WHAT IS SELENIUM? Selenium is a micromineral (or trace element) that protects your body from damaging free radicals (a harmful by-product of oxygen related reactions in the body) and reduces inflammation in the body. In this article I will be providing you with an in-depth look at this important nutrient. WHEN WAS SELENIUM DISCOVERED? Selenium was discovered by the two Swedish chemists Jons Jakob Berzelius and J. G. Gahn in 1818. They were studying the chemicals within sulphuric acid and found a material that they thought was the rare element tellurium. Berzellius studied this … [Read more...]
Nickel Explained
WHAT IS NICKEL? Nickel is a micromineral (or trace element) that assists in the absorption of iron and the production of red blood cells. Today I am going to be discussing this nutrient in greater detail. WHEN WAS NICKEL DISCOVERED? When early miners first came across nickel they were confused as to what it actually was because it acted in a similar way to many existing metals. For example, both copper and nickel were found in ores with a green tint. However, both ores reacted in different ways to heat. In 1751 Swedish mineralogist Axel Fredrik Cronstedt made the breakthrough and … [Read more...]
Molybdenum Explained
WHAT IS MOLYBDENUM? Molybdenum is a micromineral (or trace element) that joins with and activates certain enzymes. In this article I will be providing a full overview of this important nutrient. WHEN WAS MOLYBDENUM DISCOVERED? Early chemists believed that molybdenum disulphide (a compound of molybdenum and sulphur) and graphite (pure carbon) were both the same material due to their similar appearance. However, in 1778 Carl Wilhelm Scheele discovered that they were in fact two different materials. He performed further research on molybdenum disulphide and found that it contained a … [Read more...]
Manganese Explained
WHAT IS MANGANESE? Manganese is a micromineral (or trace element) that activates a number of enzymes in the body. It also supports strong, healthy bones. In this article I will be discussing manganese in greater detail. WHEN WAS MANGANESE DISCOVERED? One of the main ores of manganese is pyrolusite (a compound of manganese and oxygen – manganese dioxide). Early artists used this ore in two ways; to give glass a purple colour and to remove colour from glass. During the mid 1700s chemists started to suspect that pyrolusite may contain a new element and started to analyse it in more … [Read more...]
Iron Explained
WHAT IS IRON? Iron is a micromineral (or trace element) that supports the production of haemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen around the body). In this article I will be providing a full overview of this important nutrient. WHEN WAS IRON DISCOVERED? Awareness of iron dates back to around 3400 B.C. when the Ancient Egyptians are believed to have used iron found in meteorites to create tools and jewellery. However, exact details regarding the discovery of iron are unknown. HOW DOES YOUR BODY USE IRON? An average adult stores 3-4g of iron in their … [Read more...]
Iodine Explained
WHAT IS IODINE? Iodine is a micromineral (or trace element) that is required for good thyroid health and proper metabolism. In this article I will be discussing iodine in greater detail. WHEN WAS IODINE DISCOVERED? Iodine was discovered in 1811 by the French chemist Bernard Courtois. He made the discovery when helping his father make compounds of potassium and sodium from seaweed. These compounds were then sold on to large industrial business who used them as an ingredient in products such as baking soda and table salt. To isolate these compounds Courtois collected seaweed from … [Read more...]
Chromium Explained
WHAT IS CHROMIUM? Chromum is a micromineral (or trace element) that helps control levels of blood glucose, insulin and cholesterol in the body. It was discovered in 1797 by the French scientist Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin. In this article I will be discussing chromium in greater detail. WHEN WAS CHROMIUM DISCOVERED? Chromium was first recognised as part of the mineral Siberian red lead which was discovered by the German mineralogist Johann Gottlob Lehmann in 1766. Scientists were unsure of what new elements Siberian red lead contained because it had a form and colour they had never … [Read more...]
Copper Explained
WHAT IS COPPER? Copper is a micromineral (or trace element) that supports the production of many important substances in the body including collagen (the main protein in animal bones and connective tissues), haemoglobin (an iron containing, oxygen transporting metalloprotein that is found in red blood cells), melanin (a pigment which colours the hair and skin) and myelin (a substance that covers nerve fibres). Today I am going to discuss this important nutrient in greater detail. WHEN WAS COPPER DISCOVERED? The discovery of copper dates back to prehistoric times around 9000 B.C. … [Read more...]
Cobalt Explained
WHAT IS COBALT? Cobalt is a micromineral (or trace element) that is part of the vitamin B12 molecule. Therefore, its role in the body is exactly the same as that of vitamin B12. As part of vitamin B12, cobalt is required to produce deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), red blood cells and other important hormones. In this article I will be discussing cobalt in greater detail. WHEN WAS COBALT DISCOVERED? People have been aware of cobalt since at least 1400 B.C. Back then cobalt compounds were used to colour glass and glazes blue. However, in 1735 the Swedish chemist … [Read more...]
Choline Explained
WHAT IS CHOLINE? Choline is an essential nutrient that promotes good liver health and plays a key role in fat metabolism. Whilst it is not technically a vitamin, it is often unofficially classified as a water soluble, B complex vitamin. In this article I will be discussing choline in greater detail. WHEN WAS CHOLINE DISCOVERED? Choline was discovered by Adolph Strecker in 1862 and chemically synthesised in 1866. In 1946 further research revealed that a diet lacking in choline caused liver cancer in rats. However, it was not until 1998 that choline was classified as an essential … [Read more...]