxicity: Impaired nervous system (which can. result in behavioral problems such as hyperactivity in children), anemia, weakness, muscle deterioration, lethargy, mental impairment, abdominal discomfort, constipation, lack of will power, lack of abstract thinking, lack of mental capacity, tooth decay, allergic reactions to food and environment, increases in diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

Rich Food Sources of Lead

Food and plants grown in soil contaminated with lead.

Toxic sources: Lead is ingested from a variety of sources including fresh and canned food, water, lead-based paint, lead-glazed pottery, hair dyes, air pollution, car exhaust, tobacco smoke, on the solder of tin cans, fumes from gasoline vapors while filling your gas tanks are full of lead. Lead is a protoplasmic poison found in bleached white sugar.

Foods that help to detox lead: Pumpkin seeds, okra, rhubarb root, cayenne pepper, peppermint, dulse, leafy greens and fruits.

Note: Watch out for copper and aluminum cookware and storing acid-foods in metal containers.

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Iron – Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

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Iron

Acid/Alkaline :: Acid -forming

What is Iron?

Iron, a trace mineral, supplies energy to every cell in the body. It is a key component of hemoglobin, the blood’s oxygen-carrying pigment. Iron is also found in myoglobin, which supplies oxygen to muscles, and in compounds that keep the immune system strong. Iron is the mineral found in the largest amounts in the blood.

Uses and Benefits of Iron

  • Essential for the formation of hemoglobin, myoglobin and many enzymes, necessary for the formation of red blood cells, and helps fight stress and disease.
  • Iron affects the release of the adrenal hormone aldosterone. Aldosterone increases sodium levels. This aids alkalization and balances potassium.
  • Works with glucose and fructose as well as with some vitamins (E, C, etc.) and some amino acids.
  • Iron strengthens the immune system and increases resistance to colds, infections and disease.
  • It is the oxygen-carrying component of the blood.

Other possible uses in body: growth, reproduction, teeth, skeletal, liver, lipids, cholesterol. Vitamin E and zinc, taken in large doses, interfere with the absorption of iron. Caffeine from coffee, tea or soft drinks interferes with the absorption of iron. Excessive phosphorus consumption in people who eat lots of canned food or in people who drink many soft drinks may block absorption. Excessive sweating, or rapid food transit time through the intestines can reduce iron. Low iron builds high lead and visa versa. Lead interferes with hemoglobin formation and can create iron deficiency anemia.

Recommended Dosage of Iron

The Recommended Daily Allowance for Iron are :-

  • Adults – 10 to 15 mcg.
  • Children – 10 mcg.

Deficiency Symptoms of Iron

  • Slight iron deficiency (that does not affect red blood cell counts) may cause tiredness, headache, slower running times in competitive runners, weakness, difficult menstruation, irritability, depression and sleeplessness or troubled sleep.
  • Severe iron deficiency may cause anemia or low red blood cell counts, constipation, mouth soreness, brittle nails, pale skin or difficulty in breathing.
  • Other possible symptoms could be food cravings for “nonfood items” such as ice, clay or starch, heart disease, impaired mental skills.
  • Can affect job performance, mood and memory.
  • Increases intestinal irritation and inflammation.

Toxicity: Taking too much iron can cause un­healthy iron deposits in the body, and can lead to the production of free radicals. The buildup of iron in the tissues has been associated with a rare disease known as hemochromatosis. Overdoses can cause bleeding from the stomach or intestines, a drop in blood pressure, liver damage, reduced resistance to infections, and could be fatal for young children.

Rich Food Sources of Iron

Fruits and vegetables, especially dark green leafy vegetables, nuts (including almonds, hazelnuts, etc.), oranges, grapes, bananas, kelp/dulse, raisins, figs, beets, carrots, tomato juice, asparagus, parsley, lima beans, cucumbers, Brussels sprouts, winter squash, broccoli, watercress, blackberries, whole grain products, root vegetables, watercress, spinach, raw broccoli, green peas, avocados, prunes, raisins, sesame and pumpkin seeds.

Toxic sources: industry, old plumbing pipes, water supplies, environmental sources, including air, cast-iron pots and pans.

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Iodine – Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

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Iodine

Acid/Alkaline: Acid-forming

What is Iodine?

Iodine was derived from the Greek word iodes , meaning “violet color” seen in its fumes and was the first nutrient to be recognized as essential for humans and animals. As early as 3000 BC, the Chinese treated goiter with seaweed or sponge. Later, Hippocrates used the same treatment for enlarged thyroid glands.

For many years, getting enough iodine in the diet naturally was difficult in many geographic regions and remains so for an unfortunately high percentage of the world’s population in the developing nations. With the introduction of iodized salt, meeting the daily iodine requirement became nearly effortless and inexpensive in the industrialized nations. In these nations, iodine deficiency is now rare. As developing nations are able to make the shift to iodized salt, their rates of iodine deficiency and the diseases associated with it have also begun to decrease.

Uses and Benefits of Iodine

  • Iodine is essential in maintaining the function of the thyroid and parathyroid glands in the human body.
  • It is also essential to the production of thyroxine and for the prevention of goiter.
  • Iodine improves mental alacrity and promotes healthy hair, nails, skin, and teeth.
  • Iodine also promotes general growth and development within the body as well as aiding in metabolism. Iodine, because of it’s role in the metabolism also helps to burn off excess fat.

Recommended Dosage of Iodine

The Recommended Daily Allowance for iodine are :-

  • Adults – 150 mcg.
  • Children – 70 to 90 mcg.

Deficiency Symptoms of Iodine

Some of the common deficiency symptoms of iodine are :-

  • Apathy.
  • Eczema.
  • Goiter.
  • Fatigue.
  • Drowsiness.
  • Hair loss.
  • If pregnant women are deficient in iodine it may cause cretinism, a form of mental retardation of the fetus.

Toxicity symptoms include: fatigue, headaches, weight gain, dry skin, acne, sensitivities to cold, thin/brittle nails, rapid pulse, irregular menstrual bleeding, and increased salivation.

Rich Food Sources of Iodine

Foods that are high in iodine include dairy products (from cattle fed iodine-supplemented feed and salt licks), iodized salt, seafood, saltwater fish, and kelp. It may also be found in asparagus, dulse, garlic,lima beans, mushrooms, sea salt (which provides nature’s own balance of minerals), sesame seeds, soybeans, spinach, summer squash, Swiss chard, and turnip greens.

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Fluoride (Fluorine) – Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

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Fluorine

Acid/Alkaline :: Acid -forming

What is Fluoride?

Fluorine occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust, water, and food as the negatively charged ion, fluoride (F). Fluoride is considered a trace element because only small amounts are present in the body (about 2.6 grams in adults), and because the daily requirement for maintaining dental health is only a few milligrams a day. About 95% of the total body fluoride is found in bones and teeth. Fluoride comes in several forms. It is known by the following names, calcium fluoride, stannous fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate, and sodium fluoride. Sodium fluoride is added to most public drinking water.

Uses and Benefits of Fluoride

  • Stronger tooth enamel and bones, fewer cavities, fewer bone fractures, less osteoporosis in older women, higher birth weights and higher rates of growth in children, reduces loss of hearing if caused by otospongiosis of the inner ear.
  • Also needed for blood, skin, hair and nails.

Recommended Dosage of Fluoride

Recommended intakes of fluoride vary, however the consensus among professionals seems to be no more than 2.5 milligrams daily.

Deficiency Symptoms of Fluoride

  • Decay of teeth.
  • Curvature of the spine.
  • Weak eyesight.

Toxicity: Fluoride remains in the body for a long time, because it is incorporated into the bones. Even just a little over the recommended levels can cause painful and aching bones, stiffness, weakness, chalky white areas on the teeth, brown or pitted teeth, knots on the bones, rapid aging, increased rates of cancer, high death rate (up to three times higher in areas of high fluoride concentration in water supply), sagging and wrinkled skin, scleroderma (hard patches of skin).
People in India sometimes suffer from the bone deformities (ie., hunchback) of skeletal fluorosis even when the fluoride concentration in the water is only 11/2 times the RDA. Hot weather, drinking lots of water, and low protein diets increase fluoride intake and side effects. Large doses of fluoride are extremely poisonous

Rich Food Sources of Fluoride

The prime dietary source for fluoride are typically treated drinking water. However, carrots, turnip and beet greens, dandelion, sunflower seeds, garlic, spinach, green leafy vegetables, nuts (especially almonds), turnip greens, dandelions.

Toxic sources: Fluoride is added to many water supplies and to food processed in areas containing high levels of fluoride. It is added to most toothpastes and may be added to the soil in certain fertilizers. Also found in seafood and oats.

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Copper – Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

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Copper

Acid/Alkaline :: Alkaline -forming

What is copper?

Copper is an essential trace mineral. Copper is involved in the absorption and metabolism of iron. Copper helps keep your arteries flexible. This mineral helps transport oxygen through your body, maintain hair color, and is used to make hormones. In fact, for a variety of biochemical processes in the body to operate normally, copper must be a part of our die.

Uses and Benefits of Copper

  • Copper is necessary for the growth, development, and maintenance of bone, connective tissue, brain, heart, and many other body organs.
  • Copper is involved in the formation of red blood cells, the absorption and utilization of iron, and the synthesis and release of life-sustaining proteins and enzymes
  • It is involved in the healing process, energy production, hair and skin coloring, and taste sensitivity.
  • Essential to catecholamine synthesis.
  • Copper is a component of the antioxidant enzyme: super oxide dismutase, and might protect cell membranes from potential damage by highly reactive oxygen fragments. In this antioxidant role, copper might function to prevent the development of cancer.
  • It is also essential for the utilization of vitamin C .

Recommended Dosage of Copper

The Recommended Daily Allowance for Copper are :

  • Adults – 1.5 to 3.0 milligrams per day.
  • Children – 1.5 to 2.5 milligrams per day.
  • Infants less than six month – 0.4 to 0.6 milligrams per day.

Deficiency Symptoms of Copper

Copper settles in brain and ovaries. Can cause chronic diarrhea, burning sensation in throat and tonsils, malabsorption problems, or iron-deficiency anemia. Also loss of color from skin and hair (inability of body to manufacture collagen), baldness, heart disease, Menkes’ Syndrome, nervous system impairment, low resistance to infection, scoliosis, poor tissue formation, impaired respiration, skin sores, retardation.

Toxicity: Symptoms can include ulcerative colitis, Wilson’s Disease. Mental and emotional problems.

Note: Daily intake of more than 20 mg. can cause nausea and vomiting

Rich Food Sources of Copper

Dark green leafy vegetables, raisins, radishes, nuts (especially almonds) oranges, blacks trap molasses, avocados, and broccoli.

Toxic sources: Copper water pipes and cooking utensils.

Note: Long-term uses of oral contraceptives can upset the balance of copper in the body causing excessively high cholesterol levels. Supplementation should always be administered under a doctor’s supervision and caution should be exercised not to exceed the recommended doses. If supplements are to be taken, the doctor and consumer alike should become aware that different forms of copper have different absorption rates in the body.

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Cobalt – Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

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Cobalt

Uses and Benefits of Cobalt

  • Aids in normal growth and appetite, pancreas.
  • The only known function of cobalt is as a constituent of vitamin B12.
  • In this capacity, cobalt aids in the formation of normal red blood cells, maintenance of nerve tissue, and normal formation of cells.

Deficiency Symptoms of Cobalt

A deficiency of cobalt is equivalent to a deficiency of vitamin B12, and can cause anemia, nerve disorders, and abnormalities in cell formation. Also, “scaly” skin and atrophy.

Toxicity: Rare. Large doses of inorganic cobalt (not combined with vitamin B12) might stimulate thyroid and bone marrow function, resulting in excess production of red blood cells (polycythemia).

Rich Food Sources of Cobalt

All green leafy vegetables. Also, various fruits, vegetables and herbs.

Toxic Sources: Cobalt is used as an anti­foaming agent in the processing of some beer. Consumption of large amounts of this beer could cause polycythemia and heart disorders.

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Chromium – Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

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Chromium

Acid/Alkaline :: Acid-forming

What is Chromium?

Chromium is an essential trace mineral that the body needs to grow properly and remain healthy. This essential mineral maintains stable blood sugar levels through proper insulin utilization, and can be helpful for both people with diabetes and for those with hypoglycemia. Preliminary research has found that chromium supplementation also improves glucose tolerance in people with Turner’s syndrome – a disease linked with glucose intolerance.

Uses and Benefits of Chromium

  • The main function of chromium is as a component of glucose tolerance factor (GTF), a substance that works with insulin to facilitate the uptake of blood sugar (glucose) into the cells.
  • Chromium has been used for diabetes, high cholesterol and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and is backed by a great deal of scientific research
  • Needed for energy, thyroid, spleen.
  • Additional chromium is needed during pregnancy because the developing fetus increases the demand for this mineral.
  • Aids carbohydrate metabolism.
  • Works with insulin in glucose utilization and energy release.
  • Chromium has also been used for weight loss, to increase athletic performance and depression.
  • It may help to fight osteoporosis.

Recommended Dosage of Chromium

There is no Recommended Daily Allowance for chromium. Estimates indicate that 50 to 200 mcg a day is safe and adequate for adults.

Deficiency Symptoms of Chromium

  • Hypoglycemia, diabetes.
  • Possible sleep and dream disturbances, anxiety, fatigue, shortened life span.
  • Industrial chromium has carcinogenic effects upon the lungs and can cause bronchial inflammation, skin ulcerations, and conditions have been observed in cerebral hemorrhage and thrombosis.

Toxicity: Excess intake or tissue accumulation of chromium can inhibit rather than enhance the effectiveness of insulin. At extremely high levels, it may encourage the growth of cancer. Kidney and liver impairment

Rich Food Sources of Chromium

Natural water sources, mushrooms, sugar cane, brewer’s yeast, molasses, spices, fish, fruits, whole grains, and vegetables, especially carrots, potatoes, and spinach are also good sources, as are alfalfa, brown sugar, molasses, and animal fats.

Toxic sources: Industry leather tanning processes, raw cement and wood finishing.

Note: Scientists estimate that 90% of Americans don’t get enough chromium and that 60% are diabetic or hypoglycemic. Some people experience light headedness or a slight skin rash when taking chromium. If you feel lightheaded, stop taking the supplement and consult your health care provider. If you develop a rash, either try switching brands or discontinue use.

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Cadmium – Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

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Cadmium

Acid/Alkaline :: Acid-forming

What is Cadmium?

Cadmium appear to play a very pivotal role in thyroid disease, it is a very unique mineral.  It is extremely toxic and has toxic biological effects at concentrations smaller than almost any commonly found mineral.

Uses and Benefits of Cadmium

An environmental poison found in water, on our food and in the air. It’s found in processed grains, dairy products, meats, fish, fertilizers, auto exhaust, cigarette smoke, batteries, solder and dentures. It disrupts the absorption of other minerals and tends to settle in the heart and right kidney and affects proper functioning of several enzymes.

Deficiency Symptoms of Cadmium

Anemia, muscle deterioration, hypertension, liver and kidney damage, zinc deficiency, arthritis, pneumonitis, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of calcium in bones, deterioration of heart and blood vessel structures, prostration, emphysema.

Toxicity: Cadmium is not excreted from the body and can accumulate over time to toxic levels. Excessive intake occurs when soft water leaches cadmium from pipes. Hypertension, kidney damage, loss of sense of smell (anosmia). Studies show that alcohol increases the retention of heavy metals such as cadmium.

Rich Food Sources of Cadmium

Water, air and soil.

Toxic sources: Cigarette smoke, air from battery manufacturing, metal soldering, weld­ing and electroplating, pipes, water supplies, mining, the air near zinc refineries, burning of fossil fuels or municipal waste, dentures, paints, galvanized pipes, contaminated shellfish.

Foods that help to detox cadmium: Vegetables from the cabbage family, paprika, fruits

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Boron – Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

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Boron

Acid/Alkaline :: Acid-forming

What is Boron ?

Boron is said to potentiate estrogen’s role in building bones by helping convert vitamin D into the active form necessary for the absorption of calcium. It was discovered in 1910 as an essential element for plants but in 1985 scientific research discovered it was an essential nutrient for people, too.

Uses and Benefits of Boron

  • Build and maintain healthy bones.
  • It is also necessary for the metabolism of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium.
  • Elevates levels of serum estrogen and ionized calcium.
  • Boron benefits include proper brain functioning.

Recommended Dosage of Boron

The minimum Recommended Dosage Allowance of Boron are : 2 to 3 mg.

Deficiency Symptoms of Boron

  • Poor dietary intake of boron causes bone changes similar to those noted in osteoporotic women.
  • Boron deficiency results in decreased blood levels of ionized calcium and calcitonin, elevated levels of total calcium and urinary excretion of calcium.
  • In animals, it causes depressed growth rates. Boron and magnesium metabolism might be related, since a combined deficiency of these two minerals exacerbates the osteo condition, suppresses bone anabolism, and results in decreased magnesium concentrations in bones.
  • In contrast, boron supplementation elevates serum concentrations of beta-estradiol and testosterone and produces changes consistent with the prevention of calcium loss and bone demineralization.
  • Studies have shown that a deficiency in this mineral may impair mental functioning and depress mental alertness.

Toxicity: nausea, diarrhea, skin rashes, arthritis, and fatigue. Limited research on animals show that excessive boron intake might suppress growth and immunity.

Rich Food Sources of Boron

Fresh fruits, apples, carrots, grapes, pears, leafy vegetables, nuts-and grains.

Toxic sources: Soaps, cements, some cleaners, glass, ceramics.

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Beryllium – Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

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Beryllium

Very little is known regarding this mineral and therefore our information is very sketchy.

Uses and Benefits of Beryllium

  • There is currently no information regarding whether beryllium is essential for optimum biochemical function.

Deficiency Symptoms of Beryllium

Dyspnea, weight loss, cough, fatigue, chest pain, anorexia, and weakness

Toxicity: Effects the lungs, liver, kidneys and heart. Enzyme inhibitor, including ATP, DNA and several hepatic enzymes; cell death in all tissues

Rich Food Sources of Beryllium

Water, air and soil.

Toxic sources: industrial exposure, mining, metal working, burning coal, copper processing, and possibly paints, colors, cosmetics.

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