Minerals

Minerals

1. Sodium (Na+)

   • Electrolyte and membrane potential
   • Asians higher in Na+ diet intake vs Americans

2. Iodine

   • Deficiency causes Cretinism, Myxedema & Goiter
     • Hypothyroidism Deficiencyin iodine (produces inactive thyroxin) HASHIMOTO'S HYPOTHYRODITIS (autoimmune destruction of thyroxine-producing cells) Feedback to TSH secretion causes the Thyroid to grow.
       • Myxedema - Over weight body, Puffy facial tissues
     • Hyperthyroidism Pituitary tumor (produces excess TSH) or GRAVES DISEASE (cross-reacting autoimmune antibodies bind TSH receptor & stimulate Thyroid).
       • Myxedema - Localized Edema, especially preTibial

3. Potassium (K+)

   • Diabetics need electrolytes due to Insulin lowering K+ levels

4. Magnesium (Mg++)

   • Low levels causes tremors, numbness & irregular heartbeat

5. Calcium (Ca++)

   • Americans Ca+ intake lower than Asians
   • Regulate secretion, Blood clotting, muscle contraction and enzyme co-factor
   • Ca+ Remains constant due to hormonal regulation properties cant be be used to determined Ca levels
   • Calcitonin inhibits Ca+ absorption
   • Phytates in grains reduce Ca+ absorption, balance it out with Sardines, Bone broth & Fortified Drinks
   • Ca+ intake is typically low in American diets and Fast foods provide excess Phosphorus

6. Phosphorus

   • Americans Phosphorus intake higher than Asians
   • Blood Buffer, Bone mineral, Biomolecule component

7. Iron

   • Supplementation in rare Iron deficiency Anemia

8. Sulfur

   • Conformational folding of a protein

9. Zinc

   • Wound healing (Collagen Syn)
   • Deficiency in middle eastern diets due to diets high in GRAIN (phytate) having fiber bind to ZINC