Are Minerals Really Essential?
I have long thought that eating well (organic, whole, unprocessed foods) was all I needed to maintain optimal health. Recently, I started asking more questions of our vitamin and supplement team members and learned startling information about potential mineral deficiencies. Minerals are vital to cellular well-being. Some of the most common ones are chromium, magnesium, iron and zinc. Not only are these elements found in the universe, they are also found in our bodies. As with all living things, we expel and take in nutrients constantly, including minerals. But the question is this: are the foods we eat providing enough replenishment? Now that many of our soil systems are not as densely nutritious (a result of systematic chemical sprays with pesticides and herbicides), some say we need a little extra help getting those essential nutrients. Here is an interesting article showing a comparison between measured mineral levels in common vegetables from 1963 and 1999. With another 18 years of industrial farming, I venture to guess that the mineral depletion has increased based on the trajectories demonstrated in the article.
This insight inspired me to consider adding a trace mineral supplement (one that includes magnesium) to my daily routine. Time will tell me if the mineral boost helps me feel better over time.
