A Good Health Guide by Safe Remedies, the Natural Remedies Clinic
and the Chiron Clinic London

Minerals

Minerals are the spark plugs of life because they are required to activate thousands of enzyme reactions within the body. In a way they are more important than vitamins since plants manufacture vitamins but minerals must be obtained from the soil.

If the mineral is not in the soil, it can not possibly be in the plant.

Because your body requires nearly two thirds of all the elements currently known to man in order to maintain health, keeping these minerals in balance is a complex yet incredibly vital task. The events of everyday demand a continual ingestion of minerals. Perhaps that living is why an estimated 90% of Americans suffer a mineral deficiency or imbalance. Unfortunately in today's world, naturally occurring, nutrient-rich foods are becoming a thing of the past. Eons of vegetation growth and aggressive modern farming techniques have brought many of the earth's minerals to the surface where they have been washed away to the oceans.

Our very existence is dependent upon the body's ability to utilize minerals because minerals activate enzymes.

What are enzymes?

Enzymes are chemical substances produced in the living organism. They are marvelous organic catalysts which are essential to life as they control all the chemical reactions that take place in a living system. Enzymes are part of all living cells, including those of plants and animals. It has been estimated that there are over 20,000 enzymes in the human body. This estimate is based on the number of bodily processes that seem to require action. However, so far only about 1000 enzymes have been identified but their essential role in nutrition and other living processes has been firmly established.

How do enzymes work?

A striking feature of enzymes is that while they enter into chemical reaction, they remain intact in the process. They however, act with maximum efficiency at a certain temperature. Lowering the temperature below or raising it above this level slows the reaction. A high degree of heat, that is above 60 degrees C, permanently destroys their action. What makes enzymes so special is that they are absolutely specific in their actions. A particular enzyme can only cause reactions involving a particular type of substance. The substance must fit the enzyme like a key fits a lock.

Enzymes form part of the food we eat. Raw foods contain enzymes in abundance. Cooking, pasteurizing, pickling, smoking and other processing destroys enzymes. It is, therefore, essential to include in our diet, substantial amount of raw foods. Studies have revealed that the body without sufficient raw materials from raw foods, may tire and produce fewer enzymes year after year. This may lead to wearing out of body processes and consequently worn-out appearances.

Now back to minerals. Minerals do not work alone. They must work in balance with one other as well as with the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, fats and vitamins. When one mineral is excessive, it steals from others, thereby causing a chain-reaction of deficiencies.

A further very important functions of minerals in the body is to maintain the essential balance between acid and alkaline. When this balance is upset cell metabolism is jeopardized. Barley Grass has an extreme amount of alkalinity nearly twice as much as Spinach, The vital alkaline balance insures proper synergism of vitamins and minerals and prognoses optimal assimilation of minerals. Barley Grass is one of the long lists of mineral rich nutrients found in Prime Directive.

For more information about Minerals click here