Minerals are the foundation of so many metabolic processes, including hormonal function. Minerals are responsible for creating enzymes, which ultimately produce hormones.
Although so much of modern functional medicine is focused on altering hormones when it comes to women's health, it's most effective to focus on the foundation: minerals. An attempt to alter hormones can prove futile in many cases because it completely overlooks mineral status.
Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what it eats into energy. Vitamins and minerals (I am referring to minerals in this case) are messengers within the metabolism that essentially help things get done. For example, magnesium is responsible for over 300 enzymatic reactions. These reactions only happen when magnesium is present. Interestingly enough, the corpus luteum, an endocrine structure responsible for progesterone production, requires magnesium as a foundational component. Many women who have PCOS, for example, have low levels of magnesium. I have observed over and over again minerals as being foundational for the overall hormonal health, and especially for fertility markers: like egg quality, ovulation quality/strength, and cycle regulation.
How do we consume minerals?
We consume most minerals through food and drinks (water, milk, juice) and through food. Some of the most minerals dense food items include: seafood, organ meats, fruit, and root vegetables. It's always possible to have insight into the exact mineral content in food by searching the nutrient profile. I suggest using a chronometer for this, and I talk more about this subject in this Micronutrient Awareness video.
How do minerals become imbalanced?
Minerals become imbalanced under three major circumstances: fluid loss (physical activity, diarrhea, vomiting, and diuretics), chronic stress, and undernourishment. Many who struggle with conditions such as IBS have significant mineral imbalances due to the loss of water caused by diarrhea, which is common with IBS-D. Those who sweat very often, yet do not replenish electrolytes are at a major risk of mineral imbalance. Undernourishment, as in under-eating, eating nutritionally void food, or eating a narrow variety of food with similar nutrients (and not eating foods with other necessary nutrients), will also contribute to imbalance.
How can you know if you have an imbalance?
Many individuals (especially women) who struggle with imbalances notice apparent symptoms such as dry skin, frequent urination, dry eyes, muscular cramping, headaches, or migraines. Some not-so-obvious signs of having imbalanced minerals include: acne, blood sugar issues, thyroid problems, hirsutism, constipation, immune issues, loss of appetite, irregular heartbeat, brittle nails and hair, nerve pain, slow healing wounds, anovulation, and beyond. Anyone struggling in their health most likely has a mineral imbalance that is partially, if not entirely driving the dysfunction at hand.
What can you try before even getting testing?
Of course, you can work with a practitioner (like me), and do both HTMA (hair tissue mineral analysis) testing, and if needed, blood work to assess blood mineral levels. However, if you want to take a few steps towards balance before 1:1 work, here is what you can do.
In my 1:1 practice with clients, I order testing for clients and use interpretation to help them overcome their health struggles through strategic changes.
(1) Begin taking magnesium salt baths 3x weekly
(2) Begin drinking a daily adrenal cocktail
(3) Add organ meats into ground meet, or take them in capsule form
(4) Add a small amount of electrolytes into filtered water daily
