Adelaide Chiropractor Discusses the Role of Minerals in Metabolic Function

Dr Rob Hutchings, Adelaide Chiropractor

Health Align Chiropractic, 266 Glen Osmond Rd Fullarton

(08) 8338 2221

www.healthalign.com.au

drrob@healthalign.com.au

Minerals: Fuelling Your Nervous System

The nervous system is the master control centre for the body on which all other systems depend. Every second the brain produces millions of “bioelectrical messages” that are transmitted down the spinal cord. Between every vertebrae a pair of nerves emerge and branch, to ultimately connect every cell of the body. Without nerve transmission life would cease. If the flow of information is disrupted the health of the body will suffer. This is why corrective chiropractors focus on keeping the spine in optimal alignment; to ensure there is no interference to the flow and function of the nervous system.

In addition to optimal spinal alignment, the nervous system requires the correct fuel to function properly. The body requires at least 90 different nutrients and minerals in the diet on a daily basis. These include 60 minerals, 16 vitamins, 12 amino acids and 3 essential fatty acids.

Sick soil means sick people

Researchers have proven time and time again that the root of most disease is impeded nerve supply and nutritional deficiency. Unfortunately our foods, at one time abundant in all of the nutrients our bodies require, are becoming increasingly depleted in nutritional value, particularly their mineral content.

Our soils in Australia are significantly depleted in minerals as they are geologically ancient and our modern, large scale farming practices have further stripped away vital minerals and nutrients. Commonly used fertilizers are limited to three primary minerals - phosphorous, magnesium and potassium, leaving fifty seven essential minerals unaccounted for!

Organic and biodynamic farming, where plant material is returned to the soil, goes some way to minimise the depletion of our soils, but given our soils in Australia are naturally depleted, mineral deficiency is a concern for all Australians.

Interestingly, or sadly, the increase in degenerative disease in the western world can be correlated - at least in part (most disease is multifactorial) - to the decline of our food’s nutritional content. Minerals are absolutely essential for neural and hormonal function and deficiencies leads to deficits in metabolic function. Mineral deficiencies are key factors to numerous degenerative and metabolic conditions such as heart disease, cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, nerve pain, ADHD, ADD, joint stiffness, immune deficiency, birth defects, endocrine (hormonal) system diseases – just to name a few.

For example, osteoporosis – a feared bone depletion disease that has traditionally affected mainly women, but now increasingly common among men – is nothing more than the body’s attempt to get the minerals that it needs for nerve and hormone function from the bones. It has to resort to stripping minerals from the bones because the diet is deficient in the minerals that it requires and the hormone balance of the body has been upset. It should be noted that calcium is commonly taken by people who suffer from osteoporosis or are at risk. This strategy has been largely ineffective because calcium is only one of the sixty required minerals.

Mineral Supplementation

Until soils are revitalised with all sixty required nutrients, mineral supplementation isn’t just a good idea – it is a law of life!

However, before you hit the shops consider what type of mineral supplement you require. The majority of mineral tablets available are largely ineffective for three reasons:

1) supplementing one or a small number of minerals (e.g. iron or calcium tablets) is ineffective when we need 60. Our bodies require the full spectrum of minerals and if you are deficient in one, chances are you are deficient in others! Also by supplementing only a few minerals you may be further imbalancing the body.

2) mineral absorption and effectiveness is influenced by the combination of minerals consumed. Remember minerals would naturally be absorbed through our food and thus our body is designed to absorb the full spectrum together.

3) mineral supplements are most commonly available in the rock based form, which is a great source of minerals for plants, but nearly un-absorbable by humans. Your supplement might look like it contains a high dose of calcium for example, but how much is your body actually absorbing?

Taking 60 minerals a day doesn’t have to be a mammoth effort. Fortunately there are simple and affordable solutions to ensure your family is getting all the minerals required for health, energy and proper nervous system function.

Colloidal minerals

Colloidal minerals are a plant based liquid form of minerals that are readily bio-available to humans, as they are in the form we find in nature. Thus our body knows what to do with it.

At Health Align we offer a synergistic blend of highly bio-available plant based colloidal minerals to our chiropractic clients. Not only are minerals paramount for nerve function through the body, they speed the correction process of realigning the spine. Minerals are a chiropractor’s best friend.

If you suffer from any of the diseases listed below (or others) colloidal mineral supplementation is required as part of a full recovery strategy.

· Arthritis

· Osteoporosis

· ADHD

· Hormonal Imbalances

· Nerve Pain

· Cancer

· Immune Deficiency

· Hypo / Hyperthyroidism

· Rheumatoid Arthritis

· Chronic Fatigue

· PMS