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Best Foods For Minerals

Earth contains 118 elements, aka the building blocks of our entire planet.  25 of those elements are considered essential in human health, although 60 of these are arguably necessary for the human body.  However, modern agricultural only adds 3 (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) to the soil.  This extremely myopic approach to agri-business is a big part of our health dilemma in western society. Knowing the best foods for your vitamins and minerals can help maintain optimal health.

We know there is an undeniable crucial link between minerals and human health

Minerals that are Essential

America spends $3.5 trillion per year on health care, of which $480 billion goes to prescription medication.  While no one will argue with the life saving advantages of a big city emergency room, when it comes to chronic disease (i.e. heart disease, cancer, diabetes, kidney problems, mental illness) drugs and surgery fall short of fixing the problem.  Enter the need for minerals that are essential for optimal nutrition.

Humans need macronutrients (big amounts or gram quantities): protein, carbohydrates, fats, water, fiber

Micronutrients (small amounts of milligram quantities): vitamins and minerals

Trace elements (tiny amounts or microgram quantities): selenium and chromium are examples.

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5 Best Foods for Essential Minerals

Foods High in Magnesium

Many a person suffers from heart pains, heart attack, depression, weakness, and more simply due to a magnesium deficiency.  Magnesium is in low supply in the American diet with the average American consuming half the RDA of 400 mg/d.  Nuts, seeds, and green leafy vegetables are the best food sources of magnesium.  More than coincidentally, these same foods are associated with lower risk of heart disease.  Magnesium is crucial for at least 300 separate enzyme reactions in the human body.  Some experts say that long lived cultures benefit from their diet and water that is rich in magnesium.

How to Improve a Magnesium Deficiency with Diet

Best Sources of Iodine

Iodine is found primarily in seafood.  Iodine deficiency is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the world.  Low iodine leads to hypothyroidism, cancer, mental retardation and more.  A certain percentage of breast cancer may be nothing more than a long term deficiency of iodine.

Best Foods for Minerals

Best Sources of Selenium

Selenium is another mineral in short supply in the American diet.  Numerous studies have shown the link between low selenium intake and cancer.  Best food sources of selenium are nuts, meats, cottage cheese, fish, kelp, mushrooms, and oats.  Essentially, the earth’s crust has an uneven distribution of minerals throughout the soil.  People assume that all soil contains all the essential minerals in the right ratio.  Not so.  Selenium is a classic example of a mineral that is very low in some soils, hence the plants grown on that soil, and the animals that eat those plants will be low selenium.  All the more reason for biodynamic farming where the soil is properly fertilized to feed the plants and animals who feed from this soil.  The ultimate karma.  Feed the soil properly and you are feeding you and your family properly.

Selenium Rich Foods

Foods Rich in Chromium

Chromium is another mineral commonly missing in the American diet.  Studies show that chromium can be an effective treatment for diabetes and elevated fats in the blood.

Lithium Deficiencies

There is compelling evidence that a substantial portion of the 6 million Americans now suffering from Alzheimer’s disease are at the tail end of decades of a lithium deficiency.

Strontium to Reduce Dental Caries

Strontium is a mineral found sporadically throughout the food and water supply.  Areas that have the highest strontium have the lowest incidence of dental caries.

Best Foods for Minerals

How to Add these Best Foods for Minerals to your Diet

It is clear that minerals play a crucial role in human health and that most Americans do not get enough minerals. Try and include these best foods for minerals.

  • Eat whole foods.  Processing removes most or all of the minerals.
  • Eat a wide variety of foods.  No one food contains all of the essential minerals.
  • Eat seafood.  The ocean contains all the essential minerals.  Seaweed and fish are good sources of many minerals.
  • Eat biodynamic food grown in nutrient dense soil.
  • Grow your own food.  Now you know what goes into your food supply by nourishing your soil properly.

Dr. Patrick Quillin

Dr. Patrick Quillin, PhD,RD,CNS is an internationally recognized expert in the area of nutrition and health. He has 30 years experience as a clinical nutritionist, of which 10 years were spent as the Vice President for a leading cancer hospital system where he worked with thousands of cancer patients in a hospital setting. He is a Best Selling Author with 18 books which have sold over 2,000,000 copies and also a Keynote Speaker.