Fulvic Acid

Fulvic acids are Humic Acids of lower molecular weight and higher oxygen content than other Humic Acids. Fulvic acid is a natural substance found in hummus that typically grows near water sources. It is a water-soluble substance produced by decomposing organic materials in the ground. The plant-derived material is one of many organic substances that make up humic acid. Plants absorb the substance, making the vitamins and minerals in the plants more absorbable. Because of the damage caused to the natural growing environment, people take supplements that contain fulvic acid to make up for the lack of the organic substance in the soil. While fulvic acid has advantages for human health, it has disadvantages in increasing the levels of the substance in your body.

Special Precautions of Fulvic Acid

The reports of its effectiveness are mostly anecdotal, and even fulvic acid enthusiasts -- such as nutritionist Peter Gouge at Complete Nutrition Ireland -- say more thorough studies are needed to support claims. Supplements cannot replace a balanced diet and proper exercise techniques, though supplement marketers often say they can.

Benefits and uses of Fulvic Acid are

• Fulvic acid's primary role is as a digestive aid in your system. There is a correlation between the fulvic acid content in your foods and the quality of soil the foods are grown in. Many mass-produced fruits and vegetables contain less fulvic acid because of the mineral depletion of the soils they are grown in. Fulvic acid can be purchased as a supplement from nutrition and supplement stores and can be taken daily as a nutritional aid.
• Nutrient Assimilation : Fulvic acid is an excellent transporter of energy-rich nutrients, and the electrolytes found in fulvic acid increases your body's ability to absorb these nutrients through your digestive system. Fulvic acid helps your digestive system process vitamins, minerals, proteins and herbs. Fulvic acid supplements are most effective when taken with or before meals.
• The powerful organic electrolyte properties of fulvic acid help to balance the lifespan of cells, sometimes even prolonging their lifespan. According to NaturalNews.com, fulvic acid can actually revitalize dead or dying cells--at least temporarily--and extend their use. Fulvic acid can help process heavy metals found in cells so that they move through the system with greater efficiency and improve cell health.
• Mineral Absorption : Fulvic acid plays an integral role in your body's ability to properly absorb nutrients at the cellular level. It works by entering into your cells and serving as a discriminant toward minerals, helping choose what minerals to keep out of the cell and what minerals to bring in through the membrane--and at what quantities--in order for the cell to function properly with well-balanced nutrients. This improves the overall health of the cell and the functioning of the cell, since it has greater access to the organic materials needed to perform its necessary functions.
• Improved Overall Function : Because fulvic acid provides electrolytes that enhance the electric potential of cells, this can also benefit mineral deficiencies that may be rooted at the cellular level. For example, deficiencies of iron, calcium and magnesium can be more difficult for your cells to absorb without adequate levels of fulvic acid present in the body. An individual's overall electric potential can be negatively impacted by the loss of fluids, emotional stress, sleep deprivation or poor diet. Improving the electric balance in your cells can help defend your body against sickness, weakness and other problems associated with low energy levels.
• Energy : Alternative-medicine practitioners and sports and exercise nutritionists often tout the remarkable abilities of the substance for increasing energy levels and reducing lactic acid buildup. Proponents of the supplement report that fulvic acid can increase the amount of oxygen delivered to your muscles as you exercise, decreasing muscle pain.
• Detox : Fulvic acid plays a role in protecting your cells from oxidation that occurs from environmental toxins. It makes nutrients more soluble and available for use by the cells in your body. Fulvic acid is an antioxidant that fights off the damage incurred from free radicals that enter your body through the food you eat and through outside environmental toxins. It is an electrolyte that helps balance the minerals that drive neurons in your brain.

Food sources

• Organic Vegetables : According to an article titled, "Fulvic Acid -- Is this the Missing Natural Nutritional Link" by Natural Matters, the use of farming chemicals like pesticides drastically reduced the amount of fulvic acid and other minerals present in soil. Since organic farmers don't use pesticides or other chemicals, organic vegetables are far more likely to contain fulvic acid than nonorganic vegetables. Due to the diversity of soil, there is no simple way to measure the amount of fulvic acid in vegetables. The best option is organic vegetables that grow directly in soil, such as potatoes and radishes.
• Blackstrap Molasses : Organic blackstrap molasses is another good source of fulvic acid. According to Natural News, these roots grow anywhere from 6 1/2 to 15 feet below the soil. The depth of the roots ensures that they comes in contact with fulvic acid at some point in the growing process. Blackstrap molasses is a thick, syrupy substance often used as a sweetener.
• Shilajit is a substance derived from rocks in the Himalayan Mountains, according to Natural News. Since it is mainly made up of fulvic acid, the terms are often used synonymously. Shilajit is most frequently sold in a powder form in health food stores. It is reported to have a bitter taste.