You’ve heard of Silicon Valley, where businesses grow and become healthy corporate bodies, but ever wonder where that name came from? The silicon part comes from a large concentration of companies there making semiconductors, of which silicon is the main ingredient. Silica is the basis of silicon, and after oxygen is the most abundant element on this planet.
So, it makes sense that silica is also a main ingredient in our own healthy bodies. It has a vital role in assisting calcium in bone development and helps increase and maintain the amounts of collagen that keeps things moving in the body. It also increases the overall benefits of vitamin D and glucosamine.
Silica deficiency can lead to thinning hair, brittle nails, excessive skin wrinkles and aging of the skin. As we age, the amounts of silica in our bodies becomes more scarce, and as a direct result
connective tissues and bones all start to suffer the consequences. Lack of silica also plays a part in atherosclerosis, insomnia, tuberculosis and the other diseases that are related to mucous membranes. Silica is like a repairman that helps restore mucosa of the respiratory tract and can also act as a handyman by increasing the healing rate of bone fractures.
Another benefit of silica is its relation to aluminum toxicity. Silicon bonds with aluminum and prevents its absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. High amounts of aluminum are often found in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Silica also reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks and strokes. It slows the buildup of plaque in the arteries and oxidizes the cholesterol that often leads to atherosclerosis. Silica also boosts the immune system by promoting healthy skin which is the best defense against bacteria, viruses and pathogens that enter the body and cause illnesses.
Good food sources of silicon include apples, raw cabbage, peanuts, carrots, onions, cucumber, pumpkin, fish, oats, almonds, oranges and drinking water. The problem is that the silica is often removed from these foods when they are refined, so unless you are strictly eating these foods whole, you aren’t getting enough silica into your diet.
The most efficient way to supplement silica is in your water. Silica binds to water molecules and hydrates cells and becomes a powerful antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals to help strengthen cells. Adding silica drops to 8 ounces of water or juice not only promotes proper hydration, but helps you get the proper amounts of silica into your very own start- up. A healthy body.
