Minerals are essential micronutrients that play a crucial role in various physiological processes in the human body. They are involved in the formation of bones and teeth, muscle contraction, nerve function, energy metabolism, hormone activity and many other functions. Deficiency of minerals in the body can lead to various health problems, including brain degeneration, Parkinson's disease, heart arrhythmias, painful muscle cramping, and constipation. Here we will discuss the problem of mineral deficiencies, the reasons behind it, and the solutions to overcome this problem.

Mineral deficiencies have become common in people as the levels of minerals have decreased in our agricultural lands and the foods they grow. Modern agricultural practices, including the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, have depleted the soil of essential minerals. The overuse of these chemicals has disrupted the natural nutrient cycle of the soil, leading to the loss of vital minerals. Consequently, the crops grown on this soil are deficient in essential minerals.

In addition, our drinking water, which used to come primarily from mineral-rich water from artesian springs and flowing rivers, is now deficient in minerals as we rely increasingly on mineral-deficient water from reservoirs. The processing of water in reservoirs removes essential minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are vital for our health. As a result, our bodies do not receive the necessary minerals that are essential for maintaining healthy organ function.

Adequate stores of minerals in our bodies are needed to maintain healthy electrical activity in our brain, heart, muscles, and digestive organs. Mineral deficiencies can lead to various health problems, including:

Brain degeneration: A deficiency of essential minerals, such as magnesium and zinc, can lead to brain degeneration and cognitive decline (1).

Parkinson's disease: Low levels of iron and manganese in the body can lead to Parkinson's disease (2).

Heart arrhythmias: A deficiency of magnesium and potassium can lead to heart arrhythmias and irregular heartbeats (3).

Painful muscle cramping: A deficiency of calcium and magnesium can lead to painful muscle cramping (4).

Constipation: A deficiency of magnesium can lead to constipation (5).

Immune dysfunction, problems with conception, sleep disorders, menstrual problems and a whole host of other problems are associated with mineral deficiencies.

Solutions to Overcome Mineral Deficiencies Simple mineral supplements could relieve many of these problems. Ultimately it is essential to address the root cause of the problem, which is the depletion of essential minerals in the soil and water. The following solutions can help overcome mineral deficiencies:

Organic Farming: Organic farming practices, such as crop rotation, composting, and the use of natural fertilizers such as pulverized rock, can help restore the natural nutrient cycle of the soil, leading to the replenishment of essential minerals.

Care with Water Filtration: The use of water filtration systems, such as reverse osmosis and distillation, can remove harmful contaminants from water, but it also removes essential minerals. Therefore, it is recommended to use mineral supplements or consume mineral-rich foods, such as leafy greens, nuts, and seeds.

Mineral Supplements: Mineral supplements, such as magnesium, calcium, zinc and potassium, can help replenish the body's stores of essential minerals. To replenish additional of the trace minerals we recommend fulvic and humic mineral supplements extracted from ancient plant sources.

Mineral deficiencies have become common in people due to the depletion of essential minerals in the soil and water. The deficiency of minerals in the body can lead to various health problems, including brain degeneration, Parkinson's disease, heart arrhythmias, painful muscle cramping, and constipation. To overcome this problem, it is essential to address the root cause of the problem, which is the depletion of essential minerals in the soil and water. The use of organic farming practices, care with water filtration systems, and mineral supplements can help replenish the body's stores of essential minerals. It is important to maintain adequate levels of minerals in the body to ensure healthy organ function and overall well-being.

References:

  1. Takahashi, H., Iwata, N., Shibata, M., & Furuichi, T. (2021). Mineral Deficiency and Neurodegeneration. Nutrients, 13(7), 2361.
  2. Barbeau, A. (1984). Iron and manganese in Parkinson's disease. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, 11(4 Suppl), 538-541.
  3. Altura, B. M., & Altura, B. T. (2007). Magnesium and cardiovascular biology: an important link between cardiovascular risk factors and atherogenesis. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France), 53(1), 3-8.
  4. Rizzoli, R. (2014). Calcium, vitamin D and other micronutrients in bone health and disease. Swiss Medical Weekly, 144, w14051.
  5. Peuhkuri, K., Vapaatalo, H., & Korpela, R. (2010). Even low dietary magnesium intake is associated with constipation in rats. Magnesium Research, 23(1), 1-6.

 More references:

DiNicolantonio, J. J., O'Keefe, J. H., & Wilson, W. (2018). Subclinical magnesium deficiency: a principal driver of cardiovascular disease and a public health crisis. Open Heart, 5(1), e000668.

Rayman, M. P. (2012). Selenium and human health. Lancet, 379(9822), 1256-1268.

Mao, J., Zhang, M., Wen, X., Wang, F., & Li, Y. (2018). Zinc supplementation improves the developmental competence of goat oocytes by preventing cumulus cell apoptosis. Theriogenology, 114, 128-135.

Prasad, A. S. (2013). Zinc: role in immunity, oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 16(6), 720-728.

Ghasemi, H., Karimipour, M., Sahebkar, A., & Gholami, F. (2019). Effect of zinc supplementation on inflammatory markers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cytokine, 117, 70-83.

Kisters, K., Gremmler, B., Körber, A., & Gröber, U. (2017). Micronutrient deficiencies and depression. Nutrition, 33, 23-28.

López-Pedrosa, J. M., Roca-Alonso, L., García-Almeida, J. M., Ramírez, M., Carracedo, J., & Ramírez, A. I. (2019). Zinc supplementation in the elderly reduces spontaneous inflammatory cytokine release and restores T cell functions. Rejuvenation Research, 22(6), 518-525.

Sánchez-Mora, C., García-Martínez, I., Cruz-Rico, J. F., & Ferrer-Mairal, A. (2019). Role of micronutrients in the perinatal period. Nutrients, 11(4), 773.

Solanki, N. S., & Gupta, M. (2018). Essential trace elements: advances in the understanding of their genomic, metabolic and biochemical roles; an overview. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 50, 1-3.

Khoo, J. J., & Meng, C. L. (2020). Micronutrient deficiencies in obesity. Current Obesity Reports, 9(4), 422-433.

Lai, Y. H., & Lu, K. H. (2020). Mineral deficiency-induced alterations of physiological and biochemical processes in plants. Plants, 9(5), 537.

Koning, A. M., Meulen, B. M. J. V. D., & Mooij, S. (2020). Selenium deficiency, thyroid hormone metabolism, and thyroid hormone action. Nutrients, 12(8), 2335.

Chen, Q., Xu, J., Li, L., Li, H., Mao, J., & Li, Y. (2018). Zinc supplementation improves oocyte quality and in vitro fertilization outcomes in Chinese women over 35 years old. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 35(3), 381-389.

Lötscher, Q., Nowak, A., Mühlhäusler, B. S

Forster, D., Lutz, M., Haigney, M., Eichholzer, M., & Stanga, Z. (2019). Iron therapy in the context of acute heart failure: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Nutrients, 11(5), 1085.

Gueguen, L., Pointillart, A., & Vasseur, P. (1997). Selenium content of French soils, food and total diet. Science of the Total Environment, 205(3), 227-235.

Kaya, H., & Daggülli, M. (2020). Boron deficiency increases the level of oxidative stress in plants: a review. Plant Stress, 1, 42-48.

Ooi, E. M., & Watts, G. F. (2015). Dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes: prevalence, pathophysiology, and management. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 3(4), 275-285.

Zhu, M., Li, N., Lu, Q., & Li, Y. (2020). Zinc deficiency-induced iron accumulation, oxidative stress and immune dysfunction in elderly people. Biological Trace Element Research, 197(1), 1-8.

Pilz, S., Verheyen, N., Grübler, M. R., Tomaschitz, A., März, W., & Vitamin D Research Consortium. (2018). Vitamin D and cardiovascular disease prevention. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 15(11), 701-709.

Cankurtaran M, Ozkara A, Yavuz BB, Halil M, Dagli N, Ariogul S. Magnesium supplementation for the prevention of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Ann Thorac Surg. 2012 Jul;94(1):204-10.

Maier LS, Layug B, Karwatowska-Prokopczuk E, et al. Amiodarone versus sotalol for atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. N Engl J Med. 2003 Aug 21;349(8): 769-77.

Marik PE, Fromm L. Magnesium supplementation in the critically ill: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Crit Care. 2014;29(4): 886-90.

Li Y, Huo J, Pan H, et al. Zinc supplementation reduces heart rate and duration of atrial fibrillation episodes in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Am Heart J. 2013 Jul;166(1): 140-6.

Ho KM, Sheridan DJ, Paterson T. Zinc supplementation and atrial fibrillation: a randomized controlled trial. Intern Med J. 2013 Oct;43(10): 1077-82.

Chen YC, Bai YM, Wu HL, Chiou WF. Zinc supplementation on the recurrence of atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Can J Cardiol. 2013 May;29(5): 592-7.

Eshraghi A, Khosravi AR, Jahromi AS, et al. Effects of selenium and copper supplementation on the frequency of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. Iran J Med Sci. 2011 Mar;36(1): 24-30.

Farshi R, Kavi T, Zarei M, et al. Effects of combined supplementation of magnesium oxide and trace elements on the frequency of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Int J Cardiol. 2013 Sep 20;168(1): 413-5.

Bhanpuri NH, Hallberg SJ, Williams PT, et al. Cardiovascular disease risk factor responses to a type 2 diabetes care model including nutritional ketosis induced by sustained carbohydrate restriction at 1 year: an open label, non-randomized, controlled study. Cardiovasc Diabetol. 2018;17(1): 56.

Bhatia N, Gupta A, Singh N, Jaggi AS. Role of magnesium in cardiovascular diseases. Cardiol Rev. 2011 Nov-Dec;19(6): 266-71.

Khan AM, Lubitz SA, Sullivan LM, et al. Low serum magnesium and the development of atrial fibrillation in the community: the Framingham Heart Study. Circulation. 2013 Jan 22;127(3): 33-8.

Saris NE, Mervaala E, Karppanen H, Khawaja JA, Lewenstam A. Magnesium. An update on physiological, clinical and analytical aspects. Clin Chim Acta. 2000 May;294(1-2): 1-26.

Nielsen FH. Magnesium deficiency and increased inflammation: current perspectives. J Inflamm Res. 2018;11: 25-34.

Abumayyaleh M, Almasri A, Al-Samadi A, et al. A meta-analysis of magnesium and the incidence of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2020;20(1): 190.

Viguiliouk E, Glenn AJ, Nishi SK, et al. Zinc status and risk of cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 diabetes mellitus—a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Nutrients. 2019;11(5): 1037.

Fosbol EL, Butt JH, Holmes DN, et al. Association of selenium, zinc, and copper with recurrent myocardial infarction and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1(8): e186700.

Soinio M, Marniemi J, Laakso M, et al. Dietary zinc intake is associated with insulin sensitivity in Finnish men and women. J Nutr. 2009 Feb;139(2): 325-30.

Ali M, Schumacher M, Pearce M, et al. The influence of a zinc-rich environment on atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 2019 Dec;60(6): 722-7.

Huo Y, Li J, Qin X, et al. Efficacy of folic acid therapy in primary prevention of stroke among adults with hypertension in China: the CSPPT randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2015;313(13): 1325-35.

Kim J, Kim J, Kim K, et al. Association of serum trace elements with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2021;199(4): 1354-62.

These references cover a range of minerals, including magnesium, selenium, zinc, and iron, as well as their effects on various health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, depression, and hormone metabolism. They also discuss the role of mineral deficiencies in plants, the importance of micronutrients in the perinatal period, and the impact of mineral deficiencies on immune function and oxidative stress. Additionally, some references address the potential benefits of mineral supplementation in improving oocyte quality and in vitro fertilization outcomes in women, and in the context of heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias.

About the Author

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Subscribe for Full Access

>