NaturalMedications

Minerals to Treat Common Diseases

Rectifying any mineral imbalances in the body can help to to alleviate and treat common diseases and promote health. Below is a list of the most important ones available as supplements. Calcium, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Potassium, Selenium and Zinc.

Calcium

Uses in the body: 99% of our calcium is used for the growth and development of healthy bones and strong teeth. Also helps to control blood cholesterol levels, assists nerve, muscle and digestive function, regulates heart muscle function and sleep, and helps the body to absorb vitamin B12.

Signs of deficiency: muscle aches and pains, cramps, poor bone density, cataracts (early onset).

Therapeutic uses: relief from joint pain, arthritis, rickets, osteoporosis, allergies, digestive disorders, depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, nervous tics, insomnia.

Dietary sources: whitebait, bones of canned fish such as sardines, sesame seeds, dairy produce, soya beans, nuts, broccoli and other green leafy vegetables, seaweeds, pulses, wholegrains (bread), oranges. Milk isn't always a good source of dietary calcium, as it's low in magnesium - so its calcium content is poorly absorbed - and high in protein, which increases calcium loss in urine. It's therefore best to get calcium from a variety of sources.

Warning: Calcium supplements should be avoided by prostate cancer patients.

Chromium

Uses in the body: is an essential trace mineral that helps the body maintain normal blood sugar levels. Facilitates the uptake of glucose for energy release and aids the synthesis of essential fatty acids and cholesterol and may protect against arteriosclerosis.

Signs of deficiency: sweet cravings, poor concentration, feeling faint. A diet high in refined carbohydrates can result in a deficiency as chromium gets lost during the refining process.

Therapeutic uses: can relieve sweet cravings, PMS and mood swings. Especially useful for smokers, athletes (chromium can increase lean muscle mass) and those on weight-control diets.

Dietary sources: brewer's yeast, wheatgerm, wholegrains, black pepper, cheese, liver and kidney, molasses, nuts, pulses.

The high incidence of adult-onset diabetes suggests to some doctors that many people should be supplementing with small amounts of chromium.

Copper

Uses in the body: helps transport oxygen through your body, maintain hair color, and is used to make hormones.

Signs of deficiency: hair loss, anaemia, bone disease, poor growth, general feeling of malaise, abnormal heart rhythm (in adults).

Therapeutic uses: arthritis, heart disease, brittle bones, rheumatoid arthritis, water retention, damaged skin. Particularly helpful after surgery, trauma or burns, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, for the elderly and for those on low-calorie diets.

Dietary sources: liver, shellfish, nuts, bran, wholegrains, olives, wheatgerm, pulses, dried fruit.

Iron

Uses in the body: carries oxygen around the body, important for hair health, needed for metabolism of B vitamins, calcium and copper, boosts immune function. Iron-deficient people tire easily in part because their bodies are starved for oxygen.

Signs of deficiency: anaemia, brittle nails, tiredness, muscle ache, headache, faintness, hair loss, digestive problems often linked to low levels of stomach acid.

Therapeutic uses: fatigue and weakness, PMS, hair loss, poor nails. Important for breastfeeding women, vegans and vegetarians (iron from plant sources isn't always absorbed easily) and coffee drinkers (caffeine severely affects iron absorption if taken within an hour of eating).

Dietary sources: blackstrap molasses, cocoa, wholegrains, liver, kidney, egg yolk, shellfish, nuts, soya produce, dark green vegetables, dried fruit.

Magnesium

Uses in the body: essential for good heart and liver health, and  nerve and muscle function, balanced metabolism and strong bones. Assists in the production and repair of cells and is necessary for calcium absorption and activating B vitamins. It is found in high concentrations inside cells, namely those of the brain and heart.

Signs of deficiency: cramps, muscle fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea, insomnia, heart rhythm problems, numbness and tingling, eye tremors, hyperactivity.

Therapeutic uses: menstrual pain and PMS, osteoporosis, insomnia, morning sickness, joint pain, heart disease, asthma, nervousness, anxiety and other mental problems. It's also important for alcoholics, diabetics and epileptics, although supplementation requires professional supervision.

Dietary sources: nuts, millet, wholegrains and cereals, molasses, all green vegetables, pulses (especially soya beans), shrimps and other seafood, tap water (in hard water areas). Much magnesium is lost in cooking.

Pregnancy: There is a risk to the fetus, therefore do not take, unless advised by your physician to do so.

Breastfeeding: Do not take magnesium unless advised by your physician to do so.

Manganese

Uses in the body: needed for healthy skin and cartilage formation, as well as glucose tolerance and nervous system function. Also essential for metabolism of amino acids and carbohydrates and stimulates glycogen storage in the liver.

Signs of deficiency: disc and cartilage problems, impaired brain function, fertility problems, retarded growth, glucose intolerance, middle ear problems.

Therapeutic uses: fatigue and poor memory, mental problems, PMS, bone problems. Good for those taking oral contraceptives as they can cause manganese deficiency.

Dietary sources: wheatgerm, brown rice, buckwheat, oats, blackberries, raspberries, cereals, wholemeal bread, avocados, nuts and seeds, pulses, baked beans, black tea.

Molybdenum

Uses in the body: metabolism of iron, is necessary for normal sexual function in males and may help to prevent tooth decay. Is found mostly in the liver, kidneys, adrenal glands, skin and bones.

Signs of deficiency: deficiency may be linked to cancer of the oesophagus.

Therapeutic uses: not commonly supplemented, but sometimes used by people with poor diets.

Dietary sources: pulses (particularly soya beans), wholegrains, buckwheat, alfalfa, dairy produce, liver and kidney, dark green and leafy vegetables. Much is lost during the refining process of food.

Potassium

Uses in the body: found in every cell in the body and helps to regulate the fluid and alkaline/acid balance. Plays an important role in regulating electrical impulses in the  heart, transporting oxygen to the brain, nerve transmission, metabolism, enzyme production, excretion and the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels. The kidneys regulate the balance between potassium and sodium in the body.

Signs of deficiency: irregular heartbeat, cramps, muscle fatigue, loss of appetite, lethargy, constipation, headaches, depression, irritability.

Therapeutic uses: diarrhea, poor digestion, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure and for those on potassium-losing diuretics, aspirin or laxatives or high-salt diets.

Dietary sources: vegetables, fruit and their juices (including avocados, oranges, bananas and dried fruit), wholegrain bread, pasta and rice, soya flour, nuts and seeds, molasses, fish.

People with kidney failure should not take potassium supplements, except under careful medical supervision.

Selenium

Uses in the body: essential for health of liver, eyes, hair, nails and skin, and plays a role in regulating hormones in the body. Also protect cells against damage from free radicals through its antioxidant action.

Signs of deficiency: none known, but patients with liver disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and arthritis are often found to have very low levels.

Therapeutic uses: arthritis, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver and alcoholism, eye problems such as cataracts, eczema, acne, dandruff, chemical toxicity (for example, mercury) and as an immune booster and preventive against cancer. People on weight-loss diets, vegetarians and vegans should make sure they have adequate intake.

Dietary sources: brazil, cashew and other nuts, blackstrap molasses, white fish, liver, kidney, shellfish, cereals, bread, dairy products. A good source for babies is breastmilk rather than dried milk.

Zinc

Uses in the body: aids tissue repair and wound healing and is necessary for healthy immune and reproductive systems, liver function and sense of smell and taste. Plays an important role in enzyme and insulin formation and activity, and in the metabolism of vitamin A and essential fatty acids. Essential for healthy skin, bones and teeth and also for normal development of brain, nervous system and bones during pregnancy.

Signs of deficiency: loss of sense of smell and taste, skin problems (such as acne and eczema), wounds that won't heal, frequent colds and flu, visual problems, irritable bowel, weak muscles, hair loss, disturbed sleep patterns, prostate problems, infertility (due to low sperm count) and alcoholism. Certain drugs such as laxatives, steroids and some diuretics, and excessive intake of tea or coffee, can cause a deficiency.

Therapeutic uses: to treat the problems listed above. Recommended for the elderly, those suffering from anorexia nervosa, alcoholics and those on restricted diets.

Dietary sources: seafood (especially oysters), popcorn, nuts and seeds (especially walnuts, brazil nuts and sesame seeds), wholegrain cereals, pulses, sardines, beef, ginger root, green vegetables.