Hello and I trust you are having a good week!

Below is a quick list of 8 trace minerals. 5 are well known but all of them are equally important.

This newsletter is a tag to my recent 3 articles called Food X-Factor 101 (Vitamins, Essential Minerals, & Trace Minerals).

Vitamins http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art9710.asp

Essential Minerals http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art41849.asp

Trace Minerals http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art53265.asp

1. Boron - bone builder; helps body absorb calcium and magnesium; activates certain hormones such as estrogen and testosterone; helps convert vitamin D to active form.
Sources: Parsley, apples, cherries, grapes, leafy vegetables, nuts, beans

2. Chromium - balances blood sugar. Transport glucose (blood sugar) across cell membranes and into cells, where it can be burned for energy. Diabetes symptoms usually are signs of low chromium levels in the blood.
Sources: Brewer's yeast, broccoli, ham, grape juice

3. Cobalt - is at the core of every molecule of vitamin B12, a nutrient essential for the formation of red blood cells. That function is vital, and it's the only known function of cobalt in humans.
Sources: Dairy and other animal products

4. Copper - forms connective tissue as it helps produce collagen and elastin. It literally helps hold our skin together inside and out! Also those with low levels could develop heart disease and osteoporosis.
Sources: Shellfish (esp. cooked oysters), nuts, seeds, cocoa powder, beans, whole grains, mushrooms

5. Fluoride - is taken up by bone tissue, making the tissue stronger. Mixing slow-release fluoride and calcium has helped reduced bone fractures in 50% of post-menopausal women.
Sources: Fluoridated water, tea, marine fish with bones such as canned salmon and mackerel

6. Iodine - used by the thyroid to produce thyroxine, which regulates energy production, body temperature, breathing, muscle tone and the manufacture and breakdown of tissues. Deficiency results in swelling on the front of throat known as goiter.
Sources: Iodized salt, lobster, shrimp, cooked oysters, marine fish, seaweed, breads, milk

7. Manganese - builds and maintain strong bones, collagen, connective tissue, and cartilage, the rubbery cushioning found where bones meet. The inside health of bone (mesh of collagen) depends on calcium, magnesium and manganese.

Women with osteoporosis show low levels of manganese. Also necessary for proper brain function. Low levels are shown in people with disorders such as epilepsy. Manganese also helps the body break down carbohydrates and fat for energy
Sources: Canned pineapple juice, wheat bran, wheat germ, whole grains, seeds, nuts, cocoa, shellfish, tea

8. Molybdenum - (mo-LIB-duh-num) is a component of three enzymes, which help to get chemical reactions going. Molybdenum is part of an enzyme that helps detoxify compounds found in certain foods, chemical preservatives, and drugs. A person who eats a relatively balanced diet usually gets enough.
Sources: Beans, whole grains, cereals, milk and milk products, dark greens, leafy vegetables

As you can see, trace minerals are very important even though we only need a tiny amount in our diets.

Click on the Eatwell Plate featured in my link below (Essential Minerals),
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art41849.asp for help in balancing out your food groups. It is a colorful and simple graphic to aid you in your quest for better nutrition!

Source: Prevention's Healing with Vitamins by the Editors of Prevention Health Books (First Ed. 1996)

Here's to good health. I wish you a blessed and healthy week!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Here's the latest article from the Cancer site at BellaOnline.com.

Food X-Factor 101 - Trace Minerals
Trace minerals are so important to a person’s diet that a person cannot do without them for very long, and they cannot be replicated. Don’t let the name fool you – in this case, small is big. Read on to find out more!

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art53265.asp

Visit the Main Cancer site for a wealth of information http://www. cancer.bellaonline.com/Site.asp for even more great content about Cancer.

Be sure and 'share' on your favorite social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, or forward to friends and family. It's always good to help somebody!

Rann Patterson, Cancer Editor
http://cancer.bellaonline.com

One of hundreds of sites at BellaOnline.com