The Best Trace Mineral Supplement
Summary
Dr. Berg explains the difference between plant-based and non-plant-based trace minerals, highlighting why plant-based forms are superior for absorption. He discusses the importance of trace minerals for fundamental biological processes and addresses why modern soils are depleted of these essential nutrients.
Key Takeaways
- Plant-based trace minerals are 15,000 times smaller than salt-based or metallic minerals, making them significantly more bioavailable
- Plants absorb minerals from rocks in the earth and convert them into an easily absorbable form
- Trace minerals are needed in very small quantities — less than 100 milligrams, unlike regular minerals such as magnesium, calcium, or potassium
- Modern US farming practices have left soils largely void of trace minerals
- Trace minerals operate at the genetic, DNA, and cellular level to support core body functions
- They serve as raw materials for enzyme production and body tissue formation
- The specific product discussed is sourced from plant matter that decomposed approximately 70 million years ago
Details
Plant-Based vs. Non-Plant-Based Minerals
There are two main categories of trace mineral supplements:
- Plant-based trace minerals — derived from ancient plant material, extremely small particle size, highly absorbable
- Non-plant-based minerals — salt-based, metallic, or metal-based forms with much larger particle size and lower bioavailability
The 15,000x size difference between plant-based and metallic minerals is presented as the key reason plant-based forms are preferred.
What Trace Minerals Are
- Trace minerals are a distinct category from macrominerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium
- Macrominerals are required in quantities greater than 100 milligrams
- Trace minerals are required in quantities much less than 100 milligrams
- Despite being needed in tiny amounts, they are involved in a wide range of body processes
Why Supplementation May Be Necessary
- US farming practices have significantly depleted soil mineral depletion in agricultural soils
- Because crops are grown in mineral-deficient soil, the food supply is correspondingly low in trace minerals
- Dietary intake alone is often insufficient to meet trace mineral needs
Biological Role of Trace Minerals
Trace minerals function at multiple foundational levels:
- Genetic level — supporting DNA function
- Cellular level — providing raw materials for cellular processes
- Enzyme production — acting as cofactors necessary for enzyme activity
- Tissue building — contributing to the formation and maintenance of body tissue
Product Sourcing
- The supplement is derived from ancient plant material broken down into the earth during the dinosaur era, approximately 70 million years ago
- This material was extracted and dissolved in water to create the liquid trace mineral product