What are the Differences Between Ionic, Chelated and Metallic Minerals?

Ionic Minerals
Ionic minerals are derived from plants. They are up to 98% absorbable depending on the electrical charge of the atom. The intestinal lining is positively charged. Therefore, it is able to absorb negatively charged ionic minerals with the greatest efficiency. Positively charged minerals, whether they are ionic, chelated, or metallic, are not as highly absorbable. If you want your body to absorb the greatest percentage of minerals from whatever supplement you may be taking, you should be taking a blend of at least 60 negatively charged (bio-electrically available) minerals.

You should also be aware that bio-electrically available ionic minerals are only available in liquid form. If you are taking a pill, powder or tablet, you are not getting negatively charged ionic minerals! The reason is that during the processing used to create pills, powders, and tablets any negative charge that may have existed is destroyed. So, if you want the best source of minerals, you should seek out only liquid supplements, which offer the negatively charged ionic minerals.

Chelated Minerals
Chelated minerals come from sources other than plants, like ground up rock, clay, coral, seabed sediment, etc. Chelated minerals are metallic minerals with an enzyme, protein, or amino acid wrapped around the atom. This yields absorption of between 25% - 40%, depending on the age of the person. Our bodies absorb proportionately less after the age of 35, so, with very few exceptions, the only people that will get 40% absorption are under the age of 35. As we age, the best absorption we will get from Chelated minerals is about 25%.

Chelated minerals were invented by the agricultural industry in the 70's since no farmer was dumb enough to want 95% of the minerals he'd mixed in the feed for his livestock to come right back out in the manure. Then the health food industry got on board with Chelated minerals and sales of vitamin/mineral supplements went through the roof. People were able to "feel" a big difference since their bodies were now able to absorb two to five times more of the minerals then they previously could.

Metallic Minerals
Metallic minerals are the source of origin for Chelated minerals and ionic minerals; they just haven't been digested by plants (like ionic minerals) or had an amino acid, enzyme, protein wrapped around the atom (like Chelated minerals). Therefore, their absorption is only 3%-12% depending on the age of the person taking them. Say, for instance, you are taking 2000mg of Calcium Lactate per day. Are you getting 2000 mg of calcium? Not quite! Let's take a closer look. Calcium Lactate is only 25% calcium; the other 75% is Lactose (milk sugar). On average, your body will only absorb about 10% (on a good day) of the metallic calcium, which yields absorption of only 25 mg per 1000 mg Calcium Lactose pill. To get the 2000 mg you thought you were getting, you would need to take 80 of the 1000 mg calcium lactate pills every day. That's about 27 pills each meal, and then you've only got 89 nutrients to go.

Are You Deficient?
If you have gray hair, wrinkles, or varicose veins, it's likely you have a deficiency in copper. Copper deficiency can lead to an aneurysm, which is when the vessel walls have become so weak that part of a wall will balloon out, then rupture, much like a car tire hitting a chuck hole. A large knot appears on the tire and eventually bursts letting all of the air (blood) out.

If you have liver spots (age spots) you likely have a deficiency in selenium, which is one of the most powerful antioxidants, along with Vitamins A, C, E, beta carotene, and proanthocyanadins (grape seed extract is the most popular proanthocyanadin).

Maximum Nutrition
Our bodies need 90+ nutrients every day for optimum health. We need 16 vitamins, 12 essential amino acids, 60+ minerals, and 3 essential fatty acids (the Omega-3, Omega-6's, and Omega-9's).

Minerals need vitamins to help them move around the body. Every vitamin needs from one to ten mineral co-factors to work most efficiently. Without the proper balance of nutrients, our bodies fall prey to one of hundreds of different diseases. Calcium deficiency alone accounts for 147 different diseases, from Bells palsy (which is not a true stroke, it just affects the facial muscles like one) to osteoporosis to high blood pressure. Clearly, the need for supplemental minerals is overwhelming.