Trace minerals are those which body needs only in tiny amounts or traces -- less than 100mg daily. They make up less than 1 percent of all minerals in the body. But, as with other nutrients, we could not live without them. Trace minerals play a major role in health, since even minute portions of them can powerfully affect health. They are essential in the assimilation and utilization of vitamins and other nutrients. They aid in digestion and provide the catalyst for many hormones, enzymes and essential body functions and reactions, including muscle response and the transmission of messages through the nervous system.They aid in replacing electrolytes lost through heavy perspiration or extended diarrhea. They protect against toxic reaction and heavy metal poisoning. All tissues and internal fluids of our body contain varying quantities of minerals. Minerals are constituents of the bones, teeth, soft tissue, muscle, blood, and nerve cells. They are part of DNA, our genetic material. They are vital to overall mental and physical well-being.

As important as vitamins are, they can do nothing for you without minerals. Vitamins cannot be assimilated without the aid of minerals. And though the body can manufacture a few vitamins, it cannot manufacture a single mineral. There are a number of trace minerals, including boron, fluoride, manganese, molybdenum, silicon, vanadium - even arsenic and lead. Fluoride, for instance, is a necessary trace mineral found in seafood, tea, coffee, soybeans and green leafy vegetables. It's also used for bone and tooth formation.

In 1936, Senate Document 264 of the 74th Congress, announced that our farm soils are severely depleted of minerals. The grains, fruits and vegetables growing in these depleted soils are deficient. If the essential nutrients aren't in the soils, the roots of the plants can't absorb them, and thus we cannot get them in our foods in sufficient quantity. Thus, the Journal of the American Medical Association has said we need to supplement to get the optimal amount of vitamins and minerals and thus reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.