By Douglas Hoover
Our bodies are made up of atoms, molecules, elements and compounds.
Elements are made up of molecules that are in a simplest state in the earth as pure molecules with no other ingredients. Elements are represented on the elemental chart which you may remember from your science class, they are the building blocks to ALL other compounds.
Compounds are made up of two or more elements. An example is water, made up of two elements (molecules) of hydrogen and one element (molecule) of oxygen. For example, vitamins are compounds. Understanding this 'element and compound' concept is key to understanding what nutritional minerals are and how living organisms use them.
Nutritional minerals
The major minerals (also called "macrominerals") that are important for life are, in alphabetical order, Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), and Sodium (Na).
Trace Minerals
Another grouping of minerals based on intake requirement is 'trace minerals': Boron (B), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Iodine (I), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), Selenium (Se), Vanadium (V), and Zinc (Zn). The requirement for trace mineral intake is generally lower than for macrominerals.
Minerals in Nature are Inorganic
Natural Minerals and Trace Minerals are all found on the elemental chart as well as in the earth in their natural pure form. They are also mixed with other elements to form, for instance, copper oxide. In their natural state, these minerals are all known as "inorganic elements." In biological terms, minerals are considered inorganic, which means, not biological in origin. Compounds of biological origin are referred to as organic. This is important to know before we move on to a special organic compound called a chelate.
Chelates
Living organisms cannot use inorganic minerals directly. If an inorganic mineral is presented to a living organism, the organism must first convert this inorganic mineral to an organic form, a biological form, or organic compound. In the human digestive process when an inorganic mineral is presented to the digestive system the chemical process of this system starts to work, chemically bonding the inorganic molecule to an organic molecule. The process for this is called chelation and the end product of this process is called a chelate. Chelate comes from the latin word for bond. Mineral chelates can be seen by the body as an organic compound that can be absorbed and utilized.
Mineral Absorption
Many things can affect the efficiency of inorganic minerals being absorbed in the body. Most often, there is not enough organic matter to bond with the mineral before it passes through the organism unabsorbed. The health of the organism may prevent the assimilation of this mineral, particularly if the digestive system is not working well. It can be very difficult or impossible to get sufficient minerals from food intake alone to keep the organism at optimal health. Mineral Chelates Mineral forms have been created by science in which an inorganic mineral from nature has been bonded to an amino acid or organic acid, into an organic form that the body can assimilate. These molecules are called Krebs chelates (which refers to the organic acids of the Krebs cycle) or amino acid chelates. This chelated organic form of inorganic mineral elements bonded to amino acids or organic acids substantially increases the probability that the digesting organism will absorb the mineral for its use and benefit.
Thank you for taking the time to read and understand more about organic and inorganic minerals, mineral absorption, and chelates.
Douglas Hoover is an author, free-lance writer for News Papers and magazines with his column. "Lets Talk Health" the same name as his radio program- specializing in water and its relationship to health. Douglas Hoover is on record for introducing the very first bottled water vending machine, in Bill's IGA grocery store in Brooklyn MI in 1976- 7years before Glacier Water Vending (1983), Learn more at: http://DistillationStation.com and Buy Doug's latest #1 Best Seller: "Distilled Water and Health" A Match Made In Heaven- http://DistilledWaterAuthority.com
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