Iodoral is an iodine supplement designed for people suffering from a deficiency of this critical mineral. By replenishing the levels of iodine, this product can regulate body weight, improve metabolism, and keep the body energized.

Does Iodoral have a recommended daily dosage for children?

It is not advised to give Iodoral to a child because of high levels of iodine in it. Even if your child is deficient in iodine, it is best to consult a doctor and find a more appropriate alternative suitable for children.

Can I take Iodoral if I'm pregnant or nursing?

Supplementation with iodine has been found to be beneficial for the growing fetus as it adds to birth weight and protects them from various issues. However, for safety reasons, it is better to check with a doctor before using it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

What is the fastest way of contacting Iodoral customer support?

The fastest way to get in touch with the customer care at Optimox is by calling them at 800-223-1601. Alternatively, visit Optimox.com and fill out the contact form and a company representative will get back to you as soon as possible.

MINERALS

The brain is, without doubt, the most critical organ in the human body. Simply put, without it, you cannot live. Modern medicine has progressed far enough to provide us the technology to complete transplantation of the heart, kidneys, liver, and other vital organs. However, we cannot transplant the brain.

Nourishing your body and keeping your brain healthy should be a priority for everyone. While many people don’t understand how proper nutrition can have a significant impact on brain functions, many show interest in how vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients can be beneficial for their overall health.

How Does Brain Nutrition Work?

Vitamins and minerals have been actively connected with better brain health. In proper amounts, minerals can have a considerable impact on your overall brain health.

The human brain is a hungry organ and consumes a lot of your body’s energy. To put it into perspective, it eats up as much as 25% of your blood glucose, while it consists of roughly 3% of your body weight.^[1]

Here are the four principal reasons why your brain needs to have its nutrients replenished periodically:

Your brain transmits the signals to your digestive system to start digesting food and delivering nutrients throughout your body, including the brain. The brain plays a significant role in powering your digestive processes.
Your neurotransmitters can’t do their job without the proper fuel (nourishment).
Even when you’re asleep, your brain keeps working. Your neurotransmitters are continuously sending out signals to your central nervous system to do things like keep your lungs filling with air and your heart beating.
Proper minerals nutrition reduces inflammation throughout your body, including your brain.^[2]^[3]

What Are Minerals Used For In the Body?

The “People’s Home Medical Book,” a revolutionary work published in 1916, tackled the number one cause of so-called “acquired insanity” – imperfect nutrition.^[4]

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In 2014, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) published a study showing that almost every American was deficient in at least one, if not several critical nutrients to maintain basic good health.^[5] In the same year, the World Health Organization announced that over two billion people – approximately 35% of the world’s population – are anemic. Most notably from an iron deficiency.^[6]

A strong link was discovered between mineral deficiency and poor brain health. Health conditions such as a lack of focus, poor memory, or the lack of energy, have been linked to a deficiency of one or more critical minerals.

Dr. Mary Kretsch, a psychologist at the ARS Western Human Nutrition Center in Davis, California, led a 20-week clinical research study to determine the link between mineral deficiency and lower attention span. Dr. Kretsch selected eight healthy men aged 27 – 47 years. The team had the volunteers explore the interaction between mineral zinc and brain power. In this study, the volunteers who slowed the most in word memory and recall also had the most notable decrease in blood levels of zinc.

From this study, Dr. Kretsch concluded the following: “We saw that a low score for volunteers’ attention span corresponded with a subsequent decline in iron levels in the body.”^[7]

Separate studies show that low levels of boron result in poor perception and short attention span, impaired short- and long-term memory, and poor hand-eye coordination.

Moreover, with not enough molybdenum you wouldn’t even survive.

9 Essential Minerals for Optimal Brain Health

Calcium

Calcium is the first of the 9 essential minerals for brain health we reference here. As the most abundant mineral in your body, calcium is involved in neurotransmitter release from neurons and plays a vital role as a secondary messenger in brain cells.

Although adults require quite a large amount of calcium – about 1,000 mg of calcium per day – most people can get the required quantity from foods. Some calcium-rich foods include cheese, kale, milk, yogurt, most grains, broccoli, and salmon. On top of that, calcium is added to many fruit juices, breakfast cereals, rice and soy beverages, and tofu.

DHA regulates calcium oscillations, which are implicated in oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, neurotransmitter release, gene activation, and brain cell development and growth (BDNF).

Vinpocetine inhibits an enzyme called PDE1 (phosphodiesterase type 1) while decreasing calcium levels in brain cells. This action functions as a vasodilator which increases blood flow in your brain.

Nefiracetam increases the amount of time calcium channels remain open, which enhances the glutamate signaling pathway critical for forming long-term memories and long-term potentiation.

Boron

Boron is an essential trace mineral and one of the unsung heroes when it comes to proper brain health.

This mineral is essential for bone growth and maintenance, increases the half-life and bioavailability of Vitamin D, testosterone, and estrogen, and improves wound healing.

Boron plays an integral part in the production and use of SAM-e (S-adenosyl-L-methionine – a compound produced by the liver and used throughout the body in a chemical process called methylation). Which in turn is required in the synthesis of dopamine, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. SAM-e helps normalize mood, elevate emotions, and moderate behavior.

Boron also reduces inflammation, increases magnesium absorption, boosts natural antioxidants, reduces the risk of some cancers, and protects against free radicals.^[8]

Low amounts of boron are linked to reduced physical dexterity and speed, impaired short and long-term memory, poor hand-eye coordination, and short attention span or perception.

The average person should get the right amount of this mineral from diet alone. Leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, plant-derived fermented beverages like wine and beer, and fruits are excellent sources of boron.

While formal boron requirements have not been set, the tolerable upper limit is 20 mg per day. All human studies confirm the beneficial effects of boron for cognitive and general health is minimum of 3 mg per day.^[9]

Chromium

Chromium is a trace mineral recognized as vital for human health. Some fruits, vegetables, and spices, as well as meat and whole grains, are relatively good sources of chromium, usually providing about 2 mcg per serving.

Chromium is one of the most widely studied minerals for general health. For example, a study conducted at Duke University noted that chromium picolinate, a supplemental form of chromium, might help reduce atypical depression symptoms. Atypical depression includes carbohydrate cravings, mood swings, weight gain, lethargy, and rejection sensitivity.^[10]

The team selected 15 patients with mild or moderate forms of depression. The subjects received 600 mcg of chromium picolinate daily or a placebo for eight weeks. Those who received chromium picolinate experienced significantly fewer mood swings, weight gain, and fatigue.^[11]

Chromium is also known to increase insulin sensitivity which promotes the production of serotonin in your brain.^[12] Higher levels of serotonin in the brain are usually linked to reduced depression as compared to those with low-grade, persistent depression (dysthymic disorder).

Iodine

Iodine is an essential trace mineral that links with the amino acid Tyrosine to form thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Thyroid hormone receptors in your brain help improve the production of all essential neurotransmitters. Low levels of this trace mineral can lead to low levels of thyroid hormones T3 and T4 in your body.

Symptoms of low thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism) include fatigue, insomnia, depression, diminished focusability, dry skin and hair, joint and muscle pain, cold sensitivity, and frequent and heavy periods for women.

Thyroid hormones affect enzymes responsible for GABA(A) receptor expression and function, synthesis and degradation of GABA, GABA release and reuptake, and levels of glutamate and GABA.^[13]

GABA is your brain’s natural Valium. GABA can help reduce stress after you get upset. Alternatively, even prevent a stress response in the first place. Low iodine levels may result in low levels of thyroid hormones affecting GABA, which can lead to anxiety or depression.

The bottom line is not enough iodine in your diet negatively affects neurotransmitters in your brain, and it can result in learning and memory problems, anxiety, depression, and brain fog.

Copper

Copper is the 3rd most abundant mineral in your body. It is a needed cofactor in numerous copper-containing enzymes that regulate neurotransmitters such as dopamine.

Without copper, your brain and body could not use antioxidants like ascorbate oxidase, Vitamin C, tyrosinase, and superoxide dismutase. Copper also plays a significant role in preventing free radical damage in your brain.

Despite the abundance of this mineral, Copper deficiency is more common than you’d expect. Low copper levels may be a result of digestive disorders like Crohn’s disease, not consuming enough copper-rich foods, and high intakes of zinc and iron supplements. Signs of copper deficiency include poor mood, trouble concentrating, and fatigue.

Magnesium

Magnesium is another essential mineral for optimum brain health and the 4th most abundant mineral in your body.

Magnesium plays a significant role in the synthesis of DNA and RNA. The mineral controls the activity in neuron ion channels – tiny electrical switches governing the movement of neurotransmitters within neuron cells.

Magnesium also regulates brain synaptic plasticity, which is critical for memory and learning. Raising the magnesium levels in the brain have been shown to improve cognitive function and restore neuroplasticity.^[14]

As for getting enough magnesium, most of this mineral comes from foods like beans, green leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, poultry, beef, whole grains, and salmon.

Iron

When it comes to essential minerals for brain health, iron is right there at the top of the list. Iron is essential for proper brain health because it is a cofactor in the synthesis of myelin and neurotransmitters and for its role in oxidative metabolism.^[15]

Iron helps the synthesis of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. This mineral is also required in the activity of monoamine oxidation which is critical for controlling dopamine levels in the brain.

Research has concluded that low iron levels may result in a decrease of dopamine D1 and D2 receptors, which has a direct adverse effect on memory and learning. A decrease in the iron levels in the brain can also impact the serotonin levels, which can result in depression, poor concentration, and attention.

In adults, symptoms of iron deficiency are brain fog, anxiety, depression, fatigue, irritability, restless legs, poor concentration, and insomnia.

Nonheme iron (less absorbable) is found in nuts, beans, and leafy greens.

Seafood and meat are the best sources of heme iron (more absorbable). Meaning the body absorbs iron from animal products easier than it absorbs iron derived from plant foods.

Manganese

Manganese is an essential trace mineral required for fat and carbohydrate metabolism, bone formation, calcium absorption, and blood sugar regulation.

Manganese is a required cofactor for enzymes involved in neurotransmitter synthesis and metabolism, and several enzymes necessary for astrocytes (glial cells) and neuron function in your brain. These glial cells help form the endothelial cells for your blood-brain barrier, help repair the brain and spinal cord following traumatic brain injury and maintain proper ion balance.

Molybdenum

Molybdenum is an essential mineral required as a cofactor in four important enzymes in your brain and body.^[16]

Mitochondrial amidoxime reductase – a critical enzyme believed to be linked in mutations and detoxification on the DNA level.^[17]
Xanthine oxidoreductase – required for purine metabolism. Purines are obtained from various foods and are components of Coenzyme A, RNA, DNA, cAMP, ATP, and NADH.
Sulfite oxidase – needed for your body to metabolize sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine from foods.
Aldehyde oxidase – helps the conversion of aldehydes, which are found in everything from alcohol to household toxins to cigarette toxins, into hydrogen peroxide and a harmless acid to be expelled by your kidneys.

You can get your daily dose of molybdenum from foods like meat, grains, legumes, and dairy.

What Foods Do I Need To Eat

When it comes to minerals, you’re probably looking for the bottom line: what foods have them and how much do you need? So let’s get to the point. The mineral list below can help you out.^[18]^[19]