Why Test For Minerals?

I want to share the work of Dr. Paul Eck, a scientist and researcher. Dr. Eck designs nutritional programs for medical doctors, dentists, chiropractors, and laypeople throughout the United States and for an ever-increasing number of enthusiastic supporters from around the world.

A biochemist by training, Dr. Eck spent 35 years studying all significant research in biochemistry, physiology, pathology, nutrition, and psychology and testing it against his exhaustive research in applied nutrition and trace mineral analysis.

Dr. Eck focuses on one of the most widespread yet unrecognized health problems of all time: lack of energy.

Everybody could use more energy, but they must learn how to achieve it.

Minerals that are present in your hair reflect the mineral pattern that is in your body tissues. Through tissue mineral analysis, you can determine the different levels of the major minerals in your body. These are the minerals that regulate your endocrine glands. These are the minerals that regulate the chemical processes, which, in turn, release the energy from the food

you eat.

Balancing these minerals can increase your ability to release energy from foods. You can increase your cells' ability to utilize food to produce human energy.

 Here is a short summary of what minerals are:

Iron

Iron is required in hemoglobin to transport oxygen in the blood, detoxify, and produce energy in the cells. Iron is found in lean meats, organ meats, shellfish, molasses, beans, whole-grain cereals, and dark green vegetables.

Copper

Copper is an essential mineral in the body, directly or indirectly affecting virtually every bodily system function. Copper is required for energy production, cardiovascular health, neurotransmitter activity, the female reproductive system, skin health, blood formation, and the immune system.

Manganese

Manganese is essential for energy production, glucose metabolism, tendon and ligament integrity, and bone development.

A low manganese level is often associated with a manganese deficiency in the diet, especially if one consumes refined foods or white sugar.

Zinc

Zinc is found in small quantities in the body (about two grams). It is essential for over 50 functions, including all protein synthesis, growth and development, the male reproductive system, insulin production and secretion, vision, digestion, prostate health, skin, hair and nail health, and immune system activity.

A low zinc level can be due to several reasons, including overconsumption of sugars and simple carbohydrates, an acute stress situation, infection, or the release of toxic metals, particularly copper.

Low zinc levels are often associated with mood swings, digestive disturbances, skin problems, vision problems, prostate problems in men, and a reduced sense of taste and smell.

Chromium

Chromium enhances the utilization of insulin, resulting in improved burning of glucose. Chromium is involved in maintaining blood sugar levels and energy levels. It is also associated with cholesterol regulation.

A low chromium level may contribute to blood sugar imbalances, cravings for sweets or starches, fatigue, and elevated cholesterol.

Selenium

Selenium is required for thyroid function. Selenium is an essential enzyme component that converts Thyroxine (T4) to Triodothyronine (T3). Selenium is also necessary in heavy metal detoxification and enhances immune system function.

A low selenium level may impair detoxification and thyroid gland activity.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is an essential mineral that is involved in protein synthesis and energy production within the cells. All proteins contain phosphorus and thus are a significant source of organic phosphorus. The hair tissue mineral level of phosphorus is often associated with the adequacy of protein synthesis in the body. This depends on the diet, lifestyle, condition of the intestinal tract and liver, and the levels of other nutritional minerals such as zinc and copper.

A low hair tissue mineral phosphorus level indicates excessive protein catabolism or tissue breakdown. This may be due to improper diet, low protein intake, inadequate protein quality, impaired digestion, imbalanced intestinal flora, intestinal infections such as candida albicans, or other parasitic infections. Other considerations that may play a role in a low phosphorus level are low zinc or hidden copper toxicity. These mineral imbalances can impair protein synthesis, which requires a zinc-dependent enzyme, RNA transferase. Improper eating habits that interfere with digestion may also contribute to your low phosphorus level at this time. Balancing the phosphorus level with dietary modifications, digestive enzymes, and nutritional balancing is most important, as adequate protein synthesis is essential for regenerating all body tissues.

Nutritional Balancing program is about treating the body as a whole system. We do not necessarily focus on yeasts, candida, parasites, etc., because when you increase the vitality and energy of the body, the body starts to deal with those on its own. Today, there are many metabolic and nutritional tests.

Why Test For Minerals?

• Minerals are integral to the body's many intra and extra-cellular functions. They are essential for all enzymes, hormones, proteins, and other biochemical activities.

Other roles of minerals are as catalysts, facilitators, or inhibitors of thousands of critical enzymes that control most body functions. Minerals also form the basis for the osmotic balance in the body and for acid-base regulation.

• The status of the minerals can quickly provide information about the endocrine, digestive, cardiovascular, and other body systems. Mineral deficiencies are known to be associated with dysfunctions of critical body systems.

For example, magnesium is critical for the cardiovascular system. Zinc is critical for the immune system. Manganese, chromium, and zinc are critical for blood sugar regulation.

• Mineral deficiencies are among our population's most common and severe nutritional deficiencies. Depleted soils yield food that is low in minerals. Refining and processing of many foods further reduces their mineral content. Physical and emotional stress, aging, pregnancy, and the use of prescription drugs increase the body's need for certain minerals. These factors add up to significant mineral deficiencies in much of the population.

In addition, most children today are born deficient in essential minerals and with elevated levels of toxic metals due to imbal­ances in their parents. Mineral analysis can reveal these imbalances and guide their correction.

• Minerals are relatively easy and inexpensive to measure accurately and reliably. 

• Toxic metals are known to affect many body systems and organ function. Tissue mineral analysis would be precious if only used to detect heavy metal poisoning. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in a report of 400 studies completed in August 1979, heavy metal toxicity is America's second most prevalent environ­mental problem.

However, hair testing can do much more than detect heavy metals. It can often reveal causes for their accumulation and provide a guide for designing a metabolic program to remove the toxic metals.

For example, cadmium and copper accumulation are often related to zinc deficiency. Accumulation of copper and other toxic metals is often due to adrenal exhaustion. By understanding these causes, the correction can be faster and more effective.

References: Eck, P.C., Healthview Newsletter, Interview #27-29, Healthview, 1981.

Eck, P.C. and Wilson, L., Toxic Metals in Human Health and Disease, Eck Institute of Applied Nutrition and Bioenergetics, Ltd.,1989.Wilson, L., Nutritional Balancing and Hair Mineral Analysis, L.D. Wilson Consultants, Inc., 1998, 2005, 2010, 2014.https://arltma.com/newsletters/why-use-a-tissue-mineral-analysis/