How Common Mineral Deficiencies Impact Our Health

Episode 170 1h 3m

Overview

Every second, there are 37 billion billion reactions (you read that right) happening inside our bodies. Each one needs enzymes to occur, and enzymes need nutrients like minerals to do their part of the job. Big picture, that means minerals have an enormous impact on our health. But we’re seeing an epidemic of mineral deficiencies, in an age of overnutrition with starch and sugar and undernutrition of essential nutrients. Even small amounts of insufficiency can lead to big problems.

Today on The Doctor’s Farmacy, I’m excited to connect with Dr. James DiNicolantonio to look at the increasing issue of mineral deficiencies, how we got here, and what we can do to consciously consume more minerals. Dr. DiNicolantonio breaks down some of the leading reasons we’re low in minerals, which include industrial agriculture, medications, insulin resistance, and inflammation.

The problem is compounded—we get less minerals from our food than we used to due to chemicals like glyphosate and expedited time to harvest, then our processed diets, drugs, and inflammatory lifestyles deplete our bodies of the minerals we do have. The RDA, or Recommended Dietary Allowance, for minerals is set based on preventing deficiency, not for optimizing health. We talk about why we don’t want to be compared to the “normal” population and how we can use regeneratively sourced food, and in some cases supplements, to support our mineral balance.

Dr. DiNicolantonio and I also cover the problem of conventional mineral testing and better alternatives, how minerals interact with one another, and the most common mineral deficiencies to watch out for. An estimated 1 in 3 Americans is deficient in key minerals and I’ve seen some incredible improvements in my patients when I identify and treat a mineral deficiency. I hope you’ll tune in to learn more about these essential nutrients and how to optimize your own mineral balance.

Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by Joovv, BiOptimizers, and TrueDark. The Doctor’s Farmacy podcast works with a select group of sponsors to allow for ongoing production and allow it to be zero-cost to anyone who wishes to listen to and watch the podcast.

Topics Covered

  • Three main reasons why most of us are deficient in many minerals

    (2:16 - 6:12)

  • The four main minerals that are depleted in animal and plant foods

    (7:06 - 11:02)

  • How chronic disease and medications such as diuretics and acid blockers cause mineral depletion

    (8:12 - 12:08)

  • Testing for and diagnosing nutritional and mineral deficiencies

    (20:34 - 24:30)

  • Mineral deficiency and premature aging

    (28:07 - 32:59)

  • Our misguided thinking about salt

    (30:27 - 35:19)

  • Nutrient deficiencies and their correlation to poor outcomes from Covid-19

    (36:58 - 41:50)

  • How should we be thinking about iodine?

    (42:24 - 47:16)

  • How Dr. DiNicolantonio builds his diet

    (45:34 - 50:26)

  • Do you need to take supplements?

    (49:58 - 54:50)

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Ep. 170 - How Common Mineral Deficiencies Impact Our Health