Minerals for health

1. Millions оf years ago the soil near the earth’s surface, where our plants are grown, was saturated with dozens of minerals. At least 84 minerals were available nearly everywhere and some areas of the planet did contain 100 minerals. The plants of prehistoric times were rich in minerals because there was an abundant supply¹ for them to feed upon from the soil².

2. A mineral is a naturally occurring solidchemical substancethat is formed throughbiogeochemicalprocesses and that has a characteristicchemical composition, a highly orderedatomic structure, and specificphysical properties. Today our diet may not be able to provide all the 60 minerals to be needed for optimal health. Therefore supplementation³ with colloidal minerals offers a unique method of getting these minerals, especially trace elements in a natural form. Different mineralshave different benefits and no mineral can be termed as more beneficial or less beneficial. Allmineralsare necessary for proper functioning of the body. Most of the minerals aid in body metabolism,waterbalance, andbone health.

3. Minerals tend to work in synergy⁴ to provide optimal health to our body. We can classify minerals as that group of elements that naturally occur in the earth. Taking mineral supplements is very essential to maintain good health, and especially so in case of deficiency. Due to the central role that minerals play in our metabolic processes, they also aid our body in producing energy, its growth and in the health and the reproduction of our cells. Minerals, even if they are metallic, are of significant value to balance and metabolize our body functions.

4. The scientific community has grouped minerals into two categories. Those that are considered to be required in our diets in amounts greater than 100 milligrams per day are called major minerals. Those that are considered to be required in our diets in amounts of less than 100 milligrams per day are called trace minerals⁵. The human body is not designed to absorb, assimilate or use metallic minerals. Absorption decreases with age, dropping to⁶ less than 3% for people above the age of 50. The human body requires at least 60 minerals for optimal health and basically the same other essentials as animals.

5. Minerals working in a synergy with other minerals as well as vitamins, the occurrence of deficiency⁷ of even a single mineral can lead to all types of serious health conditions.

6. It is interesting to note that zinc plays a role in the action of 70 different enzymes within the body and has been shown to speed in the recovery of cold viruses. Besides that, some other minerals also act as potent antioxidants – that is, they remove free radicals. Minerals such as selenium work as antioxidants and have the capacity of neutralizing these free radicals well before any cellular damage occurs. Minerals serve strikingly different functions in the body, and the tests for the corresponding deficiency are markedly different from each other. The mineral content of the body may be measured by testing samples of blood plasma, red blood cells, or urine. Ensuring an adequate intake of these minerals, by eating a balanced diet or by taking mineral supplements, is the best way to prevent deficiencies.

7. The more you learn about the benefits of minerals, the more you will be able to take charge of your own health! Every living cell depends on minerals for proper structure and function.

Пояснения к тексту

1. an abundant supply – доступное снабжение

2. to feed upon from the soil – питать из земли

3. supplementation – пищевая добавка

4. to work in a synergy – работать согласованно

5. trace minerals – микроэлементы

6. to drop to – падать до, понижать до

7. occurrence of deficiency – наличие дефицита

Задание 1. Определите основную идею текста.

The main idea of the text deals with …

Варианты ответа:

а) the distribution of minerals;

b) the functions of minerals in the body;

c) the information about the categories of minerals;

d) the role of minerals for the healthy way of life;

Задание 2. Ответьте на вопросы в соответствии с содержанием текста:

a) Why were the plants of prehistoric times rich in minerals?

b) What is a mineral?

c) How is the central role of minerals expressed in our body?

d) In what way has the scientific community grouped all minerals?

e) How many minerals does a human body require?

Задание 3. Переведите 5-ый и 6-ой абзацы текста, определяя в каждом предложении подлежащее и сказуемое.