Optimal digestive health, demands that we have the correct ratio of nutrients, minerals and trace elements within our bodies and, as we now know, food just isn’t enough, so what do we take and how do we choose?
Due to the depletion of minerals in food, supplements are of course beneficial. However not all supplements work effectively in the body, why? Because there is a complex interaction between nutrients and between minerals and trace elements.
‘Mineral Synergy’
During the 1980’s scientists discovered what is now known as the law of mineral interdependency, meaning that all minerals are totally dependent on one another to work effectively, to give you an example –
If you supplement with calcium, the absorption and metabolism of phosphorus, iron, zinc, magnesium and manganese will be affected, as they all work in synergy. These minerals can then affect all the other minerals and trace elements that they individually work with – like a chain reaction, one mineral offsets the benefits of another (read, they don’t work in isolation).
Let’s take three popular independent mineral supplements:
Magnesium takes part in over 300 enzymatic reactions. It is essential for nerve and muscle function.
The absorption and metabolism of magnesium requires cadmium, lead, sodium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, potassium and manganese in the correct balance, and these minerals in turn need more minerals to work.
Therefore, magnesium won’t work to its full effect without at least 20 other minerals.
Calcium is needed for healthy teeth and bones however without strontium, zinc, magnesium, manganese and iron, the absorption and metabolism of calcium is effected, and these minerals in turn need more minerals to work.
Therefore, calcium won’t work to its full effect without at least 20 other minerals.
Iron is needed to transport oxygen in the blood and is required as a cofactor for many enzymes. The absorption and metabolism of iron requires copper, manganese, cadmium, zinc, lead, calcium and chromium in the correct balance, and these minerals in turn need more minerals to work.
Therefore, iron won’t work to its full effect without at least 20 other minerals.
SHOP MINERALSTaking large amounts of a single vitamin or mineral supplement can also affect absorption and may lead to malabsorption syndrome due to the imbalance of nutrients that work in synergy in the body.
Although you may consume a range of nutrient dense foods, nutrition in the body happens at a cellular level. This means that minerals have to be digested and transported into our blood and cells. This depends on the foods we eat, the supplements we take and our health status.
Nutrients such as phytic acid in plant foods can reduce the absorption of other minerals such as zinc. This can then impact on the other minerals in the body. It is therefore often recommended that we soak foods such as grains and legumes before cooking them.
Excess or insufficient intake of minerals can impact on the absorption or metabolism of other nutrients in the body.
Absorption of nutrients is also impacted by poor digestion in the the digestive tract. This can increase due to stress which impacts the secretion of stomach acid that aids digestion.
Minerals are divided between the macro minerals and the trace elements. The macro minerals include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine. The rest of the elements such as iron, copper and selenium are trace elements as they are required in the body in much smaller trace amounts.
Why do we need 78 minerals and trace element’s
The depletion of the whole spectrum of minerals and trace elements today is one of the main risk factors for disease. The human body contains the full spectrum of elements and continual intake of these elements is required to maintain good health. As all minerals and trace elements rely on one another for absorption and metabolism it is important that we provide the full spectrum for each to carry out its own individual function properly.
Cellnutrition (Quinton) Hypertonic and Isotonic, is the only mineral supplement on the market, which contains all 78 minerals the body requires in an entirely pure and highly bioavailable form.
The success of Cellnutrition Quinton has led to the acquisition and development of further products within our portfolio, all with the same ethos of 100% natural support for your body.
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