• It’s a Cookbook
    It’s a Philosophy
    It’s a Resource
logologologologo
  • FoodTrients 101
  • News
      • Age Gracefully with Grace O
      • Ginger Hultin, Nutrition
      • Mark Rosenberg, MD
      • Robert Tostado, MD
      • Anti-Aging
      • Beauty
      • Food
      • Health
      • Exercise
      • Celiac
      • Life Extension
      • Books We Love
      • FoodTrients Guides
      • Newsletter
      • woman doing yogaSecrets of the Lymphatic System
      • Fresh-RosemaryRosemary Improves Memory and Cognition
      • fish on slateAnti-Inflammatory Foods: the Top 10
      • capsule full of good foodAre Supplements Safe for You?
  • Recipes
    • SEARCH BY:

      • Category:

      • Starters
      • Soups
      • Salads
      • Main Dishes
      • Sides
      • Desserts
      • Drinks
      • Extras
      • Spice Mixes
      • All Recipes
      • Or Search By:

      • Anti-inflammatory
      • Antioxidant
      • Beauty
      • Detox
      • Disease Prevention
      • Gut Health
      • Immunity Booster
      • Mind
      • Strength
      • exotic fruit and granolaExotic Fruit Salad with Granola
      • buffalo meat slidersTry Buffalo Sliders with Sweetened Cranberries
      • chocolate mousseIt’s a Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chocolate Mousse 
      • Green Tea NoodlesHeart-Healthy Green Tea Noodles Ramp Up the Flavor
  • Resources
  • About
  • Shop
  • Media
  • Home Page
  • News
    • Age Gracefully
    • Anti-Aging
    • Beauty
    • Food
    • Ginger Hultin, MS RDN CSO
    • Health
    • Newsletter
  • Recipes
    • Starters
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Main Dishes
    • Sides
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Extras
    • Spice Mixes
  • Resources
    • Anti-Aging Resources
    • Health
    • Eating Well
    • Books We Love
  • About
    • About Grace O
    • Experts and Advisors
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
  • Shop
  • Media
    • In the Media
    • Press Releases
    • Videos
            No results See all results
            ✕
                      No results See all results

                      The Bountiful Benefits of Boron

                      Published by Life Extension

                      ThinkstockPhotos-494368599

                      Boron is a trace mineral which is utilized in relatively small amounts in the body. Compared to minerals such as calcium and magnesium, boron and its benefits are not as well-known.

                      Even though it’s a trace mineral, boron still possesses biological activity. A study at the University of Illinois quantified boron levels in 12 human tissue sites, including bone, skin, and muscle.

                      The positive effects of boron became better known when Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw began reporting new research on the subject. Below we’ll touch on many of the roles boron plays in health.

                      Boron Protects Your Bones

                      A study showed that 3 mg of boron per day reduced the urinary excretion of calcium and magnesium and increased serum levels of the hormones 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone. These changes suggest that boron could be of value to postmenopausal women at increased risk of bone deterioration.

                      In 1990, Dr. F.H. Nielsen reported that a deficiency of boron and magnesium caused negative bone changes and that boron deprivation resulted in changes with calcium metabolism that could be detrimental to bone formation and maintenance. Some of these changes include depressed plasma ionized calcium and calcitonin, and increases in plasma total calcium and urinary calcium excretion.

                      Boron’s positive role in bone metabolism may be due to its interactions with magnesium and vitamin D as well as calcium.

                      Boost Joint Comfort with Boron

                      In addition to its protective effect against osteoporosis, boron has long been the subject of research related to its therapeutic benefit against osteoarthritis.

                      In areas where boron intake is low, osteoarthritis has been estimated to afflict 20 to 70% of the population compared with 0 to 10% in areas where boron intake ranges from 3 to 10 mg.

                      In a double-blind trial, improvement in osteoarthritis occurred among 71% of those who received 6 mg per day boron.

                      One of the mechanisms through which boron exerts its beneficial activities is its ability to reduce serum C-reactive protein (CRP), indicating a reduction in inflammation that’s associated with osteoarthritis and other adverse conditions.

                      Boron May Boost Brain Health Too

                      A study compared the effects of taking 0.25 mg and 3.25 mg of boron per day. A test measuring the electrical activity of the brain revealed effects in the low boron group similar to those characteristic of malnutrition and heavy metal toxicity.

                      Compared with the high dose group, the lower dose was associated with poorer performance on specific cognitive and psychomotor tasks, including those that emphasized manual dexterity, eye-hand coordination, attention, and perception, as well as short- and long-term memory.

                      Boron for Menstrual Cramps

                      A 2015 study of women experiencing painful menstrual cramps found that 10 mg of boron daily, beginning two days before menstruation for a total of five days, significantly reduced pain duration and severity after the intervention.

                      The researchers involved in the study attribute the benefit to boron’s anti-inflammatory property.

                      Additional Research on Boron

                      Other research has uncovered diverse and positive effects.

                      Weight
                      Higher boron levels have been linked with lower body mass index in a study of normal, overweight, and obese men and women.

                      Longevity
                      Prudent intake of boron might even be linked to longer life: Supplementing the diet of Drosophila flies with a very low dose of boron extended life span by 9.5%.

                      Cancer
                      No discussion of boron would be complete without mentioning its effects against cancer, particularly of the prostate, breast, cervix, and lung.

                      How Much Boron Do You Need?

                      In his 2014 “Update on human health effects of boron,” F. H. Nielsen noted that intake of less than 1.0 mg per day of boron is insufficient to provide the benefits associated with the mineral. For most people, 3 to 6 mg per day is sufficient, but some may need to take 9 to 12 mg.

                      Boron is found in fruit, vegetables, legumes and nuts; however, amounts obtained in the diet may not be optimal. Therefore, it may be necessary to take additional boron.

                      Share
                      Life Extension
                      Life Extension
                      LIFE EXTENSION The Life Extension Health News team delivers accurate information about vitamins, nutrition and aging. Our stories rely on multiple, authoritative sources and experts. We keep our content accurate and trustworthy, by submitting it to a medical reviewer. Life Extensionists are people who believe in taking advantage of documented scientific therapies to help maintain optimal health and slow aging. The medical literature contains thousands of references on the use of antioxidant vitamins, weight loss supplements, and hormones that have been shown to improve the quality and quantity of life. Life Extensionists attempt to take advantage of this scientific information to enhance their changes of living longer in good health. This article is posted by permission of Life Extension. https://www.lifeextension.com/

                      Sign Up to get our
                      NEWSLETTER FREE


                      By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

                      ABOUT

                      • Grace O
                      • Our Experts
                      • FoodTrients
                      • Board of Advisors
                      • FAQs

                      EXPLORE

                      • Age Gracefully by Grace O
                      • News
                      • Recipes
                      • Our Guides
                      • Resources
                      • Shop
                      • Media

                      CONNECT

                      • Contact Us
                      • Subscribe
                      • Facebook
                      • Pinterest
                      • Instagram
                      • Twitter
                      • YouTube

                      SIGN UP for our NEWSLETTER

                      Nourish your week! Get the latest wellness news and delicious recipes to help you age better.


                      By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

                      FoodTrients Trademark™ and copyright © 2011-2024 Triple G Enterprises. I Terms and Conditions I Privacy

                      This website is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. FoodTrients – A Recipe for Aging Beautifully Grace O, author and creator of FoodTrients® -- a philosophy, a cookbook and a resource -- has a new cookbook dedicated to age-defying and delicious recipes, The Age Beautifully Cookbook: Easy and Exotic Longevity Secrets from Around the World, which provides one hundred-plus recipes that promote health and well-being. The recipes are built on foundations of modern scientific research and ancient knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural ingredients from around the world. Since the publication of her first anti-aging book, The Age GRACEfully Cookbook, Grace O has identified eight categories of FoodTrients benefits (Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Immune Booster, Disease Prevention, Beauty, Strength, Mind, and Weight Loss) that are essential to fighting aging, which show how specific foods, herbs, and spices in the recipes help keep skin looking younger, prevent the diseases of aging, and increase energy and vitality. Grace O combines more exotic ingredients that add age-fighting benefits to familiar recipe favorites.

                                No results See all results