The Importance Of Alkaline Minerals For Health

minerals

This week Gareth Edwards, our Alkaline Diet Expert, Dr Young trained blood analyst and highly qualified nutritionist, writes about the importance of alkaline minerals for our health.

In this article he concentrates on what he calls the “major players”, which are the four alkaline minerals sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. They are particularly important for our cellular metabolism and for our overall health.

The Importance Of Alkaline Minerals For Health

If you’re interested in alkalising or health in general, you are probably aware of the importance of minerals to health. You might add salt to your food or avoid it. You may choose to take a supplement containing minerals. You may consciously eat foods that contain high levels of minerals you consider to be beneficial. It is possible that you might also avoid foods or drinks that inhibit the absorption of minerals into your blood stream or those that promote or increase their excretion from your body.

This week we’d like to focus on four minerals, why your body needs them and how you might make sure that has the “right” balance of them. We’ve chosen to look at the four minerals contained in Dr. Young’s product pHour salts, but they are contained in other alkalising mineral preparations too.

Four Major “Players”:

Sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium all serve major roles in cellular metabolism (i.e. making us function).

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Sodium:

It is the most abundant mineral in body fluids (outside cells). It’s essential for nerve transmission, maintains fluid balance and acts as a major component of one of our body’s instant response buffering systems. Buffer systems are the way that our bodies neutralise acids that are formed in the body by everyday cellular function. Most interestingly and controversially, it is believed, in some circles that it can act as the foundational mineral for trans-mutative changes into the other three following minerals in the body.

Potassium:

It is the most abundant mineral inside our cells. It also is required for nerve transmission as exchanges with sodium ions help create the electrical flow information through our nervous systems. Additionally it maintains pH balance in the cell. When it passes out of the cell hydrogen ions can move in. Concentration of hydrogen ions is what creates the pH (potential of hydrogen). This mineral which is abundant in vegetables and fruits has been associated with a lowering of blood pressure [1].

Magnesium:

It is a huge player in making your body run. It’s central to turning food into energy. It’s needed for the pump that maintains mineral balance in the cells. It too is required for nerve transmission and muscular contraction. Crucially it is essential for functioning of the heart muscle. There are high levels in dark green leafy vegetables as it is the central atom in chlorophyll (the pigment that makes plants green).

Calcium:

It is the most abundant mineral in the body due to it’s presence in bone structure. It too plays an important role in nerve transmission, blood coagulation and the maintenance of muscle tone.

Upping the Anti:

While your body needs all of these minerals for function it can also use them to buffer acids. The Swiss pH focused natural therapist Christopher Vasey, who works closely with pHion suggests that while making alkaline food and hydration choices can help “turn the tide” of increased acidity, it can have limits. He suggests that as acids are released from tissue, they can upset the delicate pH balance of the blood.

Your intelligent body will not allow this to happen and so deep cleansing and release of accumulated acid in tissue may be prevented. He suggests using supplemental minerals in their alkaline form to directly neutralise these acids and allow them to pass into the blood and be eliminated from the body. He also suggests juicing as this makes alkaline minerals more available.

Action Points for Promoting a Healthy Mineral Balance:

  • Make healthy, alkalising diet and hydration choices wherever possible. Vegetables and (low sugar) fruits are packed with these minerals. Juicing them will facilitate the ease with which they can be absorbed by your body.
  • Ensure that you get some daily sun exposure (maximise at weekends) to increase Vitamin D production, which will allow you to absorb and metabolise Calcium.
  • Consider using an alkaline mineral supplement such as pHour salts daily, in order to help promote the release and buffering of acids stored in tissue.
  • Find healthy alternatives to tea and coffee which can both deplete mineral levels. So can alcohol and stronger acids from Animal protein and vinegar.
  • Sprouted pulses and beans are preferable to cooked or tinned ones as they contain compounds that can bind to minerals and limit their absorption.

1. Houston M.C., Harper K.J. (2008) Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium: Their Role in Both the Cause and Treatment of Hypertension.

Note: This blog is only my opinion. It is not medical advice or diagnosis. Only opinions based upon our own personal experiences or information detailed in medical/academic journals or other publications is cited. WE DO NOT OFFER MEDICAL ADVICE or prescribe any treatments. Please consult with a medical professional before making any diet or nutrition changes. Refer to our full disclaimer for more information.

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  1. Sudhir Reply

    Hi,
    I have bought Phour salts and phlavour. But everytime i use them I get muscle cramps and spots on my forehead. I have also heard of other people getting this reaction as well. Could you advise on why? and what to do?

  2. Ashleena Caino Reply

    I totally agree with this way of living to maintain a perfect state of health. I have written an article on my Blog on how eating an alkaline diet cured my friend of Cancer and have stated the EXACT diet to follow too. Check it out, as always it’s completely free, my interest is spreading this knowledge to as many people as possible to help give us the freedom and power to heal our selves!

    http://thehappysolution.com/cancerblog1

    • Ross Reply

      Hi Ashleena

      Thanks for sharing but your link led me to a 404 page?

      Ross

  3. Maria Mendoza Reply

    What do you think of kangen water as alkaline water. I have heard of the many benefits this water brings to those who drink it 24 hours/7 days a week.

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