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Minerals and Trace Minerals: A Clarification of Definitions
ConcenSea™ Trace Mineral Drops is an ionic, electrolyte solution of
minerals and trace minerals. Mineral Resources International (MRI) has
developed a special process of tableting so that our tablets rapidly
release the minerals and trace minerals provided by ConcenSea™ back into
an ionic, electrolyte solution, even when placed completely whole into
cold water.
Mineral: Naturally occurring inorganic
elements having a characteristic crystalline structure and chemical
composition. Minerals or macro-minerals are those minerals which
the body requires more than 100 milligrams of per day for proper
maintenance of health. Micro or trace minerals are those minerals
which the body requires less than 100 milligrams of per day.
Ionic: Of, containing, or relating to an
ion or ions. Some of the most essential minerals and trace minerals have
shown a dependency upon being ionic in order to be absorbed in the
intestinal lumen and/ or to be physiologically valid.
Through digestive processes, some of which are dependent upon sufficient
stomach acid, the body is able to break down some other forms of organic
or inorganic bound minerals and trace minerals to their ionic form so they
can be absorbed. Minerals and trace minerals are capable of remaining in a
free flowing, non-bound ionic form in a balanced solution.
Ion: An atom or
group of atoms that are inherently either positively or negatively charged
due to either additional or missing electron(s). This charge causes the
ions to interact, attracting or repelling each other in a search for
another ion to join with or to give up an electron in order to make the
charge neutral1, 2.
The fluids of the body are largely ionic solutions. The body uses the
movement of ions through these fluids and across cell membranes as an
integral part of many vital body processes. For example, ions regulate
acid-base balance and water balance. Ions also serve essential roles in
nerve conduction, muscle contraction, heart action, blood clotting,
protein metabolism, bone and tooth formation, and enzyme activation. In
fact, every body process is dependant on ions.
Electrolyte: A substance whose molecules
split into individual ions when dissolved thus allowing it to conduct
electrical energies1.
Solution: A liquid made up of water and
water soluble components.
Colloidal mineral: A suspension of tiny
non-soluble mineral and trace mineral particles in water. Most colloidal
minerals are held in suspension by their tiny size and/ or a static
electrical charge. Many colloidal minerals claim to be organic due to the
fact that they come from prehistoric mineral deposits such as humic shale
and that some of the minerals are bound to carbon.
Note: By this same
definition, coal and many petroleum products are also organic.
Caution: Many colloidal trace
mineral products, even though not represented on the label
have aluminum and phosphate as their two most prominent elements.
Chelate: A form
of a mineral or trace mineral whereby it is bound usually synthetically to
a carbon based or "organic" substance. Chelates can allow high
concentrations of certain elements to be more readily broken down into
ionic form and absorbed when compared to other minerals which are bound to
other non-organic substances. Chelates, however, tend not to be naturally
balanced.
Metallic: 1. All minerals and trace
minerals that are not negatively charged (or anions) are inherently
metallic. This does not, however, mean that they are either toxic or
non-toxic. For example, magnesium is a metallic element, which is an
essential nutrient that serves several vital functions in the body; 2.
Metallic elements can be found in solid metal or metallic form such as a
gold nugget, a copper penny or bronze, which is a combination of metallic
minerals. Metallic elements can be found in the soil in tiny particles in
this form but would be non-soluble and fairly difficult to assimilate.
Only metallic elements are capable of conducting electricity in solid
form.
All metallic minerals are capable of also being in an ionic form and when
in an ionic solution, are capable of conducting electricity through the
solution. This is essential to human health. Metallic elements are also
capable of being in several "non-metallic" forms.
Elemental Minerals: 1. All minerals are
elemental or elements when looked at and analyzed individually. Therefore,
by this definition, all minerals could be referred to as elemental; 2. A
pure mineral which is not balanced with other elements. This is usually
accomplished through extensive processing such as extreme heat or
electroprocessing. Examples would include magnesium metal, copper metal or
tin metal or chlorine gas.
There are several problems which make this type of elemental mineral
unsuitable for supplementation including the fact that most, if not all,
of the minerals in this form would either become such a tightly bound
metal that it would be virtually impossible to digest and assimilate or it
would be so highly reactive that the mineral would be extremely toxic.
Even though several companies are now warning the public of the dangers
and difficulties of taking this type of elemental mineral, MRI is not
aware of any companies which are actually selling this type of elemental
mineral as a dietary supplement.
Minerals in an ionic solution such as found in ConcenSea™ are free
flowing and are not bound to the other minerals and trace minerals in the
solution and could, therefore, be referred to as elemental minerals.
The minerals and trace minerals in an ionic solution such as ConcenSea™
are, however, balanced and in associations such as ion pairs which keep
them from being reactive. For example, the chloride which is found in
ConcenSea™ is associated with many other other minerals and trace
minerals and is in the same form which is readily absorbed as one of the
most abundant minerals in the body. This is very different from the highly
processed and separated chlorine which is very reactive and toxic.
References:
1. Clayman C. The American Medical Association's Encyclopedia of
Medicine. Random House: New York, 1989: pp.605,399.
2. Dox, I., Melloni, J., Eisner, G. Melloni's Illustrated Medical
Dictionary. Parthenon: Pearl River, NY, 1993: pp.227.
3. Griffith, H. Complete Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements.
Fisher Books: Tucson, AZ, 1988.
4. Juo, P. Concise Dictionary of Biomedicine and Molecular Biology.
CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL, 1996.
Further Readings:
Horne, M., Swearingen, P. (1993) Pocket Guide to Fluids,
Electrolytes, and Acid Base Balance. Mosby: St. Louis, 1993.
Schauss, A. (1995) Minerals and Human Health: The Rationale for Optimal
and Balanced Trace Element Levels. AIBR: Tacoma, WA, 1995.
phone: (801) 731-7040
toll free: (800) 731-7866
e-mail:
info@mineralresourcesint.com
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