Search Long Natural Health
Importance of Trace Minerals for Mood & Anxiety
Compiled by BioNativus
Support and improve your health with trace minerals!
Balance the body's pH, improve energy, immunity and more
Increase the delivery of nutrients into, and removal of wastes from every cell, tissue, fluid, gland and organ to protect against aging and disease
The Importance of Concentrated Trace Minerals for Mood Swings, Anxiety, Panic & Depression Never has the admonition to take your minerals been as important as when feeling the effects of mood swings. Cells depend on minerals to create certain chemical reactions necessary to produce vital hormones and other chemicals, such as serotonin. Magnesium, zinc, and iron are crucial in the treatment of mood swings because they help the muscles relax, reducing cramping and pain that lower serotonin levels. Due to the fact that minerals are water-soluble, they are easily forced out of the body by internal and external stresses including exercise, emotions, menstruation, diarrhea and, of course, many prescription medications.
Magnesium is the first mineral to be depleted when the body is under internal or external stress; it is also the first mineral to help recovery from mineral imbalances, stress, anxiety and panic disorders.
Additionally, our body loses its ability to completely replenish nutrient levels as we age.
Minerals are extremely important to both avoid damage and the repair of cellular integrity caused by nutritional deficiencies, especially when withdrawing from prescription medications, street drugs or alcohol, and during and after detoxification techniques or protocols.
Because minerals are part of every cell and body fluid, they are the neurotransmitters that signal every action within the body, literally the body’s electrical system.
Minerals are vital to the overall digestive process and play a major role in maintaining alkalinity within the body – enabling the blood to carry the correct amount of oxygen to all the cells while stimulating and regulating the heart muscle and enabling nerve tissue and glands to properly function.
Many cases of anxiety are a matter of mineral deficiencies that create an imbalanced internal environment, causing a chain reaction that manifests as anxiety, panic or even depression as the body attempts to maintain balance but doesn’t have the tools (minerals/electrolytes) necessary.
Mineral/Electrolyte Deficiency: The Anxiety/Panic Connection
Deficiencies in certain minerals can cause depression. Deficiencies in minerals such as potassium, sodium, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and manganese have been known to produce depression.
• Magnesium: Deficiency can result in depressive symptoms, along with confusion, agitation, anxiety, and hallucinations, as well as a variety of physical problems. Most diets do not include enough magnesium, and stress also contributes to magnesium depletion
• Calcium: Depletion affects the central nervous system. Low levels of calcium cause nervousness, apprehension, irritability, and numbness.
• Zinc: Inadequacies result in apathy, lack of appetite, and lethargy. When zinc is low, copper in the body can increase to toxic levels, resulting in paranoia and fearfulness.
• Iron: Depression is often a symptom of chronic iron deficiency. Other symptoms include general weakness, listlessness, exhaustion, lack of appetite, and headaches.
• Manganese: This metal is needed for proper use of the B-complex vitamins and vitamin C. Since it also plays a role in amino-acid formation, a deficiency may contribute to depression stemming from low levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. Manganese also helps stabilize blood sugar and prevent hypoglycemic mood swings.
• Potassium: Depletion is frequently associated with depression, tearfulness, weakness, and fatigue.
by Gloria Gilbère, N.D., D.A.Hom., PhD.
From the book Healthy Healing by Linda Page, ND, Ph.D, she states, “ Minerals and Trace Minerals are the building blocks of life, the bonding agent between you and food. They keep your body pH balanced, are essential to bone formation, regulate the movement of cellular fluids, nerve electrical activity and metabolic function. Trace minerals are only .01% of body weight, but even deficiencies in these micro-nutrients can cause severe depression, PMS, hyperactivity in children, blood sugar disorders, nervous stress, high blood pressure, premature aging, memory loss and poor healing.” “ Many minerals are no longer even sufficiently present in our fruits and vegetables, leached from the soil by chemicals and pesticide sprays used in commercial farming.”
Mineral Deficiencies: The Mineral Depletion of The Earth’s Soil and Ocean of June 1992 reported the following decline of nutritional minerals in farm and range soils by continent over the last hundred years:
The Earth Summit Report
Continent.... % Depleted Over Past 100 Years
North America .............85%
South America .............76%
Here are some recommendations:
Calcium, Magnesium & D3 are essential to the central nervous system and bone regeneration. They work best when taken together.
Dosage: Take a Calcium, Magnesium and D3 combination formula that supplies 500 - 600 milligrams of Calcium , 250 to 600 milligrams of Magnesium and 400 IU of D3 twice daily.
Chromium helps keep blood-sugar levels in balance.
Dosage: Take 200 micrograms twice a day for one month, then reduce to 200 micrograms daily.
Selenium is an antioxidant. It has a mood-elevating effect when taken in regions where food supply is deficient in selenium.
Dosage: Take 100 mcg daily
Iron produces hemoglobin to carry oxygen throughout the body. Anemia is a condition in which your red blood cells don’t contain enough hemoglobin. Anemia resulting in lack of energy and depression is often caused by illness or blood loss.
Take a low dosage of iron daily for depression caused by anemia.
Zinc protects against free radical damage, and is essential to the formation of insulin, immune strength, gland and reproductive health.
Dosage: Take 30-40 mg daily
MEET TIMOTHY LONG!
Timothy Long is the founder of Long Natural Health. Get to know him and how he can help you with any of your health questions!