Silica is an element that is derived from many types of food that we eat such as rice, wheat, oats, strawberries, avocados, lettuce, cucumbers, and other dark green vegetables.
Contents
Uses
Possibly Effective for…
Increasing bone mineral density when obtained from foods.
Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for…
Heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, sprains and strains, and digestion problems.
Benefits
- While silica may not be considered an essential nutrient by current standards, it is likely that this trace mineral plays a functional role in human health. In animals, a silica deficient diet has been shown to produce poorly formed connective tissue, including collagen. In fact, silica has been shown to contribute to certain enzyme activities that are necessary for normal collagen formation.
- Silica is essential for maintaining the health of connective tissues due to its interaction with the formation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are structural building blocks of these types of tissue. One well-known GAG important for skin health is hyaluronic acid, which has been shown to promote skin cell proliferation and increase the presence of retinoic acid, improving the skin’s hydration. Therefore, a deficiency in silica could result in reduced skin elasticity and wound healing due to its role in collagen and GAG formation.
- As we know, proper collagen formation is essential for maintaining tight, wrinkle-free skin, so silica can also be beneficial for slowing down the signs of skin aging. It’s best to get silica from natural sources, and food sources of silica include leeks, green beans, garbanzo beans, strawberries, cucumber, mango, celery, asparagus and rhubarb. Silica can also be found in certain types of water, such as Fiji brand water, which contains more than four times the levels found in other bottled waters due to the leaching of water-soluble silica from volcanic rock. In fact, beverages contribute to more than half of the total dietary intake of silica, and the silica content of water depends entirely on its geological source.
Cautions & Interactions
- Silicon seems to be safe in food amounts. Its safety as a medicine is unknown. Kidney stones can occur rarely in people taking silicon-containing antacids for long periods of time.
- Do not take silicon in medicinal amounts if:You are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Other names
Acide Orthosilicique, Atomic number 14, Dioxyde de Silicium, Numéro Atomique 14, Orthosilicic Acid, Phytolithic Silica, Polysilicone-11, Si, Silica, Silica Hydride, Silice Hydride, Silicea, Silicio, Silicium, Silicium de Sodium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Silicate
References
Source: Whatissilica.org, http://www.whatissilica.org
ChrisKresser, http://chriskresser.com/nutrition-for-healthy-skin-silica-niacin-vitamin-k2-and-probiotics/
Medicinenet, http://www.medicinenet.com/silicon-page2/supplements-vitamins.htm