Minerals for Health (Part 2)

Minerals (Part 2)

Last edition I commented that many people take multi-vitamins but often disregard trace minerals. While it is possible to have vitamin deficiencies (especially vitamin D), people are far more likely to have insufficient trace minerals. The reason is simple: minerals come from the soil and if our soils have deficiencies or imbalances in minerals our food will be likewise.

Insufficient trace minerals can have disastrous effects on our health.  Whilst our soils have sub-optimal levels in many minerals, the real challenges are with selenium and zinc. Selenium has two main roles: firstly it is essential to make thyroid hormones. This is why a good multi like Cell-eXtra (previously Cell-X) is so important with the maximum amount allowable of selenium is important for those with underactive thyroid.

Secondly, selenium is needed to make one of our most important antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Low levels of selenium will mean less GPx than what we need. This is critically important because it protects against cancer cells and generally against free radical damage. In particular glutathione protects the liver. This is important for those who take paracetamol regularly as GPx is used by the liver to eliminate paracetamol. Your daily multi should have 150mcg- the maximum permitted in NZ.

Zinc is the other essential trace mineral often deficient in our diets. While zinc does many things in the body, its main role is to make the antioxidant enzyme super oxide dismutase (SOD). Zinc, works with copper and other trace elements to manufacture SOD which helps to protect our immune system. There is much more that can be said but suffice to say that your daily multi-mineral, multi-vitamin and antioxidant should have 15mg of zinc. This is the maximum permitted in NZ. While Zinc does not prevent you catching viruses it does help in your initial immune responses. Try 3 months of Cell-eXtra and see what you have been missing.

Please note that the health advice given through this column is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any health problem. © John Arts 2021