And the main emphasis should be on greens, organic salads, veggies, juices and smoothies. Our body needs the organic, bio available minerals to chemically buffer toxins/acids. That is the real “alkaline” movement. Because of a very acidic life style with poor diet, little exercise and lots of stress people are mineral depleted.
We do not recommend chemically, synthetically generated mineral/vitamins because the body can absorb only little of those. E.g. women who take calcium supplements have a 30% increased risk of heart attack.
Sea water is alkaline and rich in minerals but if you drink only sea water you die in a few days because of kidney failure. Last week a woman contacted me because of her kidney stones. She had been taking lots of a very expensive “alkaline mineral powder” for 1,5 years. Not good.
Again, try to only ingest foods and drinks you fully understand without a chemistry degree 🙂
Here is more info on organic vs inorganic minerals:
Organic and inorganic Minerals – what’s the difference?
by Peita Handel, BSc, Ad. Dip. (Herbal Medicine)
We often think of ‘organic’ in terms of chemical and hormone-free produce. But when we talk about minerals, the term organic relates to the type of molecule it’s bound to.
These ‘extra’ molecules are needed because minerals are not simply absorbed on their own, they need another molecule to help them get into and around the body. The type of molecule bound to your mineral affects how it is absorbed and utilised by your body.
Mineral supplements, why bother in the first place?
Because we often just don’t get enough. For example, many Australian adults consume less than the average recommended dietary intakes (RDIs) for both zinc and magnesium. You are at particular risk of not meeting your mineral needs if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, female over 65, vegetarian, vegan or an athlete.
Key minerals that your body needs:
• Magnesium: nerve and muscle function, bone health, carbohydrate metabolism, energy production, blood glucose regulation, cardiovascular health
• Calcium: bone mineralisation, density and strength, dental health, premenstrual syndrome, nerve and muscle function
• Zinc: healthy immune function, reproductive health, healthy hair, skin and nails, wound healing, digestive function, vision, hearing, sense of taste and smell
• Iron: tissue oxygenation, energy production, immune function, connective tissue health, cardiovascular health
When you consider magnesium is needed for over 500 enzyme reactions in your body, you can see why getting enough of this mineral is so important. Where it gets tricky is knowing what to look for when faced with shelves displaying a range of different compounds for similar sounding products. There might well be a dozen different types of magnesium supplement, but what is the difference?
The main differentiating factor is whether a compound is organic or inorganic. Understanding this is key when choosing a mineral supplement that delivers, because not all are created equal.
So what is an organic mineral?
An organic mineral is a compound containing organic food-based acids, such as amino acids and citric acid. For example, calcium bound to the amino acid glycinate forms the organic compound calcium glycinate.
Mineral supplements often contain inorganic (rock-based) minerals as these are cheaper to produce. Calcium bound to phosphate makes calcium phosphate, which has different properties to its organic counterpart.
Inorganic minerals are difficult to absorb
Put basically, molecules are more stable when holding hands with a buddy. A free unbound mineral will wander looking for something with the opposite charge to grab onto to.
Inorganic compounds are broken down by your body very quickly and dissociate more readily, and this leaves the unbound mineral in a more reactive and less stable state.
It can then interact in your digestive system in the following ways:
• Bind to other compounds – unbound minerals bind with other molecules such as phytates found in nuts, grains and some vegetables. They form a new compound and this traps the mineral from absorption and utilisation by your body.
• Irritate the gut – unbound minerals can also interact and irritate with the lining of your digestive system and this sometimes causes a laxative effect or diarrhoea.
Organic minerals are generally absorbed better
Organic minerals break down more slowly, and this increases their stability. A mineral that remains bound for longer is less reactive and goes where it is meant to, offering two main benefits:
• Higher bioavailability – organic mineral compounds can travel along the gut without getting trapped by other compounds.
• Decreased gut irritation – a bound mineral is less reactive and so less likely to irritate the gut lining like freed minerals can.
