If you have ever felt hungry and tired, you know that your body is missing something vital. You could be mineral deficient. This is extremely hard to tell if you are eating a balanced diet, as you need several minerals from various sources to keep your body in tip-top shape. Some of the best sources of vitamins and minerals are fruits and vegetables. However, to get the full spectrum of nutrients your body needs, you need a supplement that contains a multi-nutrient mix. Multi-mineral supplements include all the minerals found in food but a balanced amount.
What is the Need For a Multi-Mineral Supplement?
Most people with low levels of minerals in their bodies have no idea they are deficient. This is because there are many mineral deficiency symptoms, and they can be mistaken for other health conditions. This is why it is important for people who do not consume a balanced diet or have certain health conditions to take essential mineral supplements that contain all the minerals needed for good health.
Here are 5 reasons why you should be taking multi-mineral supplements if you do not eat a balanced diet:
Essential Minerals Are Harder To Get From Food Sources Than Others
Minerals like calcium and magnesium are found naturally in many foods, but our bodies do not as easily absorb other minerals like iron, copper, iodine, and zinc. Even if you eat a balanced diet, it is more likely to miss out on some minerals. The best way to get your minerals is through a balanced diet. Talk to your general physician or practice nurse if you are concerned about your mineral intake. They may be able to suggest some ways of increasing the number of certain minerals in your diet or prescribe supplements if necessary.
Mineral Deficiencies Can Be Dangerous to Your Health
Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies because it can lead to anemia and fatigue. Calcium deficiency can lead to osteoporosis and weak bones, while zinc deficiency can cause delayed growth in children and poor immune function in adults. If you are not eating enough fruits or vegetables every day, then you are likely not getting enough of the nutrients you need. If this is the case, you may want to take a nutritional supplement containing the necessary vitamins and minerals.
Helps Regulate Hormones
The hormones in your body are responsible for helping you stay healthy and feel good. They regulate how many calories you burn each day, how your muscles grow and repair themselves, how immune cells function, and how well your brain functions. Eating a diet high in processed foods can lead to hormone imbalances that can cause weight gain or make it harder to lose weight.
When you eat many processed foods, your body does not get all the necessary vitamins and minerals. When this happens, your body must use its stores to keep up with the demand. This can cause your metabolism to slow down, which can lead to weight gain.
Boosts Immune System
The immune system comprises white blood cells produced by the bone marrow. These cells travel through your bloodstream and fight off infections as they come across them. Your lymph nodes also play a role in fighting infections because they contain white blood cells that can identify foreign invaders in your body.
The immune system is your body’s defense against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other foreign invaders. Eating fruits, vegetables, and legumes daily can help boost your immune system to be more effective at fighting infections. When your body does not get enough nutrients, the immune system can become weaker, making you more susceptible to getting sick.
Helps Reduce Cravings
Craving sweets or salty foods can often lead to overeating. Cravings can signify that your diet lacks certain minerals, such as calcium or iron. These mineral supplements are essential to maintain a healthy body weight. It is not just the calories that can lead to weight gain. Foods high in sodium (salt) can increase your blood pressure. This puts you at greater risk of heart disease and stroke.
The multi-mineral helps in reducing cravings and improving your mood. It also helps maintain healthy blood pressure levels and increase energy levels. Proper food digestion helps your body absorb more nutrients from the foods you eat. This can help curb appetite and keep you feeling full longer.
What Are the Minerals Available in It
The multi-mineral supplement has the following minerals in it.
Calcium
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body, making up about 2% of your total weight. It is responsible for bone formation and is needed for muscle contraction, nerve function, and blood clotting. Calcium deficiency can lead to osteoporosis, a disease that causes your bones to become brittle and break easily. It is also a risk factor for high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. Calcium is found in dairy products like milk and cheese and leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and kale. Most adults need 1,000 mg of calcium daily. You can reach this through diet alone or a combination of diet and supplements.
Iodine
Iodine is a trace mineral essential to producing thyroid hormones and helps regulate metabolism. The body can synthesize some iodine, but it also comes from food such as seaweed, fish, and dairy. Iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism, a condition where the body does not produce enough thyroid hormone, resulting in slowed metabolism and weight gain. The recommended daily intake (RDI) for iodine is 150 micrograms per day for adults, 220 micrograms per day during pregnancy, and 290 micrograms per day during breastfeeding.
Iron
Iron is a mineral used to treat and prevent anemia, a condition where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Iron deficiency can cause weakness, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Iron is also needed for growth and development in children and teens. Iron is found in meat, fish, poultry, dried beans, and dark leafy greens like spinach.
But sometimes, it might not be possible to get the recommended amount of daily iron needs from them. For that reason, you should consult your doctor and take supplements. Children might be unable to swallow pills, so liquid minerals supplements are available in the market. The daily recommended intake for iron is 8 milligrams for men and 18 milligrams for women.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that plays a role in over 300 reactions. This mineral helps to maintain nerve function and is responsible for normal muscle functioning, keeps a healthy immune system, maintains a steady heart beat, supports a healthy metabolism, and keeps strong bones. Magnesium can also help prevent migraine headaches and reduce their severity if you already have them.
Magnesium is found in many foods, but the quality of your diet can affect how much you get from food alone. If you are not getting enough magnesium from food alone, it is important to consider taking a multivitamin with minerals like this. The daily magnesium requirement is 400 mg for men and 310 mg for women.
Selenium
Selenium is a mineral that is essential for good health. It is a component of several important enzymes, including glutathione peroxidase and iodothyronine deiodinase. These enzymes help prevent oxidative damage to the body’s cells and tissues by removing harmful substances called free radicals. Selenium helps make and maintain healthy bones, blood vessels, muscles, and skin.
Selenium deficiency can cause Keshan disease, which is characterized by heart disease in young children and adults. Selenium deficiency can cause cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), osteoporosis, and cancer. Signs of selenium deficiency include:
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Dry skin and nails
- Irritability and confusion
- Muscle weakness or soreness
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral that helps your body maintain a healthy immune system. It is also important for proper wound healing, digestion, testosterone production, and other hormones. Zinc is essential for your body’s growth, development, and maintenance. It is needed to help heal wounds, prevent infection, and produce insulin and DNA. Zinc also helps with healing wounds and preventing infections.
Zinc can be found in many foods, including oysters, beef liver, turkey breast, and dark chocolate. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for adults is 11 milligrams daily. A lack of this nutrient can lead to poor immune system function, increased susceptibility to infection, and growth problems. Zinc supplements are available in various forms, including tablets and lozenges, nasal sprays (drops), capsules (softgels), or liquids.
Conclusion
All minerals have essential bodily roles, and a multi-mineral supplement will ensure you receive them. Minerals play key roles in bone health and muscle development, but they also help the body convert food into energy. However, even though the mineral supplements do not have many side effects, it would be best to ask your doctor first before starting any trace mineral supplement routine to make sure you do not have any medical conditions, or if you do, check with a professional before starting any treatment or dietary changes.