@Mictorrani 30 October 2021 edited

Iodine, Molybdenum, Zinc, Copper, & Manganese

*Today I discuss five nutritionally important minerals: Iodine, Molybdenum, Zinc, Copper, & Manganese.* I. Iodine Iodine is best known for its importance for the thyroid gland; and it is a part of the thyroid hormone, thyroxine. It regulates growth and the speed of all physical and mental processes, including the metabolism - and it is essential for the production of vitamin A from carotenes. Deficiency causes goitre. Then all mental and physical processes become slow and ineffective. A suitable dose for supplementation is 150 mcg per day. 2-3 times that dose is not dangerous, but one should not go too high. The thyroid can become over-stimulated. Some natural sources: kelp and seafood, garlic, melon, spinach. In most parts of the world, commercially bought salt is iodised. This is done to combat deficiency, which threatens almost everywhere, except where the consumption of seafood is high. II. Molybdenum Molybdenum has shown to protect from tracheal cancer. (There is no reason to believe that to be the only form of cancer it affects, but more studies are needed about this.) It is essential for normal formation of uric acid – probably a deficiency can contribute to development of gout. Moreover, it is necessary for fluoride to bind to the enamel of the teeth. An interesting detail about molybdenum is that it is one of those elements that are relatively rare on earth, in relation to human comparatively higher need. In some circles this has been seen as indicative of an extraterrestrial origin of humankind, which would have developed in an environment richer in this element than earth is. Highly speculative, of course. 150-300 mcg per day is a suitable dose. Higher doses than that can wash out Copper and cause a therapeutic Copper deficiency. In this way it can also be used to wash out excess Copper from the body. Some natural sources: wheat germ, sunflower seeds, beans, eggs, onions. III. Zinc, Copper, & Manganese These and many other elements are essential for a large number of enzymes; one way or another they are involved in all systems of the body. A list of all the functions, or even most of them, would make long and tedious reading, so let me just mention a few points about them. **Zinc** is a central antioxidant, and strongly indicated for prostate protection. A deficiency of Zinc seems to be a strong contributing factor for prostate enlargement. Further, Zinc is healing, even externally. https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/the-prostate-health-illness-7271a808 Some sources: brewer's yeast, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, herring, oysters, eggs, oats. **Copper** should be used with some caution. Unless it is accompanied by a proper amount of Zinc, it can build up in the brain. Excess Copper can enter the body through water delivered via Copper pipes (should be avoided, if possible). In proper quantity, it is essential for the formation of pigments; and for vascular health, hormonal balance, and immunity. Some sources: Nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, figs, peas, beans, raisins, fish, water pipes. **Manganese** is involved in the glucose regulation (together with Chromium), and is important for formation of uric acid, hormonal balance, the nervous system, and cancer prevention. https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/selenium-chromium-important-for-your-health-de84988e#ii-chromium In addition to that, Manganese protects against tooth decay, and Molybdenum contributes too. I have previously mentioned that; in “Dentistry - A Modern Luxury? Why Do We Need It?”, I wrote: https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/dentistry-a-modern-luxury-why-do-we-need-it-357f88b3 *“The enamel is a special tissue, since it is mainly nourished from the outside. The saliva contains enzymes and substances for repairing and hardening it. Getting a well-balanced saliva requires proper nutrition in the first place. A deficiency of e.g. manganese will manifest itself as an increased frequency of caries, because the saliva contains a compound based on manganese, which protects the enamel. Another element, molybdenum, is required for the enamel to assimilate fluoride, just to mention a few.”* Some natural sources of Manganese: brewer's yeast, wheat germ, kelp, nuts, bananas, cherries, parsley, artichokes, celery. For healthy individuals, safe daily doses for supplementation are: *Zinc: 15-60 mg; over 150 mg Zinc becomes toxic.* *Copper: 2 mg - not more unless you take at least 30 mg Zinc too.* *Manganese: 5-10 mg, Toxic level not established.* Other articles related to vitamins/nutrients: Understanding Dietary Fats Part 1 (of 2) https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/understanding-dietary-fats-part-1-of-2-e8b4f70d Understanding Dietary Fats Part 2 (of 2) https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/understanding-dietary-fats-part-2-of-2-873ba37f Why Dietary Supplements are Needed https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/why-dietary-supplements-are-needed-d70e789c Supplements, Getting Them Right: Some Points to Consider https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/supplements-getting-them-right-some-points-to-consider-b4d57960 Iron & Cancer https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/iron-cancer-3ab080b8 Co-Enzyme Q10 & Carnitine https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/co-enzyme-q10-carnitine-42291565 Lutein & Zeaxanthin: Nutrients that Protect Your Eyes from Ageing https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/lutein-zeaxanthin-nutrients-that-protect-your-eyes-from-ageing-9a87f2a3 Not Only Beta-Carotene: Carotenoids (Carotenes & Xanthophylls) https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/not-only-beta-carotene-carotenoids-carotenes-xanthophylls-d3ae6750 Salicylic Acid: Is Aspirin a Vitamin? https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/salicylic-acid-is-aspirin-a-vitamin-61990a03 Vitamin A - Function & Need https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/vitamin-a-function-need-c8e8169e Vitamin D – Underrated Vitamin? https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/vitamin-d-underrated-vitamin-5ca83053 Nicotinic Acid, the Real Super Vitamin! https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/nicotinic-acid-the-real-super-vitamin-9e90bc33 Vitamin E - A Powerful Vitamin https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/vitamin-e-a-powerful-vitamin-32979116 Vitamin C (part 1): Can Science be Trusted? https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/vitamin-c-part-1-can-science-be-trusted-5ab38bbb Vitamin C (part 2): How to Use & What it Does https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/vitamin-c-part-2-how-to-use-what-it-does-5ecf6e7f Selenium & Chromium: Important for Your Health https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/selenium-chromium-important-for-your-health-de84988e *Copyright © 2006-2017, 2019, 2021 Meleonymica/Mictorrani. All Rights Reserved.* *(Lead image: Photo by Damian Konietzny/Pixabay, CC0/Public Domain.)* Here you find my articles related to nutrients & supplements (vitamins, minerals, etc.) and here to health & medicine. https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/index-over-my-articles-at-read-cash-5f7c1e34#vitaminsmineralsnutrients https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/index-over-my-articles-at-read-cash-5f7c1e34#health-amp-medicine-for-covid-19-see-covid-19 Interested in health & medicine, join my community "The Mechanisms of Health (d52e)" https://read.cash/c/the-mechanisms-of-health-d52e You find all my writings on Read.Cash, sorted by topic, here. https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/index-over-my-articles-at-read-cash-5f7c1e34 My 5 most recent articles: Selenium & Chromium: Important for Your Health https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/selenium-chromium-important-for-your-health-de84988e Suggested Reading 7 https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/suggested-reading-7-73db0a65 Old Language & Distorted Text https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/old-language-distorted-text-64332ca2 Animals' Sense of Smell https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/animals-sense-of-smell-766c8339 Retrospection 11 https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/retrospection-11-7e9b3a18