What Are the Benefits of Colloidal Minerals?

Colloidal minerals are types of mineral supplements that have become popular in recent years. People in favor of colloidal minerals say they work better than other mineral supplements.

Claims

• Proponents of colloidal mineral supplements claim they are more easily absorbed than other types of mineral supplements and that they contain various trace minerals that are hard to find elsewhere.

The Facts

• Colloidal minerals are mineral particles suspended in liquid, usually water. They are often made when a rock created from organic matter comes in contact with water.

Benefits

• Dr. Joel Wallach, author of "Rare Earths: Hidden Cures," claims that the superior bio availability of colloidal mineral supplements can help prevent about 60 diseases caused by mineral deficiency.

Considerations

• In their book "Nutrition for Sport and Exercise," Jacqueline Berning and Suzanne Steen point out that colloid solutions are made of particles that do not dissolve in water. They say it is unlikely that these insoluble particles could be absorbed into cells better than other supplements.

Danger

• In 1996, the National Nutritional Foods Association found that colloidal mineral products can contain toxic substances.