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The Periodic Table of Elements lists all known elements. Elements are substances that cannot
be decomposed to simpler substances nor formed by chemical union.
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen are the basic elements of life.
Nutritionally essential elements are those required to support adequate growth, reproduction
and health throughout the life cycle when all other nutrients are optimal.
The macro essential mineral elements are those required in the range of grams per kilogram of
diet. These are calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium.
The micro or trace essential elements are those required in the range of milligrams or
micrograms per kilogram of diet. These are boron, chromium, cobalt, copper, fluorine,
germanium, iodine, iron, lithium, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, sulfur, tin,
vanadium, and zinc.
Toxic elements are those that have no role in human physiology, and may be harmful to human
health when sufficiently present. These are toxic metals such as aluminum, cadmium, lead,
mercury, and others. Some toxic non metals are thallium and uranium.
Essential elements can impact human health when they are either deficient or in excess.
Our general and personal environment can be responsible for introducing toxic elements to
our body. The air we breathe, water we drink, and food we eat can contain toxic elements.
Fossil fuel combustion, especially coal, contributes numerous toxic elements to air and water.
Cadmium enters the environment from vehicular tire wear. Lead is still often present in
highway paint. Mercury can enter our bodies from dental amalgams and fish, especially tuna.
Cadmium is present in cigarette smoke.
The harmful effects of excessive essential and toxic elements is the result of free radical
pathology. A free radical is any elemental species capable of indepedant existence that
contains one or more unpaired electrons. Free radicals can be formed by the loss or gain of an
electron by a non-radical. The oxygen molecule has two unpaired electrons and is a free
radical. The transition metals (except zinc) contain unpaired electrons and can act as free
radicals. These are chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and vanadium. Most
toxic elements have free radical activity.
Free radical activity such as oxidation is part of normal human physiology which is controlled
by antioxidants. Metal binding proteins can bind toxic metals and either excrete or store them
in tissues. Excessive physiological stress, ionizing radiation (including sunlight), alcohol,
excessive essential metals, and toxic metals can overwhelm our bodies natural defences and
allow free radicals to create damage. This damage can occur at the cellular, tissue, organ and
system levels. Free radical damage can result in numerous diseases including cataracts,
arthritis, atherosclerosis, and cancer. It plays a major role in the aging process.
Testing for essential element deficiency or excess can be done using blood, hair, urine or
tissue specimens. Corrective supplementation and/or reduction of the appropriate elements
can then be done. Similar testing can be done for toxic elements with subsequent removal of
those that are elevated.
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