Don\u2019t take minerals for granite.<\/p>\n
Sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium regulate hydration, manage nervous system function, support metabolism and contribute to energy production, among other essential tasks.<\/p>\n
Deficiency in one or more of these minerals means an electrolyte imbalance that can cause everything from muscle weakness and cramps to fatigue, irregular heartbeats and even seizures.<\/p>\n
Before you take that supplement, experts say you should know the mineral balance within your body. Rabizo Anatolii \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n
It\u2019s best to identify these imbalances before symptoms take hold. That\u2019s where mineral nutritional balancing comes in. Decades ago, biochemist Paul Eck developed a MAHA-friendly method for assessing the complex interplay between minerals in the body and supplementing appropriately.<\/p>\n
\u201cMineral balancing looks at how minerals interact with one another in the body rather than focusing on a single nutrient in isolation,\u201d Dr. Kristina Telhami<\/a>, a functional medicine specialist based in Southern California, told The Post.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a look at the testing process for mineral balancing \u2014 and specific ways to iron out imbalances.<\/p>\n Which minerals are the most important?<\/p>\n Scientists have detected about 60 minerals<\/a> in the human body \u2014 several are considered essential for life.<\/p>\n These include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, sodium and chloride.<\/p>\n Mineral balancing prioritizes the\u00a0ratios between minerals\u00a0over individual levels. Telhami said no ratio is the most crucial for body function, but sodium-to-potassium, calcium-to-magnesium and calcium-to-potassium are key relationships.<\/p>\n Magnesium is a key mineral in the body. Some people take magnesium supplements to boost their levels for better sleep and muscle relaxation. pavlofox \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n \u201cThese different ratios can reflect patterns related to stress physiology, metabolism and nervous system balance,\u201d Telhami said.<\/p>\n What causes mineral deficiencies?<\/p>\n \u201cMineral deficiencies can develop from various things such as poor dietary intake, chronic stress, gut dysbiosis, medications, restrictive dieting, blood sugar imbalances and environmental exposures,\u201d Telhami said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my practice, I see deficiencies in mostly people with gut issues because even if they\u2019re eating healthy, they may not be absorbing nutrients.\u201d<\/p>\n What are common signs of deficiencies?<\/p>\n Symptoms correlate to the deficient minerals. They can include brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, hair loss, brittle nails, muscle cramps, poor sleep, constipation, headaches, sugar cravings and hormonal imbalances.<\/p>\n Telhami said it\u2019s important to test, not guess what the issue might be.<\/p>\n What is hair tissue mineral analysis?<\/p>\n Eck pioneered hair tissue mineral analysis<\/a> (HTMA), a test that often costs $100 to $400 and measures levels of minerals and certain toxic heavy metals in the hair over the past few months.<\/p>\n \u201cThis differs from blood testing<\/a>, which shows what\u2019s going on in the bloodstream at a specific moment,\u201d Telhami explained. \u201cHTMA looks into longer-term mineral patterns, stress responses and mineral imbalances at the tissue level versus in the bloodstream.\u201d<\/p>\n A hair test may be able to reveal your mineral and toxic metal levels. It could be one piece of the puzzle to feeling better. kittyfly \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n She pointed out that it\u2019s not a rock-solid screening tool \u2014 especially because mineral levels can be influenced by water, hair treatments, environmental exposure and laboratory variability.<\/p>\n The test also doesn\u2019t directly diagnose disease and shouldn\u2019t replace traditional medical diagnostics.<\/p>\n Is it better to get minerals from diet or supplements?<\/p>\n If your minerals are out of whack, don\u2019t get salty. Improving your nutrition is an easy way to up your intake.<\/p>\n Dairy products contain calcium and phosphorus, magnesium and calcium are in leafy greens, magnesium is a staple in nuts and seeds<\/a>, meats and fish are significant sources of phosphorus, sulfur and potassium and table salt boasts sodium and chloride.<\/p>\n \u201cI always say that food should be the foundation of mineral intake because whole foods provide these minerals in balanced forms alongside cofactors that help absorption and utilization,\u201d Telhami said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn certain cases, supplements can be beneficial, especially when someone has poor nutrient absorption, restrictive diets and extreme deficiencies.\u201d<\/p>\n Peptides<\/a>, the building blocks of essential proteins, have become big business<\/a>, especially in MAHA circles. Some are known to enhance the uptake of essential minerals.<\/p>\n Before you source them, Telhami warns that improper supplementation can worsen imbalances.<\/p>\n How mineral balancing can help \u2026<\/p>\n \u201cIn my practice, I\u2019ve seen clients improve symptoms like fatigue, chronic stress, poor sleep, muscle cramps, constipation, headaches and low energy,\u201d Telhami said, noting that diet and lifestyle changes were instrumental.<\/p>\n \u201cI have personally also noticed improvements in stress resilience, sleep and energy when prioritizing foundational mineral support, hydration and nervous system regulation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2026 and where it falls short<\/p>\n Patients should take their HTMA results with a grain of salt.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the biggest overhyped claims are when practitioners imply they can diagnose everything solely from a hair test or that mineral balancing is going to be the one thing that cures you,\u201d Telhami said.<\/p>\n \u201cI also see a lot of fear-based messaging around adrenal fatigue, detoxification or heavy metal toxicity when it comes to HTMA testing.\u201d<\/p>\n She noted that minerals are not a cure-all \u2014 they\u2019re just one piece of a puzzle that includes sleep, stress, diet, hormones, gut health, movement and lifestyle factors.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t