High Mineral Foods

(+ Best GAPS Diet Supplements & Herbs)

When our family began the GAPS diet for a period of time while healing from food allergies and sensitivities, I did a deep dive into research on high mineral foods. I wanted to make sure our growing children would not be deficient in any vitamins or minerals, because even though we were eating very nutrient dense foods, for a period of time eggs and dairy were off the menu, as they caused vomiting and eczema. The GAPS diet recommends pasture-raised eggs and raw fermented dairy as great sources of calcium, choline, vitamin A, D, and K, B vitamins, omega 3s, selenium, folate, potassium, magnesium, iodine, sulfur, zinc, and iron. I am thankful we can now consume these foods after a period of healing, and I am also grateful our experience provided us an opportunity to learn how to nourish our bodies on a deeper level and experience true wellness.

-If you would like to see a weekly meal plan filled with nourishing, high mineral foods, see this post.
-To learn more about how we healed from many food sensitivities and allergies, see this post: How To Cure A Dairy Allergy or Sensitivity With the GAPS Diet.

What are the best high mineral foods?

Great sources of absorbable vitamins and minerals come from organ meats, particularly liver, eggs, and raw fermented dairy from pasture raised animals. If you are not connected to local farmers for a healthy source of eggs and meat, search in local Facebook groups or check your local Weston Price Chapter.

Fish, nuts, fruits, and veggies also offer important nutrients. An often overlooked source of nutrition are herbs, which can be made into delicious and comforting teas or used as an extract. An excellent way to fill in nutritional gaps with vitamins and minerals is a simple brew of tea! See this yummy Healthy Herbal Tea Recipe for more info.

If you are new to whole foods eating (hint, this is where you will get your bioavailable minerals and vitamins, not from fortified bread and cereal) check out this condensed resource for transitioning to a whole foods diet. You can set a comfortable transition pace for your family over a couple days or several weeks/months.

Why are high mineral foods important?

Minerals support every process in our bodies, such as being able to breathe, having proper muscle function, bone formation, and organ function, to name a few. Without an active nutrition plan to continuously re-mineralize our bodies, we become depleted and ill. A few examples of illness I have personally experienced, that can be alleviated with proper nutrition and minerals are adrenal fatigue, extreme morning sickness, Hashimoto’s, and acne.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Always check with your doctor before introducing a new diet or supplements. While our family re-mineralized our bodies and healed our digestive systems, this information should not be used to recommend, diagnose, or treat anyone else’s specific situation.

Mineral Deficiencies in Pregnant and Post Partum Women

Having an active plan to restore our bodies with minerals is extremely important. Our soil is largely depleted of the high level of minerals it used to contain. Therefore, our bodies do not get adequate amounts through fruit, veggies, meat, and nuts the way humans have historically. Some sources reveal a mother’s body loses anywhere from 10% to several pounds of minerals with each pregnancy and birth of a new baby. While many traditional cultures were VERY diligent in feeding pregnant women and children nutrient dense organ meats, which contain high levels of minerals, we have fallen out of practice in placing importance on the role nutrition plays in utero and in raising the next healthy generation.
An article from Weston Price shares:

The average American woman, however, is often nutritionally depleted before conception even takes place, and her diet during pregnancy may be full of sugar and processed foods. In these cases, the body will rob the mother of nutrients to nourish the growing fetus, taking calcium from the bones and teeth, and reducing the stores of critical omega-3 fatty acids needed by the mother for emotional balance.

Nutrients that may be depleted include iron, folate, calcium, potassium, vitamin D, vitamin A and carotenoids, magnesium, iodine, omega-3, phosphorus, zinc, DHA and other essential fatty acids, B₁₂ and selenium.³ Scarily enough, this can cause permanent changes to the mother’s brain and body. The new mother may have trouble remembering or learning new things, or may suffer from anxiety and depression. Decreased vitamin A stores can result in noticeable changes in vision. Before-and-after pictures sometimes show such changes as thinned lips and a curved spine.

Many women falsely believe that taking a prenatal pill before, during and after pregnancy will be enough to cover any deficiencies. So why not just take a pill? While some high-quality supplements can certainly be helpful, they are not close to being a panacea. Synthetic tablets do not contain the hundreds of isomers and related molecules that exist in nature so the body does not recognize and absorb them as easily. Moreover, the synthesis of these molecules in a lab creates unnatural byproducts that may in fact be harmful.

A study that looked at prenatal vitamin use in American women found that the women still developed deficits of niacin, thiamin and vitamins A, B₆ and B₁₂ that lasted into the third trimester (and presumably beyond).⁴ Prenatal vitamins also do not adequately address pregnant women’s needs for vitamin D, long-chain essential fatty acids or choline. Choline is not part of any prenatal vitamin commonly found in the United States. In short, while certain high-quality prenatal formulations can be helpful, the answer, first and foremost, has to be on our dinner plate. (Source)

Are High Mineral Foods “Enough”?

Due to being raised in our modern lifestyle with a standard American diet, then having 5 babies in 7 years, living in a moldy rental home for a few years, and having 2 Lyme bullseye rashes, I became ill. My brain fog and memory were very poor as a young adult, I had adult acne, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, I lived in a state of anxiousness, and I was overall very unwell. Even though I was improving by eating well, the high mineral foods alone were not enough to overcome my nutritional “gaps” ;).

After adding in a few key minerals, my body began to heal and I began to feel normal again, just before my fifth pregnancy, which was by far the easiest one. I had very little morning sickness compared to my first 4 pregnancies, my Hashimoto’s went into remission, and I had the fastest labor and delivery of all the children. The only change I made leading up to and during this pregnancy was adding in minerals, following the Root Cause Protocol approach (more info below). I have continued to take these minerals for over two years and feel “normal” for probably the first time ever, including as a child! My husband and our children take these same supplements as well, in addition to following the GAPS diet principles, and we are so grateful to have marked improvement in everyone’s overall health.

Where to Buy Re-Mineralizing Supplements

Sourcing supplements from a trusted brand is very important. Good brands will offer high quality for the price, have third party testing, and source/mine minerals from uncontaminated sources. After trying a few different brands and much research into safety and efficacy, I use these following supplements from Jigsaw (and have introduced them in the order listed below):
Note: use the links below or save this link for future use to get 10% off your entire order using CODE: Kayla10

• Adrenal Cocktail – Adrenal cocktails provide electrolyte support, which helps nourish the adrenal glands. When the adrenals are nourished, they support the liver in making bioavailable copper. Much of the body’s vitamin C is stored and used by the adrenal glands, which is why it is so important to use whole food vitamin C (rather than ascorbic acid supplements). Ideally adrenal cocktails are not taken with food and consumed around 10am and 2pm. If this is not possible, take them when you are able.
• Mineral Drops – Mineral drops come from salt water and are a rich source of magnesium and trace amounts of 70+ other elements. They contain chloride which combines in the stomach to make hydrochloric acid, an important digestive enzyme that aids in absorbing minerals and vitamin B12.
• Magnesium Malate (energizing= take in the morning) and Magnesium Glycinate – (relaxing= take in the evening) – Magnesium is a foundational mineral responsible for thousands of enzymatic actions in the body, including healthy metabolism, digestion, cardiac health, and blood sugar management. Magnesium is rapidly depleted during times of stress or exposures to toxins and must be consumed daily. Take adrenal cocktails to bring the body’s sodium and potassium levels into balance is helpful in preparation for adding in magnesium
• Beef Liver – If you can eat beef liver from pastured raised cows cooked fresh, this is the very best. Perhaps you are like me and hate liver, and it gives you the dry heaves particularly during pregnancy! If so, or if you just need a consistent way to eat it, the capsules are a simple add. Liver is an excellent source of B vitamins, vitamin A, enzymes, and nutrient cofactors.
• Bee Pollen – Bee pollen is a great source of bioavailable B vitamins and copper, which play a role in metabolic activity. Bee pollen also contains quercetin, a natural iron chelator, and has antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties.
• Cod Liver Oil – Cod liver oil has vitamin A which helps support brain, eye, and oral health. According to research by Weston Price, our ancestors who consumed diets rich in vitamin A in traditional cultures did not need glasses and had perfect dental arches (healthy, straight teeth). Cod liver oil also helps activate bioavailable copper.

Source: RCP Handbook

I hope you find this information helpful for you and your family and would love to connect more in the comments below.

Resources

Posts

What is the GAPS Diet? An Easier Explanation
GAPS Diet Meal Plan
How To Cure A Dairy Allergy or Sensitivity With the GAPS Diet
Healthy Herbal Tea Recipe

Local Farm: Weston Price Chapter

Free E-book: 10 Steps to an Easier Diet Overhaul – A How To Guide For Families With Picky Eaters

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