The Minerals in You

Is there salt in your cupboard? Do you own anything iron? What about diamond jewelry? If any of the above items exist within your life, congratulations! You are the owner of minerals. Many minerals exist within the Earth’s crust, and they are also mined for their value and use. But did you know there are also minerals inside of you? These organic materials are absolutely essential for our body to perform a myriad of different functions, including but not limited to the formation of bones and teeth, nerve function, and the constituency of body fluids and tissues. Every person requires different minerals in different amounts, and because they are so essential, it can be difficult to know what is right for your body! Luckily, I’ve gathered up the three ESSENTIAL products you should have for all your summer nutrition needs, and those include a healthy dose of minerals EVERYONE should have in their pill box.

To understand what your body’s mineral needs are, it’s first important to understand the different types of minerals your body requires. To keep your body functioning properly, you need an intake of major minerals, trace minerals, and electrolytes. Major minerals are those which you need a large amount of, such as calcium, phosphorous, potassium, sodium, and magnesium. Trace minerals, on the other hand, are minerals your body only needs a small amount of. These include iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, and iodine. Lastly, electrolytes are minerals in your body that carry an electric charge with them in the form of ions. Electrolytes are in all of our cells and body fluids, They are also partially responsible for communication between cells, which makes our bodies function. There is no real difference between electrolytes and minerals; and they are all needed by our body. 

The One Mineral You Really Need

I’m going to argue right here and right now the most important out of all the minerals mentioned above is magnesium. “Sufficient magnesium intake is important in helping to: maintain the function of the heart, muscles, and nervous system; support learning and memory performance in aging adults; absorb and utilize potassium and calcium properly.” Magnesium is the mineral that helps maintain healthy electrolyte levels. And as we learned above, electrolytes are a complete group of minerals your body can’t function without. Additionally, when you go without magnesium, it impacts your vitamin D levels and your calcium homeostasis (balance). 

According to research from Oregon State University, “inadequate dietary intake and/or low serum concentrations of magnesium have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and metabolic disorders, including metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.” Magnesium, behind potassium, is the second most abundant mineral in the human body. “Magnesium is involved in more than 300 essential metabolic reactions,” some of which were discussed above, but also including energy production, synthesis of essential molecules, structural roles, ion transport across cell membranes, cell signaling, cell migration, and nutrient interactions.

I think the most astonishing thing out of all the information mentioned above is noting that “according to a USDA Agricultural Research Report, 7 out of 10 Americans are below the Dietary Reference Intake for magnesium.” Additionally, those who suffer from gastrointenstinal disorders, renal disorders, endocrine, and metabolic disorders are at an even greater risk for magnesium deficiency. So why is this happening?

The Farming Problem

The answer lies within our soils. The fact of the matter is, our food is not as nutritious as it may have been 30, 50, or even 100 years ago. A landmark study from the University of Texas (UT) took a close look at the detrimental phenomenon that’s occurring as a result of our agricultural demand.  UT studied the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s data “from both 1950 and 1999 for 43 different vegetables and fruits, finding ‘reliable declines,’ in the amount of protein, calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamin B2, and vitamin C of the past half-century.” This extreme decline is attributed to the measures we go to to ensure a bountiful harvest. In other words, the agricultural practice designed to improve the size, growth rate, and pest resistance of many of our crops is also the culprit for less nutrient-dense foods. 

These processes, while beneficial to the longevity of our crops, yield the exact opposite for the soils. The organisms in and constitution of the soil which our crops are planted is completely responsible for the nutritional value of the produce we consume. Harmful pesticides commonly used in commercial, big-business agriculture contaminate this delicate balance in the soil. They also leach into the water, which is then used to feed the plants and further the issue. Alternating fields between growing seasons to give the fields time to recover will help the issue, as will eliminating pesticides in fertilizers. Taking an organic approach to farming will solve most of these issues and prevent the poisons from coming from the plants to you. However, most farms prioritize money and ease over health and so the issues persist. 

Introducing: The Summer Supplement Kit!

So you know you need magnesium, and you know our soil is the issue. It’s not one that’s going to fix itself any time soon, so I’ve got an alternative solution for you. When I was putting together our summer supplement package we’re offering for Clean Coach Carly, the first thing I chose to put in it is magnesium! You can’t go without it, it is SO important during any season of the year! To accompany, I also selected one of my favorite brands of Vitamin D, and an electrolyte powder to make sure you’re covered for minerals, even when your diet isn’t covering you. 

Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Powder: 

For my magnesium in the summer, I especially love this magnesium powder from Pure Encapsulations. I’m on the go a lot during the warmer months, and sometimes it’s hard to remember to take a daily pill when my schedule is all over the place. This powder is great on its own with 8oz of water, or it can be mixed into a yummy smoothie or juice. I might forget my pills, but I know I’ll never forget to eat, so this one works great! Plus, if you eat sugar, you are definitely, most likely magnesium deficient. Sugar abounds during the warmer months in the form of ice cream, popsicles, cold sodas, and more. If you take this a couple of times daily it will do wonders to restore your depleted reserves and you can relax and enjoy your summer easily knowing your body is provided for.

Designs for Health Vitamin D Supreme:

Now, you’re probably wondering why I included a vitamin D supplement in the package, because we are literally amidst the days with the most sunshine out of the whole year. There are two reasons for this. First, you can still be low in vitamin D, even during the summer months. It’s pretty much impossible for you to get too much of this stuff. Second, not all of us have the luxury of living outside. I know myself, and I know many of you probably sit in an office or an air-conditioned house for most of the day, every day. That isn’t helping you reach your requisite vitamin D intake any more than the government is helping to lower our taxes. Keep your levels up by taking this supplement every day as needed, or when you’re getting closer to normalcy, you can reduce to 2 or 3 capsules per week. 

BioPure Matrix Electrolyte Powder:

Lastly, this electrolyte powder especially is great for summer. It’s hot outside, and you’re probably outdoors as much as you possibly can be, sweating and enjoying the sweetness of fresh fruit and sunshine. Sweating is great for your health, but not only do you lose a lot of water through sweating, but you lose minerals as well. Matrix Electrolyte Powder is here to help you kill two birds with one stone. A few drinks of this stuff every day will keep your cells and body hydrated with plenty of water and added electrolytes. Matrix electrolytes are the bio-hacked version of toxic Gatorade. Matrix contains no sugar, flavors, or dyes. It is virtually tasteless and can be added to water. If you want some flavoring, try lemon stevia or add to iced tea. 

You can stay mineralized and cover all your nutritional bases this summer with our summer supplements offer! We have this package available in our shop for over 10% off of the price if you bought each of these items separately. Don’t deprive your body for another minute! Check out the package in the shop, and happy sunny days!