Know Your Liquid Minerals

By Katie Webb, Staff Writer Saturday, January 21, 2012

1. Buried Treasure Calcium Plus $13.84 2. Natural Vitality Natural Life Minerals $13.61 3. Now Colloidal Minerals Original $10.29 4. World Organic Liquid Colloidal Mineral Energy $10.32

The subject of minerals is a rather complex matter, not fully understood unlike their vitamin counterpart. Notwithstanding the confusion, everyone acknowledges they play an important role in the function, growth and development of the human body and a deficiency in any one of them can increase the likelihood of contracting diseases. The number of minerals that the body needs is still a debatable issue among nutritional experts, but it is generally understood that there are at least seven major macrominerals and eleven trace minerals needed in varying amounts to maintain optimal health.

Essential minerals are not produced by the body. They come from:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Nuts and whole grains.
• Cattle and plant-eating animals
• Dairy products
• Fish and poultry

With mineral depletion in the plants due to the decreasing quality of the earth’s soil, mineral supplements have become necessary for people to get the right amount of nutrients in their bodies and remain healthy.

Mineral supplements used to come in pill and tablet form, until in the mid-80’s when liquid minerals became popular for general use and not just for infants, the elderly and people who had difficulty in swallowing. Supporters of liquid mineral supplements cite the following advantages of this form over the solid variety:

• Bioavailability and Absorption Rate

Supplements must be soluble to be absorbed. Hence, it makes sense for liquid supplements to be absorbed faster than their tablet counterparts. Faster absorption means increased bioavailability, that portion of a supplement that is used and stored by the body and is used as a measure of its efficacy.

• Facilitated Absorption

This takes place through the process of diffusion, which also happens when one area has a higher nutrient concentration than the other area. The nutrients in the area of higher density flow into the area where there is lower density. This process is carried out by “carrier proteins” found in the cell wall of the intestines.

There is a limit, however, in the capacity of the carrier protein to transport the nutrients and the binding factors available. When maximum capacity is reached, the remaining nutrients cannot be transported and absorbed into the bloodstream. To avoid overloading, supplements must have low concentrations over a longer period of time. In this regard, liquid minerals have an advantage over the solid form in that their dilution is higher, so they don’t overwhelm the carrier proteins by loading beyond their capacity. This contributes to a higher absorption and bioavailability rate.

• Passive Diffusion

As its description suggests, there is no energy involved in passive diffusion. It is the simplest form of transfer of nutrients from the intestines into the intestinal mucosal cell. Supplements in tablet form are concentrated; when dissolved, they require a large amount of water to dilute them to the same isotonic concentration as the body fluids. This process puts pressure on the intestines and consequently produces gastric discomfort or diarrhea. The nutrients in the tablets are lost in the process. Liquid minerals, on the other hand, are manufactured to the same concentration as the gastric fluids. There is no obstacle to diffusion and absorption of the nutrients is maximized.

• Function of Minerals

Minerals are essential for the body to perform its numerous biological processes, from cell formation to creation of hormones, bone building, rhythm of heartbeats and prevention of diseases. Macrominerals are the major minerals which the body needs in larger amounts, at more than 100 mg per day, and stored at more than five grams in the body. Below these quantities are the trace (or minor) minerals; although they are needed in smaller amounts, they play just as important functions as the macrominerals. In a nutshell, here are the different roles of the macrominerals in the body:

1. Calcium builds strong bones and teeth, controls muscle contractions and nerve functions, controls blood pressure and aids in blood clotting


2. Chloride – has a major role in digestion and metabolism, maintains intracellular and extracellular fluid balance, helps in the absorption of potassium and removal of carbon dioxide from the body


3. Magnesium – required in the relaxation of the heart cells, promotes bone growth, helps in the metabolism of protein, carbohydrates and fats and some of the micronutrients, protects against diabetes and cardiovascular diseases


4. Phosphorus – helps in calcium absorption to grow and develop strong bones and teeth, helps create DNA and RNA, produces energy and promotes kidney function


5. Potassium – required in the contraction of heart cells, nerve impulse transmissions, supports muscle growth and aids in protein and carbohydrate metabolism


6. Sodium – supports fluid and electrolyte balance, maintains proper body fluid volume, maintains the solubility of minerals in the blood and supports the functions of the major organs


7. Sulfur – treats skin and joint diseases, assists in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and absorption of some B vitamins, supports the production of collagen, insulin and keratin.

The trace minerals are cobalt, zinc, selenium, iron, copper, manganese, iodine, chromium, molybdenum, nickel and vanadium. Each one has its own special function but no one works alone. The different types of minerals must be present in the body for each one to perform its role and they must be in the right amount, as too little or too much can have adverse effects and cause a chain reaction of toxicity or deficiency.

Mineral supplements contain just the right amount of the macrominerals and trace minerals to overcome deficiencies and prevent an overdose. But with liquid minerals taking the lead in benefits to the consumer, why settle for tablets?

	Liquid Health Calcium & Magnesium  Why do I recommend this specific product? Liquid Health Calcium & Magnesium gives you potent doses of two of the most vital liquid minerals. It tastes great and lasts up to one month if taken daily.
	TRC Nutritional Laboratories Minerals 75   Why do I recommend this specific product? For a complete liquid mineral profile, you have to try TRC Laboratories Minerals 75. It contains over 75 vital liquid minerals from all natural sources.