Mineral Test Kit: FAQ

 

Where Do Toxins Come From ?

Progress in the last century has resulted in many new advances. However, one major setback, as a result of these advances, is the release of enormous amounts of heavy metals into our environment. With the interconnected nature of the earth and global manufacturing, toxins have become an inseparable part of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Toxic exposure can affect us on a daily basis--from sources we may never even suspect:

• Lead, the most abundant toxin in our body and our environment, can be found in tap water, urban soil (contaminated by car exhaust), paint from older homes, soldering, newsprint, food (grown in lead-heavy soil) and some glazed dishware.
• Mercury, also a widespread contaminant of the environment, is present in amalgam tooth fillings, cosmetics, shellfish, large fish, fungicides, paints, electrical relays, thermometers and thermostats.
• Aluminum is contained in antacids, baking powder, processed cheeses and flours, cookware, antiperspirants, water sources, and some medicines.

Other common sources of heavy metal toxins include cigarette smoke & air pollution (cadmium), hydrogenated oils (nickel), pesticides (arsenic), and some toothpastes and canned food (tin).

How Do Toxins Affect My Well-Being?

The human body is not capable of metabolizing and processing large quantities of toxins, and as a result, allows toxins to accumulate. This can have both subtle and powerful effects on your well being.

As toxins build up, they can damage cells and displace key nutrients your body needs to function properly. Scientists are finding more and more that the amount of toxins necessary to affect behavior and the central nervous system is much lower than previously believed.

With repeated exposure, toxins may eventually accumulate inside organ tissue, such as those of the liver and kidney. Toxins can also increase production of free radicals.

What Are Mineral Nutrients So Important? Mineral nutrients are essential to life.

Without mineral nutrients, your body wouldn't be able to function. Mineral nutrients serve as the basic structural components of your skeletal system, blood proteins, enzymes, and certain hormones and vitamins. Your body uses minerals to produce energy and carry out important biochemical processes such as enzyme reactions, hormone production, and nerve transmission. Mineral nutrients also help promote proper growth and development of tissue, and assist in heart and muscle function.

Where Does The Body Get Mineral Nutrients?

Having a full complement of all minerals is important. Your body cannot make essential minerals; they must come from your diet. Modern food processing and farming techniques can reduce the mineral content of some foods by as much as 99%, helping make mineral deficiencies more widespread than vitamin deficiencies. Another reason for mineral deficiencies is that minerals are not released as easily from food compounds as vitamins are.

What Are Some Important Mineral Nutrients?

Your body depends on several key mineral nutrients. These include calcium for bone tissue and muscle function; magnesium for heart function and energy production; manganese for skin tissue, hair growth, and immune function; and zinc for sexual function, digestion, and wound healing. Some other important mineral nutrients include chromium, cobalt, copper, strontium, and sulfur; a powerful antioxidant that can protect your body from cell damage.

How Common Are Nutrient Imbalances?

Nutrient imbalances often go undetected in a great number of people. Many clinical studies have reported multiple mineral deficiencies in a large percentage of the U.S. population. One researcher found that the average daily intake of copper by individuals consuming typical Western diets was only about half of the 2 - 3 mg required for optimal health. Another important study revealed that the average selenium consumption in the U.S. is typically less than half of the amount necessary.

What Causes Nutrient Imbalances?

Imbalances of mineral elements can stem from poor diet, genetic predisposition, maldigestion or malabsorption of food, excess stress, or an improper balance of nutritional supplements.