Minerals' importance

Minerals are very crucial elements of the human biological processes. They help govern the blood sugar metabolism in the body.  Individuals with blood sugar imbalances and diabetes are usually deficient in minerals and have a weakened ability to regulate glucose levels.  Therefore, supplementing with high quality and bioavailable minerals will improve the body’s ability to regulate the glucose levels.

In chronic metabolic diseases, such as Type 2 Diabetes, due to the high rise of blood sugar & high rise of Insulin in the blood, there are inflammations in almost all the major organs of the body. So in order to reduce the inflammations and oxidative damages, antioxidants and minerals are the keys to fighting these inflammatory and destructive reactions. Therefore, individuals with mineral deficiencies should supplement their diet with Multi Vitamins & Minerals Supplements in order to restore optimal vitamin and mineral levels, thus controlling oxidative damage and inflammation.  Minerals are especially important for reducing the occurrence of one or more additional disorders (comorbid) which are common in diabetic individuals such as pancreatic insufficiency, heart weakness, renal disease, neuropathy, and retinopathy.

Minerals are also required for proper insulin function.  Insulin that is deficient in one or all of these minerals will result in ineffective blood glucose regulation as insulin is the hormone that brings blood glucose into the cells and therefore lowers blood glucose levels.  Of primary importance to glucose metabolism, inflammation, free radical scavenging, and immune health are the minerals Zinc, Magnesium, Chromium, Manganese, Vanadium and Copper.

Deficiencies in either one or all of these minerals are seen in Diabetics. When one/all of these are deficient in the body the Insulin becomes deficient in theses minerals and the Insulin becomes ineffective in it’s role in blood glucose transportation into the cells.

Zinc

Zinc is important because it improves insulin’s ability to bind to receptors on cell membranes and transport glucose into the cells to be used as energy.  

Zinc is also needed for the beta cells in the pancreas to produce insulin.  Zinc is also an integral component of antioxidant enzymes and a cofactor for enzymatic processes in glucose and sugar metabolism.  High concentrations of glucose levels combined with low zinc levels results in “an increase of free radicals which cause neuropathy (Nerve Damage), nephropathy (Kidney damage), and retinopathy (Blindness) which are commonly seen in diabetic individuals.

Magnesium

 Diabetics are also deficient in Magnesium.  It is linked with blood vessels (vascular) complications and osteoporosis (the bones becoming brittle and fragile).  Insulin deficiency (Type 1 Diabetes) or insulin resistance (Type 2) may also result in “an impaired ability of insulin to increase intracellular magnesium”¹.

It is important to note that magnesium deficiency also leads to insulin resistance.  Thus these two aspects of diabetes and blood sugar imbalances result in a vicious cycle of insulin resistance and decreased intracellular magnesium.  Supplementing with magnesium will correct the deficiency and improve other illnesses related to magnesium deficiencies such as cardiovascular disease and neurological complications.

Chromium

Chromium increases insulin’s ability to bind to cells, increases insulin receptor numbers on cells and improves insulin’s ability to detect glucose molecules in the blood.  Usually diabetic individuals are deficient in chromium.  Restoring Chromium levels in these individuals, especially those with steroid-induced diabetes, improves their blood sugar levels enough for them to decrease or completely go off of their medications, effectively reversing their illness.

Manganese

Impaired glucose metabolism has been linked with manganese deficiency, which can lead to pancreatic insufficiencies.  There is low insulin production, expedited deterioration of insulin, and a weakened ability of insulin to function correctly. Manganese is also a component of the free radical scavenger called Superoxide dismutase (SOD) which protects cells, most notably pancreatic beta-cells that produce insulin.  Consuming (Supplementing) with manganese restores pancreatic function.

Vanadium

The mineral Vanadium is believed to enhance the effects of insulin and so should  be included in a mineral supplement to support balanced glucose metabolism.  Vanadium may be therapeutic for Type 2 diabetics that have sufficient levels of insulin, as vanadium enhances insulin function.

Copper

Usually there is copper deficiency in individuals with long-term blood sugar imbalances, as seen in diabetics. This can weaken the body’s immune system and depress the ability to fight against harmful free radicals.  Copper is a component of SOD (Superoxide dismutase) antioxidant enzyme and a deficiency of it will weaken the body’s defense Mechanism (Immune system).

Conclusion

 It is very, very important to note that when choosing mineral supplements, one need to be careful of the ingredients and quality of the supplement.  Most minerals are naturally poorly absorbed and the common, cheap formulations contain mineral forms that are not bioavailable and  cause digestive problems and nausea, are poorly absorbed, and not well tolerated.

While all of these minerals are essential and a must for healthy function of blood sugar metabolic processes, remember that mineral levels are only one aspect of blood sugar regulation.  If you have blood sugar imbalances, pre-diabetes, diabetes, insulin resistance, hypertension, overweight/obesity, or are suffering from any other chronic health condition, it is critical to consume a low sugar diet and avoid all processed food in order to reduce inflammation and improve overall balanced cellular metabolism.

You also must maintain a healthy liver and kidneys in order to detoxify toxins, such as the caffeine, sugar (especially fructose), alcohol, food additives, and pesticides.  Your kidneys also regulate mineral levels in the body, excreting or reabsorbing the nutrients as needed.  But kidney function is often depressed in individuals with blood sugar imbalances and diabetes, resulting in an increased risk of multiple mineral deficiencies.

Restoring nutrient levels and enhancing detoxification performance will help individuals successfully improve their health, lose weight, find increased energy, improve blood sugar levels, reduce oxidative damage, strengthen the immune system, and improve quality of life.

An organic whole foods diet, therapeutic vitamin and mineral support, physical activity, and stress management are all nourishing lifestyle factors that can heal your body and strengthen your well being.

Please remember that without supplementing your diet with Multivitamins & Minerals, you can never Reverse your diabetic condition.

N.B: Consume Green Coffee Extract to get SLIM without exercising or Dieting!

 References

1. (2002). Mineral considerations in diabetes mellitus. Albion Research Notes: a compilation of vital research updates on human nutrition, 11(2), 1-4.
2. Keen, C Zidenber-Cherr, S. (1996). Present knowledge in nutrition. Manganese. (7), 334-341.