Minerals are organic substances found primarily in the soil that are vital to every mental and physical function in the body. With a few exceptions, most of them are needed in extremely small amounts but without them, our health and well-being can be significantly compromised. They ensure healthy digestion, a well-functioning nervous system, strong teeth and bones, healthy muscles, strong heart, soft and supple skin, a healthy brain, and so much more. But how can we ensure we have all the necessary minerals needed to stay healthy?
The first step is to be conscious about the foods you choose to eat, focusing on ones grown on healthy soil. This would include organic fruits, vegetables, grains nuts and seeds as compared to those that are grown on soils full of pesticides, herbicides and other toxic chemicals. Farmers that are committed to providing healthy foods are far more likely to take much better care of their soil than a commercial farm would.
The same would be true for grass-fed or pastured animals as these would naturally be consuming mineral and nutrient-rich plants such as grass, bugs, seeds, etc. These kinds of food choices can help provide many of the micro-nutrients that your body so desperately needs but are almost always deficient in commercially-prepared, refined, or processed foods.
It’s important to note that some of these minerals are found in trace amounts in the food we eat while others, such as calcium, magnesium and zinc, are present in almost every soil-grown food that would be part of a healthy diet. Cruciferous vegetables, bananas, avocados, almonds, carrots, nuts, spinach and sweet potatoes are just a few of the commonly-consumed foods that are rich in these important minerals.
Coincidentally (or not), most of the trace minerals our body needs are also found in the same kinds of foods. There is no need for an extensive spreadsheet which details the exact amounts of these minerals in a single food. A better approach is to consume a health-promoting diet that is free from refined foods, sugar, unhealthy fats and processed grains and favors organic foods grown (or raised) on healthy soils that provide the nutrients we need to optimize our health.
Think of it this way: focus on eating foods that don’t require a label to disclose the ingredients whenever possible. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, organic fats and grass-fed or pastured animal products are about as natural and wholesome as food gets. Just do the best you can and keep moving forward. Your health is a journey that begins with one single step.
