Nutrients
General Descriptions of Minerals, Vitamins & Other Essential Nutrients
Calcium
Calcium is a naturally occurring mineral that is an essential component of the
human body. It's involved in bone, teeth, hair and nail health, as well as muscle and nerve function. Found in milk, cheese, yogurt, sesame seeds, figs, tahini, green leafy vegetables.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQIOJ)
A protein and powerful antioxidant. Converts food into energy, neutralising free radical damage by stimulating cell activity. Good sources: fish and brown rice.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect the amount of water in your body, the acidity of your blood pH, muscle function, and other important processes.
Iodine
Plays a large role in the formation of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones affect essentially the entire body and must be in the correct range for good health. Deficiency in iodine can cause poor metabolism, immunity and free radical damage. Good source: Himalayan pink salt and Celtic sea salts.
Iron
Carries oxygen in blood. Important for energy and vitality, deficiencies cause wide range of conditions, such as exhaustion, cramps, anxiety, headaches, etc. Natural sources: asparagus, prunes, pumpkin, tofu.
Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential co-factor in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body, which help to support energy, protein synthesis, balance electrolytes, healthy teeth and strong bones. Also aids muscle and nerve function. Natural sources: molasses, wheatgerm, nuts like almonds, seaweed (kelp), raw cacao. See Magnesium Oil.
Manganese
Involved in bone and connective tissue formative, as well as fat and carbohydrate metabolism. Natural sources: nuts, whole grain cereals, legumes, tea, green leafy veges.
Phosphorus
Involved in energy metabolism and works with calcium to support strong bones and teeth. Natural sources: fish, eggs, dairy, cereals.
Potassium
Controls acid balance in the body and works with sodium to maintain fluid balance. Natural sources: avocados, dried fruits, yogurt, bananas, tomatoes.
Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral that is found naturally in soil. In small amounts, it is essential to good health, though most soil in New Zealand is deficient. Antioxidant (regenerates Vitamin E & C), supports tissue elasticity and prevents free radical damage to cells and damage from excessive ultraviolet light. Sources: brazil nuts, mushrooms. Signs of deficiency: premature aging and dry skin.
Silica
Strengthens the body's connective tissues like muscles and bones, essential to skin health. Deficiencies include slow wound healing, brittle nails and hair.
Zinc
Zinc is essential for wound healing, helping to prevent scar tissue forming, proper functioning of the immune system, and it plays a large role in supporting healthy skin. Natural sources: oysters, wheatgerm, legumes, nuts.
Vitamin A
Plays strong roles in bone growth, tooth development, reproduction, cell division, gene expression and support of the immune system. Also needed for normal vision in dim light. Main sources tuna, pumpkin, and from plants with beta-cartoene (green leafy vege). Fat soluble.
Vitamin B1
Thiamine is essential to skin health, helps to increase blood flow to cells and maintains healthy nervous system. Natural sources: wheatgerm, peanuts, legumes, brown rice, eggs. Water Soluble.
Vitamin B2
Riboflavin is involved in fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as supporting healthy skin. Natural sources: milk, avocados, prunes, broccoli, salmon.
Vitamin B3
Niacin is an essential nutrient necessary for preventing deficiency disease, if deficient it will cause dermatitis, rashes, headache, fatigue. It's involved in fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism and nervous system function. Natural sources: fish, milk, eggs, whole grain cereals, asparagus.
Vitamin B5
Panthothenic acid, "available everywhere", in all foods in all cells, though rarely in ideal proportions for the body. Helps maintain optimum adrenal function and plays a critical role in the utilisation of fats (body's cholesterol and other fatty substances) and carbohydrates in energy production and in the manufacture of adrenal hormones and red blood cells. Royal jelly is the richest source of pantothenic acid. Deficiency can result in dermatitis and other skin conditions, right through to depression, abdominal pains, impairment of adrenal glands, stress etc.
Vitamin B6
Pyridoxine is a co-enzyme involved in many biological processes needed for normal growth, including amino acid, glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as a co-factor in the formation of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. Best natural sources are fish, lima beans, sunflower seeds, bananas, avocado.
Vitamin B9 - Folic Acid (Folate)
Water-soluble B vitamin, essential to cellular growth and repair. It also has roles in DNA synthesis and red blood cell development. Found in dark green leafy vegetables, wheatgerm, citrus fruits and legumes.
Vitamin B12
Cobalamin is an essential factor in the production of red blood cells. People who do not have enough B12 in their systems suffer from anemia. B12 is also necessary for the production of other blood cells, as well as normal neurologic function.
Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid; water soluble; antioxidant; treatment for colds; slows aging; aids skins healing and strengthens blood vessels and capillaries; aids absorption of iron; found in citrus fruits, kiwifruit, papaya, broccoli. Essential for production of collagen. We need constant, daily supply of vitamin C for normal growth and development.
Vitamin D
Sunshine vitamin (D2 & D3); promotes absorption of minerals (calcium, phosphorus) and helps with Vitamin A assimilation; maintains a healthy nervous system and immune system; best natural source is sunlight.
Vitamin E
Strong antioxidant, prevents against free radical damage; sources include fruit, vege, wholegrains, nuts and seeds.
Vitamin K
Fat soluble; naturally produced by bacteria in the intestines and helps protect against blood clotting; best natural sources are kale, greentea, spinach, yogurt, fish.Bioflavonoids
Found in fruits and veges, including apples, celery, kale, parsley. They have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, and support the immune system.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants protect the integrity of cell membranes which are composed of lipids (fats) by neutralising free radicals. Antioxidants are formed from food metabolism, by pollutants, smoking and radiation Lipids can be damaged by free radicals through oxidation which can harden the membrane wall and hinder absorption of nutrients necessary for the life of the cell.Free radicals unless neutralised can damage body cells, distort DNA, and cause degenerative diseases. Vitamin E is an excellent antioxidant found in wheatgerm, sunflower, sesame, avocado, hazel nut oils, and in our skincare range.Amino acids
Amino acids build up many forms of proteins in the body and governed by DNA and RNA.
Essential amino acids: lecuine, isoleucine, valine, methionine, threonine, lysine, phenylalanine and trytophan - essential as they are all needed in the right proportions for a complete protein. The human body does not produce these acids, hence they must be obtained from food sources.
Almond: Vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc. Excellent source of mono and poly unsaturated oils
Essential Fatty Acids
Omega 6
Linoleic acid, body converts to gamma lionlenic acid (GLA). Abundant in Western processed diets, conversley lacking in omega-3 acids. Good source: evening primrose oil (eczema).
Omega 3
Polyunsaturated fatty acids, important for good health, best source in fish and vegetable oils. Omega-3s include three fatty acids called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
DHEA (Dehydroephndrosterone)
DHEA is a hormone that is naturally made by the human body. DHEA is used for slowing or reversing aging, improving thinking skills in older people, and slowing the progress of Alzheimer’s disease. Athletes and other people use DHEA to increase muscle mass, strength, and energy.
Enzymes
Enzymes are biological molecules (proteins) that are very efficient catalysts for biochemical reactions that help complex reactions occur everywhere in life. Enzymes are known to catalyse more than 5,000 biochemical reaction types.