The Human Body's Mineral Content

In most cases, optimal levels of Minerals exist and the essential Minerals must be present in the body in their correct balance. Excessive consumption or accumulation of Minerals is generally as undesirable (i.e. toxic) as a deficiency.
 
Macrominerals (Essential)
% Average Human Body
Content(70 kg person)
Oxygen 65.4 43 kg
Carbon 18.2 12 kg
Hydrogen 9.5 6.3 kg
Nitrogen 3 2 kg
Calcium 1.67 1.1 kg
Phosphorus 1.14 750 grams
Potassium 0.342 225 grams
Sulfur 0.228 150 grams
Chloride 0.152 100 grams
Sodium 0.137 90 grams
Magnesium 0.053 35 grams
Silicon 0.046 30 grams





Microminerals
Microminerals
Microminerals % Average Human Body
Content(70 kg person) Essentiality
Iron 0.00638 4,200 mg Essentiality
Fluoride 0.00395 2,600 mg Essential
Zinc 0.00365 2,400 mg Possibly Essential
Rubidium 0.000532 350 mg Essential
Strontium 0.000486 320 mg Probably Essential
Lead 0.000243 160 mg Possibly Essential
Copper 0.000137 90 mg Essential
Aluminium 0.0000988 65 mg Toxic
Cadmium 0.0000608 40 mg Toxic
Barium 0.0000344 22 mg Possibly Essential
Cobalt 0.0000304 20 mg Essential
Vanadium 0.0000304 20 mg Probably Essential
Iodine 0.0000228 15 mg Essential
Tin 0.0000228 15 mg Possibly Essential
Selenium 0.0000228 15 mg Essential
Arsenic 0.0000228 15 mg Possibly Essential
Manganese 0.0000198 13 mg Essential
Mercury 0.0000190 12.5 mg Toxic
Nickel 0.0000167 11 mg Possibly Essential
Molybdenum 0.0000122 8 mg Essential
Chromium 0.0000091 6 mg Essential
Bismuth 0.0000045 3 mg Probably Toxic
Lithium 0.0000038 2.5 mg Probably Essential
Uranium 90 mcg Toxic
Boron Probably Essential
Germanium Probably Essential
Bromine Possibly Essential
Gold Probably Non Essential
Silver Probably Non Essential
Beryllium Probably Toxic
Antimony Slightly Toxic
Thallium Toxic


These Substances Facilitate the General Absorption of Minerals

Amino Acids
Cystathionine facilitates the absorption of essential Minerals.
Glutathione facilitates the absorption of essential Minerals.

Enzymes
Glutathione Synthase metabolizes Minerals in the Skin and the Muscles.


Proteins
Orotic Acid facilitates the transport of Minerals into the blood from the digestive tract.


Water
Water is an essential transport mechanism within the body for Minerals.


Forms of Minerals (Generally)

Mineral Form Mineral Bonded With Comments
Inorganic Salts: Phosphates,
Sulfates,
Chlorides Important for Electrolyte balance.
Organic Acid Salts: Ascorbates,
Acetates ,
Citrates Natural and more effectively absorbed by the Digestive System than Inorganic Salts.
Amino Acid Chelates: Amino Acids The best form of absorption of Minerals. Specific Minerals chelate best with specific Amino Acids.




Toxic Minerals
Toxic Minerals are a group of Microminerals that are not essential to human health and which are generally toxic to the body. These Substances Enhance the Elimination of many Toxic Minerals from the Body


Amino Acids
Cysteine (and Cystine) may chelate (bind) with many Toxic Minerals and may facilitate their elimination. The synthetic Amino Acid - Ethylene-Diamine-Tetra-Acetate (EDTA) - is used in Chelation Therapy to bind to and chelate (remove) many Toxic Heavy Metals from the body via the Kidneys.
Methionine may chelate (binds) with many Toxic Minerals and may facilitate their excretion.


Carbohydrates
Alginates may chelate (bind) with most Toxic Minerals in the Intestinal Tract and may prevent their absorption. references
Galacturonic Acid chelates (binds) with many Toxic Minerals and may facilitate their excretion.


Enzymes
Glutathione Peroxidase facilitates the removal of several Toxic Minerals from the body.


Lipids
Alkylglycerols bind (chelate) with many types of Toxic Minerals (especially Mercury) and may facilitate their excretion from the body - Alkylglycerols are unique in that they are one of the few oil-based chelating agents.


Minerals
Selenium binds (chelates) with many toxic Minerals and may facilitate their excretion from the body.


Organic Acids
Fulvic Acid reputedly facilitates the chelation (removal and excretion) of Toxic Minerals from the body’s Cells.


Peptides
Glutathione (usually after incorporation into the Glutathione Peroxidase enzyme) may detoxify several Toxic Minerals.


Smart Drugs
Dimethyl Glycine (DMG) may be a useful chelation and elimination agent.
Vinpocetine may facilitate the removal of some types of Toxic Minerals from the body.


Vitamins
Vitamin E may enhance the detoxification of most toxic heavy metals.



These Foods may Enhance the Elimination of Many Toxic Minerals from the Body


Algae

Kelp may facilitate the excretion of some Toxic Minerals (due to the Algin content of Kelp binding to Toxic Minerals in the Digestive Tract and may thereby facilitating their excretion).


Animal-Derived Supplements

Shark Liver Oil may facilitate the elimination of various Toxic Minerals (especially the toxic Methylmercury form of Mercury) from the body (due to the Alkylglycerols content of Shark Liver Oil).


Mineral Foods

Shilajit reputedly facilitates the chelation (removal and excretion) of Toxic Minerals from the body’s Cells (this capability of Shilajit is claimed to be due to its Fulvic Acid content).


Vegetables

Garlic may facilitate the excretion of some Toxic Minerals.

Mineral Acids

Mineral Acids are inorganic Acid compounds that use Minerals as their base. Mineral Acids are much stronger acids than Organic Acids.


Types of Mineral Acids

Carbonic Acid

Carbonic Acid is a type of Mineral Acid formed from Water and Carbon Dioxide

Derivatives of Carbonic Acid - Bicarbonate Bicarbonate is the ion remaining after the first disassociation of Carbonic Acid. It functions as a central buffering agent against Acids in the Blood.


Therapeutic Uses of Bicarbonate

Metabolism
Bicarbonate (consumed prior to Exercise) may delay the onset of Fatigue and Muscle Weakness in people who undertake strenous Exercise (e.g. Endurance Exercise) and may accelerate the recovery of Muscles following strenuous Exercise (this occurs from Bicarbonate causing Lactic Acid to be secreted out of Muscle Fibers and neutralized).


Musculoskeletal System
Bicarbonate may help to prevent and treat Osteoporosis.
Bicarbonate may Inhibit these Potentially Toxic Substances
Organic Acids
Bicarbonate may help to prevent the Muscle Weakness and Fatigue caused by the excessive accumulation of Lactic Acid in the Muscles during prolonged Exercise (Bicarbonate causes Lactic Acid to be secreted out of Muscle Fibers and neutralized).


Forms of Bicarbonate
Magnesium Bicarbonate consists of Magnesium bound to Bicarbonate. It is only present in Water and is never present in a solidified form. It is responsible for the “hardness” of Water. Potassium Bicarbonate (KHCO3) consists of Potassium bound to Bicarbonate. Sodium Bicarbonate (also known as Baking Soda, Sodium Acid Carbonate, Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate) consists of 32.5% Sodium bound to 67.5% Bicarbonate.


Dosage Recommendations
The usual dosage of Bicarbonate used by people seeking to prevent Muscle Weakness during prolonged Exercise and to accelerate Muscle recovery after prolonged Exercise is 300 - 400 mg per kg of body weight (this would equate to an average dosage of 25 grams).
Hydrochloric Acid

Hydrochloric Acid is a strong Mineral Acid produced by the Parietal Cells of the Stomach. It comprises 0.2% - 0.5% of Gastric Juice.

Biological Functions and Therapeutic Uses of Hydrochloric Acid

Digestive System
Hydrochloric Acid regulates the acidity of the Stomach to optimize Digestion. This occurs primarily through Hydrochloric Acid stimulating the conversion of Pepsinogen to Pepsin (a Proteolytic (Protein- digesting) Enzyme).

Immune System
Hydrochloric Acid may destroy some Detrimental Microorganisms that gain entrance into the body via the Mouth: references
- Hydrochloric Acid may kill some forms of Detrimental Bacteria in the Stomach and Small Intestine:
- Hydrochloric Acid is likely to be important in suppressing Campylobacter jejuni.
- Hydrochloric Acid may suppress or kill Helicobacter pylori (Hypochlorhydria (lack of Hydrochloric Acid) patients have increased levels of Helicobacter pylori).

Oral Health
Hydrochloric Acid deficiency may cause Periodontal Disease (by decreasing the absorption of Calcium in the Alveolar Bone).

Skin
Supplemental Hydrochloric Acid may be useful for the treatment of Hives (as many cases of Hives are believed to occur as a result of Food Allergies resulting from insufficient endogenous production of Hydrochloric Acid).
Vitiligo patients are often found to have sub-optimal levels of Hydrochloric Acid in their Stomachs and replenishment of Hydrochloric Acid (15 cc with each meal) has resulted in many cures of Vitiligo.
Nitric Acid
Phosphoric Acid
Sulfurous Acid