Wellness Advisors are available
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm MST
North America:
Call or Text: 1-855-955-1114
International:
Call: 1-587-271-1110
Web Chat
Schedule Consult
The Importance of Micronutrients
Micronutrients are essential nutrients which are available in trace quantities in the foods we consume every day. We need them in order to survive. Micronutrients, including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants must be provided in a balanced, absorbable format in order to optimize the health of the body. They occur naturally in whole foods in small amounts and are available in larger, more therapeutic quantities as supplements.
The Essential Role of Micronutrients
Micronutrients play an essential role in the metabolism and maintenance of the body’s tissues, nerves, neurons and organs. While micronutrients are available in food, it is essential to remember that the RDA (recommended daily allowance) is a minimum, and should not be considered a target for those with higher than average nutrient needs such as pregnant women, the elderly, or those suffering from diseases or disorders such as mental illness.
Micronutrients are essential because they protect our bodies from disease and protect the body's cells from deterioration.
Micronutrients permit the body to produce hormones, enzymes and other biological materials necessary for appropriate growth and development. Moderate levels of deficiency have been shown to have severe harmful consequences on human health. Micronutrient malnutrition has numerous negative consequences. Along with the direct health consequences, micronutrient disease has broad consequences for economic growth and public health, such as potentially enormous healthcare expenses and the reduction of quality of life. [1]
Vitamins
Vitamins are natural compounds that our bodies need in order to function correctly. Vitamins serve several functions from the body such as brain growth, bone health, protecting DNA from free radicals, and also ensuring optimum operation of the immune system.
Vitamin micronutrients may be water-soluble or fat-soluble, which influence how we consume them and how fast we metabolize them. Water-soluble vitamins incorporate both vitamins and minerals that are excreted daily and consequently are extremely important to replace every day. Fat soluble vitamins require a supply of fat to be consumed.
Minerals
Minerals are inorganic, naturally occurring compounds that empower the cells to perform vital functions.
Minerals play a considerable role in bone growth, brain health, mobile functions and encouraging the metabolism. Humans require at least 18 distinct minerals to operate appropriately. They are comprised of macro-minerals considered electrolytes, like magnesium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium, along with other trace minerals we need in smaller amounts such as copper, iron, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, and selenium. [2]
Essential minerals can be further categorized into macro minerals and trace minerals. Both are equally significant however trace minerals are required in smaller quantities.
Macrominerals include magnesium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride and sulfur. They perform several functions within the body such as maintaining proper fluid balance and maintaining healthy bones and teeth. They are also vital for muscle contraction and nerve signaling and immune health.
The proper levels of micronutrients protect us from disease and are also paramount to powerful immunity. [3]
Importance of Micronutrients for Optimal Health
A healthy diet, full of balanced nutrition is essential to optimum wellness. However, according to research, the fruits and vegetables grown today do not contain adequate levels of nutrients due to soil depletion, chemical over-processing and other factors. The entire body is like a machine with the capability to control and carry out an unthinkable quantity of tasks. Nevertheless, specific nutrients are necessary to permit this.
Micronutrients are nutrients our bodies need every day, and they play a substantial role in the body's functions. These include minerals and vitamins. Although just required in relatively small quantities in some cases, micro-nutrients are vital for the correct performance of each system in the human body and therefore are essential for good health. Science has demonstrated that even the healthiest of diets lack therapeutic levels of micronutrients, which is why proper supplementation is necessary, especially for those with higher than average nutrient needs, such as those with mood or mental health disorders. Every vitamin and mineral has a particular part to play in human physical function, and they must be balanced to each other in order to provide optimal nutritional support.
Micronutrients are vital organic nutrients, the majority of which are not made within the body, or only in insufficient quantities, and are mainly obtained through food and supplementation. When their intake is inadequate, vitamin deficiency ailments are the outcome. The body utilizes a large number of distinct, valuable micronutrient compounds every hour of every day to carry on the production of hormones and enzymes and avoid any deficiencies that can lead to several health complications. [4]
Can You Get Adequate Micronutrients from Food?
No single food consists of all the micronutrients which are required for the body. It also explains the reason why a variety of foods are essential. The focus has to be on anti-inflammatory foods. Such as, all kinds of green fruits vegetables, legumes nuts, whole grains, and high protein foods such as eggs and seafood. The top food sources of micronutrients are complete foods such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, and animal products. No individual food contains all of the micronutrients we need for optimum wellness, and even the healthiest of diets lack micronutrients.
Heath Benefits of Micronutrient Supplements
Most micronutrients are known as essential nutrients. These micronutrients are not prepared in the human body. We must find those micronutrients elsewhere or we risk micronutrient deficiencies.
Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential micronutrient that aims a vital part of strain and sleep. Magnesium helps regulate blood glucose and alleviate physical pressure, each of which is associated with anxiety and reduced sleep. Magnesium helps modulate melatonin and GABA levels in the brain. Both melatonin and GABA are essential for sleep. Magnesium can assist the brain for better sleep. Magnesium is vital to many processes that are crucial in the body. It plays a significant part in metabolism, also acting as a cofactor in numerous chemical reactions within the human body. Magnesium can also be critical to the proper bone formation as well as the synthesis of genetic material. [5]
Various studies have proven that a complex mix of micronutrients is better that providing individual levels of micronutrients to the body which is why broad spectrum micronutrient supplements (like Daily Essential Nutrients) are so powerful.
Causes of magnesium deficiency
Most chronic illnesses are connected with magnesium deficiency and a shortage of other essential nutrient absorption. Medications harm the intestine, which is responsible for consuming calcium from our meals. Secondly, digestive ailments, such as leaky bowel, can lead to malabsorption of minerals, such as magnesium. Nowadays, there are hundreds of millions of men and women that are not consuming their nourishment. Our nutrient absorption will diminish as we age, so the likelihood of experiencing a lack of absorption raises across the board. [6]
Signs and Symptoms of magnesium deficiency
Anxiety and Stress
As magnesium deficiency may influence the central nervous system, since the lack worsens, it induces elevated levels of stress and, in acute cases, and depression. Magnesium was proven to help calm the human body, the muscles and also aid in improving mood. It is an essential nutrient for the mood. Magnesium is necessary for each and every cell function in the gut into the brain. Therefore it is no surprise it affects numerous approaches. [7]
High Blood Pressure
Magnesium functions together with calcium to encourage appropriate blood pressure and protect the heart. So once you're magnesium-deficient, frequently you are too low in calcium and also are inclined toward hypertension or higher blood pressure.
Migraine attacks
Magnesium deficiency has been associated with migraine headaches because of its significance in balancing hormones within the human body. It has been proven from the research that specified amounts of magnesium intake on a daily basis can cut the frequency of migraine headaches up to certain level. [8]
Heath benefits of Vitamin Supplements
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a highly effective antioxidant when balanced with the other micronutrients. Vitamin A plays a vital part in maintaining several physiological and neurological conditions including eyesight. Vitamin A is associated with reducing inflammation by combating free radical damage. Getting a diet high in antioxidants would be a useful means to substantially slow aging.
Antioxidants such as vitamin A are also key in building healthy bones, regulating chemical production, keeping skin healthy and clear, relieving cellular differentiation, and supporting the immune system. The quantity of beta-carotene that is successfully converted to vitamin A fluctuates significantly based on food supply, so it is beneficial to eat the nutrient from many different foods and supplement properly. The bioavailable sources of Vitamin A are foods such as liver, grass-fed milk products, and egg yolk. Vitamin A is critical for development and growth, cell recognition, eyesight, immune function, and reproduction and aids the lungs, heart, and kidneys. Pregnant women and those in developing countries are most at risk of vitamin A deficiency. [9]
Disease caused due to deficiency of Vitamin A
Xerophthalmia
Vitamin A deficiency may cause blindness. Keratomalacia, a state that comes from acute lack of vitamin A, is a state that's bilateral, meaning that it generally affects the eyes. This kind of deficiency might be dietary, which means the intake of the vitamin, or metabolic, which means the body's capacity to consume it. Early signs of Keratomalacia can include night vision problems.
References
