Below is a simple guide to the description and usage of many of the vital minerals that our body needs on a daily basis. Liquid minerals do assimilate and absorb much better and faster than capsule type supplements therefore they are the product of choice for all of us here at SharpWebLabs. About 90% of all sales from our company with respect to mineral supplementation are from the liquid type. Enjoy the guide!


Benefits: Maintains normal heartbeat, nerve and muscle function and blood clotting.Cautions: Consult your doctor if you have: kidney disease, chronic constipation, colitis, diarrhea, stomach or intestinal bleeding, irregular heartbeat.

Substance interactions: Taking calcium with digitalis may result in heartbeat irregularities. Calcium decreases the absorption of iron supplements unless vitamin C is taken at same time. Increases blood level of both calcium and magnesium-containing medications or supplements. Oral contraceptives and estrogens may increase calcium absorption. Potassium supplements increases chance of heartbeat irregularities. Decreases absorption of tetracycline. Mega-doses of vitamin A stimulates bone loss. Mega-doses of vitamin D excessively increases absorption of calcium supplements.

Signs of toxicity: Severe nausea vomiting. Extremely low blood pressure. Extreme muscle weakness. Slow or irregular heartbeat.* Recommended daily intake levels, per the Consensus Development Conference of the National Institutes of health in Bethesda, Maryland:

Infants, up to age 6 months: 400 milligrams
Infants, ages 6 to 11 months: 600 milligrams
Children, ages 1 to 10 years: 800 to 1200 milligrams
Adolescents and young adults, ages 11 to 24: 1200 to 1500 milligrams
Men, ages 25 to 65: 1000 milligrams
Women, ages 25 to 50: 1000 milligrams
Pregnant and nursing women: 1200 to 1500 milligrams
Women at menopause (ages 51 to 65) who are taking estrogen: 1000 milligrams
Women at menopause (ages 51 to 65) who are not taking estrogen: 1500 milligrams
Men and women over age 65: 1500 milligrams

* Calcium in the foods you eat is absorbed through the small intestine and into the blood. The amount of calcium in the blood is regulated by parathyroid hormone. When calcium intake is low, the hormone signals for bone to be broken down, releasing calcium into the blood stream. With adequate calcium levels in the blood, we produce less hormone, so we conserve more calcium and more bone. Calcium then combines with phosphorus to help form hard substances that create the frame for strong bones and teeth.

* Avoid natural calcium carbonate and dolomite, which are natural forms of calcium, but may contain lead and aluminum. Pharmaceutical-grade calcium carbonate is free of contaminates. Calcium gluconate, lactate and citrate are metal-free, but they contain less concentrated forms of calcium. Calcium carbonate is found in several types of antacids (i.e. Tums, Rolaids), but avoid antacids which contain aluminum.

* Take supplements with food, however, high-fiber wheat bran cereals can reduce absorption by a fourth.

* When taking more than 500 mg of calcium, split it up and take it throughout the day. The body has trouble absorbing more than 500 mg at a time. Taking more than 2000 mg per day may cause constipation and kidney stones and inhibit zinc and iron absorption.

* Take calcium with the same amount of magnesium for maximum benefit. If the magnesium has a laxative effect, reduce the dosage.

The second mineral on our list is Magnesium. Magnesium is vital for life and well being.

Benefits: May help prevent heart attack. Eases PMS. Beneficial for high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, asthma and kidney stones.

Cautions: People with kidney or heart problems should check with their doctor before taking magnesium supplements.

Substance interactions: Decreases absorption of magnesium: vitamins A, E and K. Magnesium reduces absorption of ketoconazole and tetracycline. Vitamin D may raise magnesium level too high.

Signs of toxicity: Vomiting, extremely low blood pressure, extreme muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, heartbeat irregularity. Discontinue and consult doctor immediately.

* Very important for cell energy production. Influences calcium levels inside cells. Helps transport sodium and potassium across cell membranes. Aids bone growth.

* Helps transmit electrical impulses across nerves and muscles, which generates a neuromuscular contraction, causing your muscles to flex. Absence of magnesium will cause muscles to cramp.

* The body loses magnesium due to excessive calcium intake, stress, prescription asthma drugs, diuretics (water pills), digitalis and other cardiovascular medications, alcohol and caffeine. Diabetics lose magnesium through the kidneys.

The third mineral which we will talk about is Potassium. Potassium is vital for proper heart and blood functions.

Benefits: Regulates blood pressure, normal muscle contraction, promotes regular heartbeat, maintains water balance in tissues and cells, causes normal function in body cells.

Cautions: Consult your doctor if you have diabetes or kidney disease or take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics, ACE inhibitors and heart medications.

Substance interactions: These medications cause excessive rise in blood potassium levels: amiloride, captopril, enalapril, spironolactone, triamterene. These increase the possibility of intestinal ulcers: atopine, belladonna. These decrease potassium's effect: laxatives, cortisone. Calcium increases possibility of irregular heartbeat.

Signs of toxicity: Irregular or fast heartbeat, paralysis of limbs, drop in blood pressure, convulsions, coma, cardiac arrest, black or bloody stool, diarrhea, confusion, breathing difficulty, vomiting.

* Dietary sources of potassium are better absorbed than supplements. Supplements may be necessary for those who take diuretic medications or digitalis, which cause the body to secrete potassium.

* Some doctors recommend potassium chloride more than the other forms (bicarbonate, citrate, gluconate) as it is better absorbed by the body.

* Processing reduces the amount of potassium in foods. Try to eat the skins of fruits and vegetables when possible. Don't cook foods in large amounts of water.

Our final mineral which we consider part of the FABULOUS FOUR is Zinc.

Benefits: Promotes normal fetal growth, helps synthesize DNA and RNA, promotes cell function, anti-oxidant, may relieve angina and cirrhosis of liver, boosts immunity, aids in cataract treatment.

Cautions: Consult a doctor if you have stomach or duodenal ulcers.

Substance interactions: Lowers zinc blood levels: Diuretics, oral contraceptives, alcohol and coffee. Zinc interferes with the absorption of calcium supplements. Zinc and tetracycline should be taken 2 hours apart since the medication decreases the amount of zinc absorbed into the blood stream.

Signs of toxicity: Very low toxicity at normal doses. Overdose produces drowsiness, lethargy, vomiting.

* Consult your doctor before taking zinc supplements. It is best to stay within the 15 mg daily recommended daily allowance.

* Zinc helps the body to maintain healthy cell function. It helps the body to build new immune system cells to help fend off viral infections. It helps heal cuts and wounds. It's important for the production of collagen. It combines with vitamin A to maintain healthy eye function.

* It is not recommended taking more than 30 mg of zinc daily as it can increase the risk of developing anemia. It may also lower HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) levels, while raising the LDL levels (bad cholesterol). Mega-doses of zinc have been shown to decrease mental functioning in people with Alzheimer's.

* Dairy and bran products may decrease zinc absorption. High proteins foods (meats and eggs) increase absorption.

How about mineral imbalances? Yes they occur in many of us!