Nadia Tarazi for redOrbit.com – Your Universe Online
Every week a new buzzword emerges in the health and wellness world. Whether it’s a new ingredient, dietary style, or superfood, it can be hard to distinguish between real breakthroughs and passing trends. But you know micronutrients are more than a passing trend when the World Health Organization (WHO) describes them as “magic wands” for your body.
Micronutrients are the trace minerals and vitamins you need in steady doses to kick-start your core bodily processes. According to the Micronutrient Research Center at Oregon State University, these tiny nutrients are needed in constant supply for energy metabolism of neurons, neurotransmitter synthesis and nerve impulse propagation. In other words, they help run your brain and Central Nervous System.
Examples of micronutrients include:
– Iodine, which helps operate your thyroid and maintain brain health
– Zinc, which activates over 300 enzymatic reactions in the brain and body, including the production of neurotransmitters.
– Manganese, chromium, magnesium and Vitamin B12, which play a pivotal role in mood and outlook
Essential micronutrients are those that you can’t produce in adequate amounts in your body, and must be consumed. You may only need these nutrients in trace amounts, but as the World Health Organization puts it: “As tiny as the amounts are…the consequences of their absence are severe.”
An increasing body of research links micronutrient sufficiency to a better state of mind, including improved focus, stable moods, a more positive general outlook, and a calmer relationship with food.
Which begs the question: Could the decline of micronutrients in the Standard American Diet (SAD) be related to the high number of people dealing with overwhelm, blues, stress and cravings?
Micronutrients originate in the soil, which means that if your fruits and vegetables are not grown in nutrient-dense soils, and are not preserved well through the processes that bring them to your plate, there will be less micronutrients available for you to absorb.
Once consumed, micronutrients are absorbed into your bloodstream via more than 30 receptor points throughout your digestive system, where they interact with each other to help facilitate absorption: for instance, magnesium facilitates the absorption of potassium and calcium. So, good digestion is key to ensuring maximum micronutrient absorption.
Given that micronutrients play such a pivotal role in activating and regulating the processes that balance your mind, eating, energy, and digestion, it is not surprising that more health practitioners and individuals are reporting mental wellness breakthroughs when they absorb high-quality micronutrients.
The increased attention that micronutrients are getting, and the mounting evidence of their positive impact on mental well-being, suggests there are many more breakthroughs still to come. Which is why micronutrients are more than just a trend, and most definitely a health buzzword that’s here to stay.
Because, you are what you absorb.
Nadia Tarazi, MBA, MA, CPCC, is an Executive Coach and Founder of MicroNourish®. Nadia developed the MicroNourish System after dramatically improving her own focus, digestion, and relationship with food through micronutrition. The premier system includes micronutrients and digestive formulas designed to target brain and gut balance for inner balance, mental clarity, and calmer eating. Nadia curates the online magazine, You Are What You Absorb®, which features experts sharing practical advice on good nutrition and mind-body balance; she also developed the mobile app, ThinkPal®, which generates coaching questions to help people get unstuck.
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