What are minerals?
Let’s start at the very beginning. What are minerals? In a formal textbook you might find a definition that goes a little something like this: minerals are inorganic compounds found in natural products that are required by the body for proper growth and function.
As a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, we take this a little bit further, let’s break it down here.
An NTP’s view minerals as the “spark plugs” of our bodies, igniting change throughout our system. We acknowledge the importance of all minerals, but also understand that not all minerals should be treated equally. Since foods and beverages are the main source of minerals for the body, we take a close look at the diet and how what we are fueling our bodies with might be impacting our mineral balance.
Each mineral has its own role within the body. They might act as a co-factor for proper enzyme function and efficiency, or help with nutrient transfer in and out of cells. They may help in balancing pH (super important because our enzymes require specific pH levels for functioning), contracting and relaxing muscles (thank you calcium and magnesium), or even nerve conduction so we can feel, react and embrace our external environment.
Though not all minerals are equal in terms of daily requirements, or even function within the body, each mineral is equally important to overall health and well-being.
Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)
HTMA, is a non-invasive test that gives insight into the mineral levels in the body. Hair is a soft tissue that acts as a video camera taking screen shots of mineral intake throughout a prolonged period.
Minerals have a very intimate relationship with one another and other nutrients. For this reason, we focus on ratios, not single minerals. Ratios of minerals can tell us a lot about different processes in the body. Let’s take a deeper look at two.
The Autonomic Balance Ratio (Ca/ P)
This ratio tells us about the state of the adrenal glands. Is the body in a sympathetic or heightened state, or a parasympathetic/ relaxed state. When the ratio is high, the body is in a parasympathetic state. This might sound like a good thing, because the body is relaxed, but it also suggests a state of burn-out. This is common amongst busy people. We, as humans, lead busier and busier lives that cause the body to demand more from us.
If you deduced that a low ratio indicates a heightened or alarm state within the body, you are correct! Great work detective! Low ratios often indicate that there are, or were nutrient deficiencies.
The Vitality Ratio (Na/ K)
This ratio tells us a little bit about everything, from the immune system to the adrenals and even the kidney and liver. This is because of the demand for sodium and potassium in each cell to create energy. Production of the hormones aldosterone and cortisol are dependent on the presence of sodium and potassium respectively. A low ratio indicates fatigue, low energy production and compromised immune systems. High ratios indicate kidney, or liver stress.
What Is The Goal?
Balance.
What causes disruptions in mineral balance?
Agriculture
In modern society, we struggle to get many of the minerals in our diet. This is for a multitude of reasons, but one of the main causes is modern agriculture practices. The use of industrial practices with mono-cultures, combined with the removal of grazing and foraging animals from these plots have caused a depletion of minerals from the soil. Plants incorporate minerals and nutrients into their structure from their environment. If the soil is depleted, then they cannot incorporate the nutrients in their structure.
Life Stage
Our needs for minerals change with life stages. Our bodies require more minerals during periods of growth and development such as infancy, adolescence and pregnancy.
Stress
Stress inhibits the body’s ability to absorb and use the minerals. The fight-or-flight response inhibits digestion which means nutrients will not be absorbed. In addition, stress responses within the body require more minerals to cope with the response. In particular B-vitamins, zinc and magnesium are lost at an increased rate.
So, where do we go from here?
Focus on fueling your body with food. Stay hydrated with safe and clean water. Find balance in your life. Incorporate stress management through breath work, writing in a journal, spending time in nature, or incorporating meditations and yoga. But above all else, enjoy your life and all the gifts each day brings and don’t forget to take your multi-vitamins and multi-mineral supplements!
Eat Food. Not Too Much, Mostly Plants.
Michael Pollan
Resources:
Anderson RA. Chromium metabolism and its role in disease processes in man. Clinical Physiology and Biochemistry. 1986 ;4(1):31-41. PMID: 3514054.
Aucoin, M., LaChance, L., Naidoo, U., Remy, D., Shekdar, T., Sayar, N., Cardozo, V., Rawana, T., Chan, I., & Cooley, K. (2021) Diet and Anxiety: A Scoping Review. Nutrients 13, 4418.
Blampied, M., Bell, C., Gilbert, C. & Rucklidge, J. J. (2020). Broad spectrum micronutrient formulas for the treatment of symptoms of depression, stress, and/ or anxiety: a systemic review. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics. 20(4): 351- 371. https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2020.174059595
Nutritional Therapy Asociation. Mineral Balance Student Lecture Note Guide (2018). Licensed property of the NTA for the use of NTP students.
Stolt, E., Olsen, T., Elshorbagy, A. et al. Sulfur amino acid restriction, energy metabolism and obesity: a study protocol of an 8-week randomized controlled dietary intervention with whole foods and amino acid supplements. J Transl Med 19, 153 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-021-02824-3