In the United States, mineral deficiencies are a growing and overlooked health crisis. Essential minerals like magnesium, iodine, and calcium are crucial for bodily functions like immune support and energy production. However, modern agricultural practices and soil depletion have caused reductions in nutrient levels in our food, leaving many Americans unknowingly deficient. The lack of vital minerals may be linked to various health issues, including chronic fatigue, weakened immunity, and inflammation. Adding Neptune Sea Moss Gel to your diet can help combat mineral deficiency and enhance overall wellness which may prevent long-term health risks.
What Are Minerals and Why Do We Need Them?
Think of minerals as the building blocks for our body. Our bodies cannot produce minerals but need them to support bone health, muscle function, nerve signaling, and energy production. Calcium for strong bones, iron for oxygen transport, and the list goes on. Each mineral plays a specific role in keeping our bodies balanced. Without an adequate intake of minerals, we may experience deficiencies that can lead to fatigue, weakened immunity, and other health issues.
Our bodies require a balance of mineral pairs for best absorption. For example, in order for optimal iron uptake the body needs small amounts of vitamin C. The essential minerals we need like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc all rely on other minerals for best results. Calcium, vital for strong bones and teeth, relies on magnesium for proper absorption, which in turn supports muscle and nerve function. Iron, critical for transporting oxygen in the blood, requires sufficient zinc levels to be effectively absorbed.
Knowing that these minerals need others to enhance or enable their absorption highlights the need for a full spectrum mineral superfood like sea moss gel. Without adequate levels of one mineral, our bodies do not absorb minerals from the food we eat and it may struggle to absorb and utilize others, leading to deficiencies that can impact everything from energy levels to immune response.
The Silent Epidemic: Why Americans Are Deficient
Research shows that mineral deficiencies are increasing drastically in the U.S. This is due to soil depletion and commercial farming among other factors. Studies reveal that farmland soil has degraded in mineral content over the past several decades. This leads to an increase in commercial fertilizers to increase growth and weight. However, many don’t realize that the industry aims to increase the weight of produce, not mineral content. Think about it, don’t grocery stores weigh the vegetable produce to charge you?
According to the USDA, fruits and vegetables today contain 10-40% fewer nutrients, including essential minerals like magnesium and iron, compared to produce grown in the mid-20th century. So, although you consume food, you don’t get the proper nutrition you need. Then, do we now start to eat twice as much to make up for that? That’s not realistic, rather it’s easier to add sea moss gel superfood to your diet.
A little more light on why commercial farming has depleted the soil and food mineral content. The farming practices prioritize crop yield over nutrient density. Growing the same crops repeatedly on the same soil, means the crops are drawing out the same minerals without allowing soils to regenerate naturally. The fertilizers used provide the few key nutrients for high yield growth but lack the other essential minerals. This creates an imbalance, impacting food quality and, consequently, our health.
Studies suggest that as many as 50% of Americans may have inadequate magnesium intake, with iron deficiency affecting up to 10% of Americans. Such deficiencies are associated with fatigue, impaired immunity, and increased risk of chronic diseases. This shows us the urgent need to address mineral deficiencies in our diet.
Consequences of Mineral Deficiency: Chronic Inflammation and Disease
The lack of essential minerals can weaken the immune system, increase inflammation, and contribute to chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Magnesium, zinc, and iron are critical for immune health. Each helps the body fight infections and reduce inflammation. If a person is deficient, their immune response is compromised, making their body more susceptible to illness and infections.
Magnesium regulates inflammatory responses and helps maintain steady blood sugar and blood pressure levels. Without adequate magnesium, inflammation can become chronic, contributing to conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
Zinc is crucial for immune cell function, aiding in the development of white blood cells that defend the body. A deficiency in zinc can lead to increased oxidative stress and weakened immune defenses, raising the risk of infections and slowing wound healing.
Iron, essential for oxygen transport and energy production, is also critical for immune function. Low iron levels can lead to anemia, reducing the body’s ability to fight infections.
In the long term, a diet low in these and other minerals contributes to systemic inflammation, creating a cycle where inflammation can lead to insulin resistance, weight gain, and eventually chronic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes. This is why Neptune Aqua Labs aims to make sea moss gel affordable and available. Mineral intake is essential for our communities to help them reduce inflammation, support their immunity, and prevent chronic health conditions.