The document discusses minerals and their importance for human health. It states that the human body cannot produce its own minerals and relies on food and water, but modern foods and water are often poor sources of minerals. As a result, mineral supplements are now generally necessary. It provides examples of health issues that can arise from both mineral deficiencies and overconsumption from supplements. The document also discusses pica behavior which can be a sign of mineral deficiencies, and notes that blood tests are not always accurate for determining mineral levels while hair or tissue tests are more reliable.

4. Can our body make its own minerals?
 Our body is not capable of making its own minerals.
 We naturally rely on food and water to supply these
necessary nutrients but over the decades food and water
have become poor sources.
 Now a days it is imperative that we take them in
supplement form.

5.  You can get the proper amounts of most minerals from
the foods you eat. This makes supplements often
unnecessary and, if you get too much of any one
mineral, supplements can be dangerous.
 Sodium – hypertension
 Iron – severe liver damage – death
 Zinc- anemia, fatigue, low immune function and an
increased chance of urinary tract infections.
 Selenium- selenosis (hair loss, fatigue, slight nerve
damage and nausea)

6.  An iron or zinc deficiency can manifest in unusual ways -- it
can induce the perplexing behaviors associated with pica.
 The compulsion to eat nonfood substances. If you're
afflicted with pica, instead of craving chocolate or french
fries, you'll have uncontrollable urges to eat things like….
Paper
 Dirt
 Hairballs
Ice
Paint
 Sand
 Clay or even animal droppings.

7.  Pica is more common in children –
children ages 1 to 6 exhibit these behaviors at some
point.
 Treatment : includes testing for and correcting
nutritional deficiencies.
 Pica is sometimes related to as a mental or
behavioral disorder instead of a nutritional
deficiency.

8. Can a blood test determine mineral levels
accurately?
 Blood tests cannot give you this information, but will
only tell you what is in the blood at a given time.
 A tissue mineral analysis/hair test is the most reliable
way to have an accurate assessment of your personal
mineral profile.

9. Should minerals be taken with or without food?
 As long as you are taking a mineral that is highly
absorbable your tissues will benefit fully from the
minerals, regardless of when you take them.

16. Minerals perform several vital functions which are absolutely
essential for the very existence of the organism.
 Integral components of biologically important compounds such
as hemoglobin (Fe), thyroxine (I), insulin (Zn) and vitamin B12
(Co) .
Minerals participate as cofactors for enzymes in metabolism (e.g.
Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, K)
 Some elements are essential constituents of certain enzymes
(e.g. Co, Mo, Se).

17. calcification of bone
Blood coagulation
Acid-base equilibrium
fluid balance and osmotic
regulation.

18. * principal elements are
required in amounts
greater than 100 mg/day.

19. Micro elements
Essential Possibly essential Non essential
lron, copper,
iodine,
manganese/ zinc,
molybdenum,
cobalt, fluorine,
selenium and
chromium.
Nickel,
vanadium,
cadmium and
barium.
Aluminium.
lead, mercury,
boron, silver,
bismuth