More About Minerals

Essential nutrients

When it comes to nutrition vitamins and minerals go hand-in-hand. Correctly referred to as mineral nutrients, minerals complement the health benefits of vitamins and vice-versa, such as the beneficial roles both vitamin D and magnesium play in the absorption and utilization of the mineral calcium.*

Like vitamins, mineral nutrients are essential for life. These inorganic compounds are naturally present on the Earth, with many found in soil and water. Minerals are required for our skeletal structure, including teeth.* They’re essential components of bodily tissues and fluids, and are required for the normal function of all bodily enzyme systems.* Almost every function our bodies perform is in some way dependent on mineral nutrients.*

Deficient diets

We obtain minerals primarily through our diet. Plants and other vegetation obtain them primarily from soil. Animals, including humans, obtain them through the ingestion of plants and other animals.

What you may not realize is the mineral content of soil can vary significantly from region to region, and these variations affect the nutrient content of both plants and animals. Modern food processing methods can further limit and even destroy these vital nutrients, so by the time your fresh produce or meat reaches your table it may not be nearly as nutritious as you might think.

Should we be getting our mineral nutrients from our food? Yes. Is a healthy, well-balanced diet sufficient to do so? These days, probably not, unless you’re eating raw, whole foods grown in pristine regions of the world where pollution and chemicals have yet to arrive. If you’re eating grocery store foods and the occasional fast food then you’re most likely not getting what you need.

Even if you’re eating healthy, you still may not be getting enough of the mineral nutrients you need.

This is why mineral supplements are an important part of a health regimen that includes regular exercise and a healthy diet.

Why minerals matter

If you’re not getting the mineral nutrients your body needs, here’s just a tiny bit of what you’re missing:

• Calcium – The most well-known of the mineral nutrients is also the one found most abundantly in our bodies. In addition to its benefits for bone health it’s also crucial for proper neuromuscular and vascular function.* Calcium is also necessary for normal blood clotting function, neurotransmitter activity, and intercellular signaling.*
• Magnesium – Another extremely important mineral nutrient, magnesium is needed by our immune, cardiovascular and nervous systems for normal function.* It works closely with calcium to maintain skeletal health and also helps to regulate blood glucose.* Magnesium plays a key role in the processes used to produce energy.* Recent studies indicate that many Americans are deficient in magnesium.
• Potassium – Potassium is an electrolyte mineral, or one that possesses an electric charge (calcium and magnesium are electrolyte minerals as well). Its main function is to regulate the balance of water and minerals throughout the body.* It’s also required for normal muscle and nerve function and helps to regulate blood pressure.*
• Iron – Dietary iron is absolutely essential for life. It’s necessary for the production of new red blood cells.* Iron is a component of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from the lungs into other tissues in the body, and it’s also found in myoglobin, which is necessary for the storage and diffusion of oxygen in muscle cells.*
• Zinc – Zinc is essential for normal growth and development and is found in many important enzymes.* It’s necessary for the formation of collagen and the synthesis of protein, and it supports healthy immune system function.*

The NOW^® Difference

At NOW we offer a broad range of mineral supplements in a variety of forms including capsules, veg capsules, tablets, lozenges, powders and liquids, and every mineral supplement we produce is tested for quality, purity, potency and safety.

With NOW’s superior quality and outstanding value the choice for your mineral supplement needs is an easy one. Now let’s find the best mineral supplement for you.