Good Health & Minerals

Our good health is dependent on various minerals to facilitate body function and our metabolism; these minerals are described as major minerals and trace minerals.

There is no relationship between the amount of these minerals we require i.e. the small amounts of the trace minerals may impact on our health and wellbeing more than the larger amounts we may require of the group of minerals under the category of major minerals. The major minerals include sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and sulphur.

Sodium

Sodium or common salt as it is generally known is required for fluid balance, nerve function and communication, muscle tone and function. Salt has been villainised to some extent in recent years supposedly for health reasons, don’t be fooled by this, a lack of salt may result in major health issues especially through the warmer periods of the year or travelling through the tropics or deserts.

You may require salt tablets to maintain healthy fluid balance; we lose salt through our urine and our natural temperature control mechanism that utilises the principle of latent heat to cool our bodies through evaporation and perspiration.

During the first half of the last century goitres were a major health issue requiring significant surgery in some cases; a simple mandate by the government of the day adding iodine compulsory to our table salt cured this health compromising condition, which is a good demonstration of just how important these trace minerals may be to promote and sustain good health.

Magnesium

Magnesium is found in bone structure and is fundamental in the formation of protein, muscle, nerve and immune function; it is also absolutely essential for muscle tone, relaxation and the promotion of healthy sleep patterns.

Magnesium is readily sourced in our diet from leafy green vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, artichokes, chocolate and various types of seafood.

As we can see much of what our body requires for healthy body function in the way of these minerals is available through our regular diet. In many ways New Zealand is very fortunate in so far as our ability to grow a great variety of food types, the down side is that our soil unlike those of Europe which were enriched with minerals through glaciation and erosion, our younger soils don’t enjoy the benefits of this natural addition to our soils to the same extent. There are a number of examples throughout New Zealand of these deficiencies which in many cases are supplemented through fertiliser applications and supplements for livestock and people.

Magnesium is a very popular capsule supplement to promote a restful night’s sleep, muscle relaxation and health.