The Number One Reason You Haven’t Solved Your Health Problems Yet

Are minerals the missing piece to your health puzzle? We always hear about vitamins and minerals, but I have never witnessed a diet plan that counted minerals. When we overlook this crucial part of health, it is impossible to balance the body and resolve our symptoms!

So what are minerals, and why are they important?

 Simply put, we would not be alive without minerals. They are often called the "spark plugs" of the body because they ignite reactions that keep our body alive and functioning. Here are just a few examples:

• Producing energy in our cells (no biggie!)

• Regulate our nervous system function (keeps our heart rate in a healthy range!)

• Allow muscles to contract and relax (There are over 600 muscles in the body, which means they are everywhere. From digesting food to a beating heart, your body relies on muscle function. You can’t even talk without using muscles.

Minerals are essential to a robust metabolism, which is the process of our body creating energy from the food we eat. Consuming macronutrients from our food (protein, carbohydrates, and fat) provides material for our bodies to use. From there, your body turns these nutrients into other products such as energy, hormones, bones, muscle, and more! Minerals are the key that facilitates that transformation. If you are struggling with any symptoms, I highly encourage you to explore minerals and how their imbalances may be contributing. Because minerals lay the foundation for our metabolism, imbalances can manifest as symptoms all over the body. Painful periods, hair loss, fatigue, sleep problems, and cramps are just the tip of the iceberg. 

There are many minerals that the body needs to function, but they are all needed in different amounts. They are classified as "major minerals" and "trace minerals," depending on how much the body needs. Supporting healthy mineral levels is all about the proper ratios of each nutrient. Relationships between minerals are complex. When minerals are in balance, the nutrients work in sync with one another, creating a positive effect throughout the metabolism. However, it can become a downward spiral when minerals become out of balance due to depletion or perhaps isolated supplementation.

It is essential to be aware of this intricate webbing of nutrients but not be overwhelmed by it. Instead, I like to focus on the minerals that lay the foundation for metabolic health. They are like the team captains that motivate all the players so that the team can play their best.

Let's go over some of these key minerals and sources of each!

 Calcium:

• Provides structural support: builds strong bones, healthy teeth, and other hard tissues.

• Helps send nerve impulses throughout the body

• Muscle contraction (we wouldn't have a heartbeat without calcium!)

• Sources: Dairy (Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, etc.), Bone Broth, Cooked Collard Greens, Cooked Spinach

Magnesium: 

• Required for the body to produce and use energy

• Allows muscles to relax

• Needed for hundreds of metabolic reactions in the body

• Required for blood sugar regulation and getting glucose (energy source) into our cells

• Sources: Dairy, Bone Broth, Cooked Spinach, Chlorophyll, Cacao, Topical Forms (Topical Sprays, Epsom Salt Baths/Foot Soaks)

 Sodium:

• Needed for adrenal function and responding to stress

• Important regulator of blood pressure and fluid balance

• Needed for digestion and absorption of nutrients

• Works with potassium to get nutrients into the cell

• Sources: White Sea Salt, Dairy (Milk, Cheese), Fermented Foods (Pickles, Sauerkraut)

 Potassium:

• Required for proper muscle and nerve function

• Supports thyroid activity (helps get thyroid hormone into cells)

• Supports blood sugar levels (helps get glucose into cells)

• Works with sodium to bring nutrients into the cell

• Sources: Fruits, Potatoes, Coconut Water, Aloe Vera Juice

 Copper

• Energy production 

• Regulates iron metabolism (If you ever struggled with "iron deficiency," that is a sign your iron recycling system needs help!)

• Immune function

• Protects our cells against oxidative stress 

• Sources: Beef Liver, Oysters/Shellfish, Citrus Fruits (Whole Food Vitamin C), Bee Pollen, Cacao

Those were just a few examples of the many functions that minerals have in the body. Some of these roles may not sound very exciting or glamorous, but they all add up! When there is dysfunction in the basic systems of the body, you will start to notice.

(Hello constipation and PMS ) 

Every symptom we experience is a sign of a deeper imbalance going on. We can't just rely on chasing symptoms because the underlying problem will never be solved, leaving you on a never-ending merry-go-round of internet rabbit holes. You might resolve your bloating by removing certain foods from your diet, but before you know it you are on Pinterest trying to find a solution for your acne breakouts! Let’s stop the cycle and get to the root of your symptoms by starting with balancing your minerals, which are vital to optimal health.

So why are many people suffering from mineral imbalances?

Mineral imbalances show up differently for each person, and there are a multitude of factors that are driving the problem. It’s no surprise that stress is one of the primary culprits. Everyone is stressed to some degree, whether they know it or not. We often think of stress as significant life changes or negative events such as losing a loved one or moving across the country. Yes, those are significant stressors! There are endless sources of stress, both positive and negative, that can be experienced on a daily or hourly basis. These seemingly minor stressors add up and can take a toll on our health if we are not aware and replenishing our body with adequate nutrients and support. Your body uses minerals like money. Every system requires payment to complete its jobs including making hormones, digesting food, and detoxifying. If we are not replenishing our minerals, the body will eventually go bankrupt and go into debt. Aka robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Here are just a few examples of daily activities that can become stressors to the body: 

• Lack of sunlight during the day

• Mental stressors such as anxious or negative thoughts

• Poor diet habits

• Lack of sleep

• Medications

• Exercise

• Perfectionist tendencies

• Using screens a significant portion of the day

When our body is stressed, we start to lose magnesium, leading to a whole cascade of mineral imbalances over time. The good news is that we can support our bodies with nutrition and lifestyle habits to address the root of our metabolic dysfunction.

There are three main areas of foundational support I would recommend starting with:

1. Nourishing Diet

Your body can't make minerals, so we must consume them regularly. Macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, and fats) are often the star of the show regarding health and "nutrient-dense foods," but don't forget the micronutrients, which are minerals and vitamins. 

The first priority is to eat whole food, and there is an easy way to determine what that is. Ask yourself two questions: did it have a mother or come from the ground? If you can answer yes for either of those, it’s whole food!

Here are some ideas for nutrient-dense foods to incorporate:  

• Eggs (ideally from pasture-raised chickens)

• Grass-Fed Beef

• Grass-Fed Dairy Products (raw is best, if possible)

• Root vegetables: carrots, beets, radishes

• Fruits: kiwi, oranges, berries

• Cooked leafy greens (spinach, collard greens, kale - cooking makes these foods easier to digest)

2. Stress Resiliency

We will always have stressors in our life. My goal is to help people limit stressors where they can and strengthen their body's ability to handle stress. We all have personal areas of stress, which means different techniques can be helpful. Whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, I encourage you to find what works best.

3. Strategic Supplementation

Our nutrition habits and lifestyle choices lay the foundation for our health. However, I think intentional supplementation can help fill the cracks of our stressful modern lifestyles and depleted soils. There is no need to buy one of everything from the health store. Stick to whole food supplements and consider the nutrients YOUR body needs. We are going for a minimum effective dose. 

Want to start with whole food supplements? 

Try beef liver and oysters! They are loaded with nutrients.

 (Here is a beef liver supplement if you want the nutrients, but eating it makes you want to gag) 

My favorite tool for assessing mineral balance and how stress has affected your body is a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis test. It shows how the body uses certain minerals under stress, which looks different for every person. It is not a diagnostic tool, but it provides valuable information for balancing our minerals and building a strong metabolism. 

If you are ready to get to the root of your hormone imbalances and digestive symptoms, balancing your minerals is the first step. I use the insights from your Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis testing to guide the process of creating a customized protocol to solve your health concerns.

Schedule a free call today to get started. I would love to meet you!