Silica: Referred to by some as the "element of youth", Silica is a mineral needed in your body for the building of collagen for your bones and connective tissue.

Silica is an essential collagen production and calcium management mineral. We are born with high silica to calcium ratios and as we age silica levels drop, creating the physical effects of aging.

Silica is essential for:

• Strong, healthy bones, teeth and gums
• Vertigo relief
• Accelerated wound healing
• Hair, skin, and nail integrity
• Burn relief and healing
• Collagen production
• Gastro-intestinal health
• Strong and flexible ateries
• Prevention and reversal of osteoporosis and arthritis

Of all the minerals important for good health, silica is by far the most underrated and misunderstood mineral of all. It is the seventh most prevalent element in human tissue after calcium. Research done in the 1970's by Dr. Edith Carlisle at the UCLA School of Public Health affirmed without any doubt the extreme importance of silica.

Her research, performed at the UCLA School of Public Health, showed silica to be essential in collagen formation and connective tissue strength. Collagen is the tough fibrous material which holds us together and is the major component of everything from our bones to our skin. Supplementation with this essential element may improve or alleviate many of the following diverse symptoms:

1. Calcium deposits on bone, in joints, and in soft tissues (calcium mismanagement).
2. Teeth and gum disease, and structural failure.
3. Gastrointestinal problems such as acid indigestion, acid reflux, and Crohn's disease.
4. Arthritis symptoms primarily associated with osteoarthritis.
5. Osteoporosis - silica helps the body deposit calcium into bone rather than into areas it shouldn't be. ....More importantly, silica helps maintain proper bone collagen levels; giving bones greater flexibility.
6. Arteriosclerosis - studies have shown that hardened arteries are high in calcium and low in silica. ....Healthy, flexible arteries are high in silica and low in calcium.
7. Skin, hair and nail disorders.

Silica is the combination of the 2 most common elements on the planet - Oxygen and Silicon. Some scientists hypothesize that we could just as easily have been a Silicon based organism as a Carbon based organism. Two functions have been identified for Silicon. It is the primary Calcium management element and is responsible for making sure calcium is not stored in any locations other than bone. Without Silica, the body will store calcium (of which most of us get too much of ) in areas like, artery walls, joints, organs and soft tissue. The second Silicon role is in collagen formation. The physical manifestation of aging is the inability of the body to reproduce collagen the way we could in our 20`s and 30`s. This leads to wrinkles, loss of flexibility, porosity of bones, digestive problems, arthritis and many other issues associated with aging. Silica is also known to enhance appearance of hair, skin and nails.

Selenium: A mineral associated with antioxidant properties and fat metabolism. It has been claimed to help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. One recent study did suggest that selenium supplements may decrease cancer risk. However, more research is needed. Taking excessive amounts of selenium may cause hair and nail loss.

Iron: A mineral that is an essential constituent of blood and muscle and important for the transport of oxygen. Certain groups can be at risk of having low iron levels. These include young children and early teens, women with heavy menses, women with multiple pregnancies, and people with conditions that cause internal bleeding, such as ulcers or intestinal diseases.

But for healthy men and postmenopausal women, iron deficiency is rare. In fact, one study suggested that high iron levels may increase risk of heart attack and atherosclerosis, although a link hasn't been proven. In addition, if you have the uncommon — but not rare — genetic disease hemochromatosis, iron supplements could cause a hazardous iron buildup in your body.

Magnesium: A mineral found mainly inside muscles, soft tissues and bone. It functions in many enzyme processes.

Manganese: A mineral that is important for growth, reproduction, formation of bone, and carbohydrate metabolism.

Phosphorus: A mineral essential to bone formation and maintenance, energy metabolism, nerve function and acid balance.

Potassium: A mineral that is essential for nerve function, muscle contraction and maintenance of normal blood pressure.

Calcium: A mineral important for strong teeth and bones and for muscle and nerve function. The major mineral constituent of bone.

Chloride: A mineral that regulates body fluid volume, concentration and acid-base balance. Balance intertwined with that of sodium.

Chromium: A mineral important in regulating blood glucose. Although chromium works with insulin to help your body use blood sugar, preliminary studies assessing the effect of chromium in the treatment of diabetes are controversial, and there's no proof chromium can prevent the disease. There's also no proof of the popular claims that taking chromium supplements can increase your muscle mass, help you lose weight, reduce cholesterol and prevent osteoporosis.

Copper: A mineral that is important for nerve function, bone maintenance, growth, blood formation and utilization of glucose.

Molybdenum: A mineral involved in many enzyme processes, nerve function and protein metabolism.

Sodium: A mineral that regulates body fluid volume, concentration and acid-base

Zinc: A mineral involved in wound healing, taste sensation, growth and sexual maturation and part of many enzymes regulating metabolism.

Some studies have also shown that taking a daily multivitamin-mineral supplement containing zinc may increase immune response in older people. However, other studies have shown just the opposite — that zinc may weaken the immune status of older people.

What is known is that megadoses of zinc can interfere with the way your body uses other essential minerals, such as iron and copper. And, excess zinc (more than 10 times the RDA) can lower HDL ("good") cholesterol levels.