Take dietary minerals to lose weight and gain health
You need minerals to support your body while you are experiencing dietary changes. You need these micronutrients (including vitamins) in small healthy amounts throughout your lifetime for your body to function more efficiently. You need to get these essential nutrients on a daily basis from external sources like food and food supplements. You need them for growth and repair of tissues and bones (including teeth). You also need them for your enzymes, hormones, body fluids, and body processes such as heartbeat, blood clotting, internal fluid pressure, nerve response, and oxygen transport. Nature provides you with plenty of these micronutrients. But you end up with much less because of aggressive agricultural practices, poor food selection, and fast-paced lifestyle. This is why millions of people rely on good quality food supplements. Info bits: “A deficiency of a vitamin or mineral will cause a body part to malfunction and eventually break down – and, like dominos, other body parts will follow.” – James Balch, MD of Prescription for Nutritional Healing
Two groups:MacromineralsSome call them bulk minerals or macroelements. You need at least 100 milligrams (mg) of each one per day. Some of these are calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium.Trace mineralsYou need less than 100 milligrams (mg) of each one per day. Some of these are copper, iron, selenium, and zinc.Here are the best ones for weight lossCalciumFunctions: It is for bone health, blood clotting, cardiovascular / heart health, nerve transmission, muscle growth and contraction.Calcium deficiency may result to muscle cramps, abdominal cramps, hand and feet spasms, irritability, insomnia, and osteoporosis. Sources: dairy products, green leafy vegetables, sesame seeds, soya beans, shelled almond, muesli, spinach ChromiumFunctions: This is for glucose metabolism and glucose tolerance improvement in some people with type 2 diabetes. It helps maintain proper sugar levels and healthy functioning of the circulatory system. It is used for a healthy metabolism and weight loss.Chromium is required for the metabolism of sugar/glucose and for the breakdown of cholesterol, fats, and proteins. Without sufficient chromium, insulin is less effective in regulating blood-glucose levels. In this way, chromium helps to control cravings and reduce hunger. Sources: egg yolks, molasses, beef, hard cheese, liver, fruit juices, and whole grain bread. ManganeseFunctions: It helps regulate fat and protein metabolism and blood glucose. It is needed for healthy nerves, bone growth, and immune system. It is needed by your joints. It is needed for a healthy thyroid function which itself is essential to maintain a healthy weight. It is needed for enzyme functions. This works well with Vitamin B.Sources: tea, wheat germ, spinach, split peas, nuts, oat germ, oatmeal, pineapple, green leafy vegetables. VanadiumFunctions: It is needed in cellular metabolism and bone formation. It improves insulin utilization, resulting in improved glucose tolerance. It inhibits formation of cholesterol from forming in the blood vessels.Sources: black pepper, shellfish, mushrooms, parsley, soy, corn, olives, olive oil
ZincFunctions: It helps to regulate appetite. This is good for normal growth and development, skin health, reproductive system health, and strong immune system. It is also needed for the correct functioning of hormones, like insulin. It is needed for enzyme functions. It is important for carbohydrate and protein digestion, collagen formation, and healing of wounds. It protects the liver from chemical damage. It is needed by Vitamin E in the blood.Zinc deficiency is common among smokers, heavy drinkers, some vegetarians, people with chronic illness and those on non-nutritious or very low calorie diets. Sources: wheat germ, calves’ liver, poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, shellfish, herring, lean beef or lamb, eggs, lentils, Brazil nuts, almonds, chicken.
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