Boron- A vital trace mineral

Functions:

- Required for normal growth and good health
- Used for muscle building
- Helps in the absorption of other minerals like calcium and magnesium
- Works with calcium to strengthen the bones
- Prevents arthritis
- Reduces the severity of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis
- Essential for reproduction and also for foetal development
- Reduces the symptoms of menopause like hot flushes etc
- Increases testosterone level in males
- Improves estrogen production in females
- Prevents osteoporosis
- Prevents blood clots
- Prevents strokes and heart attacks
- Helps to reduce cholesterol
- Helps to reduce fungal infections (boric powder for vaginal yeast infections)
- Ensures calcium integration into the bones and cartilage
- Improves short term memory, concentration and eye-hand coordination

Deficiency symptoms:

- Reduction in the metabolism of calcium and magnesium
- Improper functioning of the nervous system
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Imbalance in the production of sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen
- Hyperthyroidism

Symptoms of boron toxicity:

- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Skin itchiness and dermatitis
- Abnormalities in the skeleton
- Lethargy and weakness

People with kidney disease should be careful about their boron intake. Normally excess boron gets excreted through the urine. In kidney patients, this does not happen and there is a possibility of the excess boron accumulating in the heart, brain and kidneys.

Good food sources of Boron:

Apples, Avocado, Black currants, Broccoli, Carrots, Chickpeas, Dates, Hazelnuts, Honey, Kiwis, Nuts ( esp Almonds), Olives, Onions, Oranges, Peaches, Peanut butter, Pears, Plums, Potatoes, Prunes, Raisins, Red grapes, Red kidney beans, Soybeans, Sultanas, Tomatoes

Stay blessed with good health ….always!!!

Warm regards,

Charmaine D’Souza