WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL WITH MINERALS?
While there may be some differences of opinion on how much or what kinds we should eat, most of us know about our macronutrients. Our carbohydrates, proteins and fats. But what do you know about your minerals? What about your macrominerals and microminerals? How do they relate to your health? This is when things tend to get a little bit more confusing and it’s because our minerals are often overlooked and misunderstood by the mainstream healthcare system. Luckily, the world of functional and holistic medicine is really starting to focus on our minerals. They may just be the most important factor in your health journey and for good reason.
Minerals are the key to understanding your metabolism. We will dive into minerals and their relation to specific health conditions such as thyroid health and your blood sugar in future blog posts. For now keep in mind these two main points:
We can trace almost everything back to our minerals.
No mineral works alone.
The four big minerals
Your four macrominerals are the minerals you need in the largest amounts and they are:
Calcium: Sedative mineral that works with phosphorus to control the nervous system. Calcium controls pH in the body, lactic acid and supports insulin release.
Magnesium: Energy production (ATP), blood sugar balance, blood pressure regulation, Vitamin D uptake and conversion, relaxes muscles, reduces inflammation.
Sodium: An important electrolyte that is essential for blood pressure regulation, pH, influencing stomach acid, and insulin sensitivity.
Potassium: Regulates blood pressure, fluid balance, helps thyroid hormone and glucose get into the cell, insulin like effect on the cells. Helps store glucose in the liver by turning glucose into glycogen.
They work together
While we need each of these minerals, it is even more important that we have them all in balance (along with balanced trace minerals, macronutrients and vitamins). We cannot simply look at one mineral and ignore the others. Minerals work together to carry out very specific tasks in the body.
What it looks like when your minerals are unbalanced:
Slow Adrenal Function
Blood Sugar Imbalance
Slow Thyroid Function
Compromised Gut Health
Low Energy Production
Some more specific symptoms might look like: fatigue not helped by sleep, lack of appetite, restless sleep, constipation/diarrhea, irregular menstrual cycles, PMS/PMDD, anxiety, low libido, mood swings…to name a few!
Next step. Test!
So you think your minerals may not be balanced. Now what? We can make some simple changes such as reducing stress and balancing your macronutrients. However, further testing to address mineral levels is essential. A hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) shows us the mineral content of the hair for the last 90 days as well as trace minerals and heavy metals. The HTMA also gives us a look into how your minerals are affecting your metabolism.
HTMA is only one piece of the picture. Further testing such as hormone and GI testing can also be beneficial.
Once we get a clearer picture of how the body is responding to stress and your mineral ratios we can develop a safe plan to balance those minerals.
This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.
