Focus:
Thinking of your body as a complete system AND its tiniest parts — the cells, the microbes, the stored information, scars, memories, desires, and so on.
What does your body need as a whole? What do the little bits need?
I would like for you to journal about these two questions this week and every 6 months until you feel completely healed.
Repetition:
My body is like and connected to every other body, and the needs it has are species specific.
The smallest parts of me ask for things as they need, and I am open to listen and respond accordingly.
The 90 Essential Nutrients
There will be a separate pdf this week for additional information.
The 90 Essential Nutrients concept is based on the work of Dr. Wallach, a veterinarian turned naturopathic doctor. It was common for animal medicine to focus on nutrients, and he took that information into his human practice. You can use this nutrient information to assess yourself in your health journey, and now that your intuition has been restored, you may even use muscle/sway testing to see what your body needs.
Here is a detailed mineral balancing chart that includes both antagonistic relationships (when an excess of one mineral suppresses another) and synergistic relationships (when one mineral supports or enables another). This goes beyond a quick summary and covers what’s known from nutritional biochemistry and Wallach-style mineral balancing.
Detailed Mineral Balancing Chart
Macrominerals
| Mineral | Antagonizes (excess suppresses) | Synergizes With |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium (Ca) | Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc, Iron, Manganese | Vitamin D, Vitamin K2, Magnesium, Boron |
| Magnesium (Mg) | Calcium (excess Mg impairs Ca absorption), Phosphorus | Balances Calcium (2:1 Ca:Mg ratio), supports Vitamin D metabolism, works with Potassium |
| Phosphorus (P) | Calcium, Magnesium (excess creates Ca:P imbalance) | Works with Vitamin D and Calcium in bone metabolism |
| Sodium (Na) | Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium | Works with Potassium and Chloride in fluid balance |
| Potassium (K) | Sodium (excess K can deplete Na), Calcium (excess) | Balances Sodium (Na:K ratio ~1:1), supports Magnesium |
| Chloride (Cl) | Bicarbonate (shifts acid-base balance) | Works with Sodium and Potassium for electrolyte balance |
| Sulfur (S) | Can compete with Selenium (sulfur amino acids) | Works with amino acids (methionine, cysteine), Biotin, Thiamine |
Trace Minerals
| Mineral | Antagonizes (excess suppresses) | Synergizes With |
|---|---|---|
| Iron (Fe) | Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Calcium | Requires Copper (for transport via ceruloplasmin), Vitamin C enhances absorption |
| Zinc (Zn) | Copper, Iron, Calcium | Synergistic with Vitamin A, balances with Copper (10:1 ratio), supports wound healing with Magnesium |
| Copper (Cu) | Zinc (excess Cu lowers Zn), Vitamin C (oxidises it) | Required for Iron metabolism (heme synthesis), balances with Zinc, works with Manganese |
| Manganese (Mn) | Iron, Calcium (if excessive) | Works with Iron in enzyme function, synergistic with Choline |
| Iodine (I) | Selenium (excess can overwhelm antioxidant defences) | Requires Selenium (thyroid peroxidase protection), works with Tyrosine for thyroid hormones |
| Selenium (Se) | Sulfur amino acids (competes for incorporation in proteins) | Protects thyroid when Iodine is sufficient, works with Vitamin E as antioxidant |
| Chromium (Cr) | Iron, Zinc (competition for transferrin transport) | Works with Insulin (Glucose Tolerance Factor), synergistic with Vitamin C |
| Molybdenum (Mo) | Copper (induces Cu deficiency in excess) | Helps with Sulfur metabolism, balances Copper when too high |
| Fluoride (F) | Calcium, Magnesium (binds and interferes) | Works with Calcium in tooth enamel (though high doses harmful) |
| Cobalt (Co) | Iodine (thyroid suppression in excess) | Integral part of Vitamin B12, synergistic with Iron for red blood cell formation |
| Nickel (Ni) | Iron (competes for binding) | May support hormone and enzyme function (trace only) |
| Boron (B) | Can shift Calcium-Magnesium balance if excessive | Supports Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamin D metabolism; improves bone health |
| Vanadium (V) | Iron (competes for binding sites) | May improve Insulin sensitivity, synergistic with Chromium in glucose control |
| Lithium (Li) | Iodine (thyroid suppression in excess) | Trace doses support brain function, mood balance |
Other “Rare Earths” and Lesser-Studied Minerals (Wallach’s extended list)
| Mineral | Antagonizes | Synergizes With |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium (Al) | Competes with Magnesium, Calcium, Iron (toxic) | None confirmed |
| Arsenic (As, trace) | Selenium (binds with selenoenzymes) | At ultra-trace doses may support methionine metabolism |
| Lead (Pb) | Calcium, Zinc, Iron (toxic) | None (entirely toxic) |
| Cadmium (Cd) | Zinc, Iron, Calcium (toxic heavy metal) | None (entirely toxic) |
| Mercury (Hg) | Selenium (binds and inactivates selenoenzymes) | None (entirely toxic) |
| Silver (Ag) | Selenium, Copper (weak antagonism) | None established (antimicrobial effect only) |
| Rare earths (La, Ce, Nd, etc.) | Compete with Calcium in bone metabolism | May trace synergize with enzymes (not well proven) |
This chart reflects known nutritional antagonisms and synergies and is one of the most detailed maps of mineral balance you’ll find in Wallach-style or orthomolecular nutrition frameworks.
Example Applications
If you have high magnesium, you need adequate calcium and phosphorus to keep balance. If you take high zinc, you must take copper (about 1 mg per 10 mg zinc). If you take iron, you need copper and Vitamin C, but must be careful not to deplete zinc.