Due to modern farming practices, our food now contains less than half the minerals it once did, and even our drinking water lacks minerals. While getting enough minerals requires more effort today, it doesn’t have to be hard. A mineral drink tonic can be a tasty way to ensure you get your daily mineral intake.
Recently, I’ve been focusing on making sure my family and I get enough minerals because they’re crucial for our bodies and organs to function well. Despite eating organic superfoods, many of us still struggle to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals we need.
In the past, food and water were abundant in nutrition and minerals. However, with the rise of monoculture farming and the use of pesticides and herbicides, mineral levels in food have drastically dropped. Some experts even suggest that it’s nearly impossible to get all the necessary nutrition from today’s food supply alone, so mineral supplements can fill in those gaps.
If you’re reading this, you might be mineral-deficient. Research by biochemist Barton Scott shows that a vast majority of people are lacking in vital minerals like iodine and potassium, with magnesium deficiency being particularly common. Even if you’re buying organic produce, it might not be enough to meet your nutritional needs.
That’s one reason I choose to grow a lot of our family’s vegetables in nutrient-rich, composted soil in my garden. Although it helps, I’ve noticed additional benefits from mineral supplementation. Certain minerals, such as iodine, are hard to get naturally unless you reside in specific regions.
Even if your blood tests appear normal, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have adequate mineral levels. It can take years for mineral deficiencies to appear on blood tests. Our bodies tend to draw minerals from organs and bones to maintain balance in the bloodstream.
Minerals play a vital role in activating enzymes and carrying out numerous essential functions in the body. They can help prevent cardiovascular diseases and enable the body to utilize vitamins effectively. For instance, without boron, we can’t properly use vitamin D.
We require some macrominerals daily in larger amounts compared to trace minerals, though it’s still crucial to achieve the right balance. Consuming too many trace minerals can be just as problematic as having too few. Here’s a basic overview of essential trace minerals and their benefits.
The issue of soil depletion has made it challenging, if not impossible, to get enough minerals from just our diet. The mineral content in foods can vary greatly depending on the soil. Foods from mineral-rich soils and animals grazing in these areas provide better mineral levels. However, modern farming techniques have stripped husks from whole grains, leading to fewer minerals like silica in our diets.
Our soils have lost a significant amount of minerals over the past several decades. National health surveys by the NIH no longer track trace minerals like molybdenum, so we aren’t even sure how widespread the deficiency problem is. Meanwhile, health organizations still rely on outdated data that reported sufficient nutrition levels.
Since our bodies don’t store minerals, we need to replenish them daily. Every cell in our organs relies on minerals to operate. Additional physical activities like intense workouts or stress, caffeine, late nights, and alcohol can speed up mineral depletion. While not everyone is an athlete, most of us face some level of stress.
I vary my supplement routine but consistently take magnesium. I started making a mineral drink as an easy and enjoyable way to ensure I get enough minerals without needing to take multiple pills. Even kids can benefit from such drinks, especially if they are involved in sports. Neighborhood kids who come over also get their share of mineral water at our house.
When you think of maintaining electrolyte balance and staying hydrated, sports drinks might come to mind. Though they contain some major minerals, they also have added sugar and artificial dyes and often lack necessary trace minerals.
I learned the importance of balancing water and electrolytes the hard way during a holiday that ended in an ER visit for IV fluids. Distilled, tap, and many bottled waters typically lack essential electrolytes. Even our natural spring waters don’t have the same electrolyte content as they used to.
Drinking too much water without essential minerals like sodium and potassium can dilute our body’s electrolytes, leading to headaches and dizziness, and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening.
While I sometimes make a homemade electrolyte drink, I’ve discovered a customizable mineral drink tonic that provides a full range of health-supporting minerals. I usually start with a base like Olipop, juice, sparkling mineral water, or LMNT electrolytes. You can use what you have or prefer, even water with a splash of citrus juice works well and adds more health benefits.
Here are the liquid mineral supplements I add to the tonic. You don’t need to use them all at once, but they’re in a form that’s easy for the body to absorb.
How do you make sure you get your daily minerals? Feel free to share your tips and tricks!
