Living Magazine English Living Magazine 2017 | Page 34

Minerals

ARE YOU GETTING WHAT YOU NEED ?
Everyone has heard of vitamins and their myriad healthsupporting benefits . Vitamin A supports eye health , vitamin C supports cardiovascular health , vitamin D is crucial for calcium and phosphorous absorption ;* but what role do those metallic -sounding substances in your multivitamin serve ? Minerals are the unfamiliar nutritional superheroes that maintain body water balance , regulate nerve impulses , play a vital role in hemoglobin synthesis , and , as recent research suggests , are particularly important for those who regularly exercise .*
Almost nobody is meeting recommended mineral intakes from food alone . 1 The issue is particularly problematic in females , who lose precious minerals during menstruation and often avoid rich sources such as animal protein , nuts , and legumes in their normal diet . Along with a healthy balanced diet , it is becoming abundantly clear that it is important to supplement with a source of bioavailable minerals such as those found in the dōTERRA ® Microplex VMz ® Food Nutrient Complex .
Three minerals in particular are crucial for those looking to turbocharge their workouts and build that slim and sassy body .

IRON

Iron plays a direct role in oxygen transportation and the creation of red blood cells , and helps regulate the release of energy from cells . If you are low , you ’ ll feel lethargic and struggle to get through your workouts .* Up to 20 percent of adult women do not meet the RDA of 18mg per day ( 8mg for males ), making it the most common mineral deficiency . Those who exercise regularly face the greatest risk . One of the primary adaptations of exercise is the increase in red blood cell mass , which results in greater iron needs . Iron is also lost through sweat and minor gastrointestinal bleeding common during strenuous exercise — the harder you work , the more iron your body needs to replenish its stores . Two types of iron exist in food and some sources are more bioavailable than others . Heme iron , found almost exclusively in animal protein and in highest concentrations in red meat , has an absorption ratio of 15 – 18 percent . The human body is only able to absorb
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