Did you know that a carrot you eat today contains far less vitamins and minerals than a carrot did back in 1970? Our modern agricultural practices have stripped the soil of nutrients, which means the fruits and vegetables we eat are gradually getting less nutritious.
That combined with the fact that 90 percent of Americans don’t eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables anyway, means that many of us aren’t getting enough of the minerals we need to stay healthy.
There are two types of minerals: macrominerals and trace minerals. Macrominerals are minerals your body needs a lot of, like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and sulfur. Trace minerals are minerals your body only needs in small doses, like iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride and selenium.
Our bodies use minerals for so many important functions. In fact, minerals contribute to almost every aspect of your health. They’re used to make hormones and enzymes. They’re also critical to keeping your heart, muscles, bones and brains in working order. So, how do you make sure you’re not missing out on essential minerals?
One way to get more minerals is to eat more mineral-rich foods, like fruits, vegetables and whole grains. But like we mentioned above, these foods contain far less minerals than they once did. They’re still an important source of minerals for your body. But it’s a lot harder nowadays to eat enough of these foods to get all the minerals you need. So, where else can you get your minerals?
How about from prehistoric plant material?
That sounds far-fetched at first. But a form of prehistoric plant material called humic shale is becoming more popular with health-conscious people who want to make sure they’re getting their minerals. In fact, we offer a supplement that contains minerals derived from humic shale, because we believe in it’s benefits. Humic shale, which is mined in Utah, contains the same minerals you’ll find in fruits and vegetables. Minerals derived from humic shale are also water-soluble, which makes them easy for your body to absorb.
There’s one more factor to consider if you want to make sure you’re getting enough minerals…how much you exercise. When you sweat, you release minerals known as electrolytes. If you exercise (or sweat) a lot, your body’s electrolyte supply can become depleted.
That’s why so many people drink sports beverages (like Gatorade and Powerade) that contain electrolytes after exercising. But these drinks also contain tons of sugar, artificial colors, artificial flavors and artificial sweeteners. Plus, they contain a bunch of calories that counteract the calories you just burned with your workout.
So, how about ditching that brightly-colored sports drink for something simpler and healthier? You could try our Concord Grape Mineral Complex. It tastes as good as Gatorade, without loads of sugar and artificial ingredients. Plus, it contains 70 minerals derived from humic shale, that prehistoric plant material we were just telling you about.
However you choose to get your minerals, be certain to get enough. The FDA offers a handy chart that tells you how much of each mineral you need and where to get them. You can use it as a guide to make sure you’re not missing out on any health-protecting minerals.
