Silicon dioxide is a trace element found naturally in lots of plant foods and is added to many multivitamin supplements. It is needed for healthy bones, skin, hair and nails. Silicon dioxide is often added to processed foods to keep them fresh and tasty. You can find the essential mineral in foods sources.
Silicon Dioxide: Usage and Health Benefits
Foods High in Silicon Dioxide
RDI (Recommended everyday consumption)
As a trace mineral, only a small amount of silicon dioxide is needed daily. Many nutritionists think the human body requires about 5-10 mg of this mineral each day.
Because the suggested everyday allowance of silicon dioxide is reasonably low, it is easy to obtain the proper amount if you eat a healthy diet. Foods to include in your diet are:
1. Fruits
Not often discussed in nutrition literature is the fact that lots of fruits are naturally high in silicon dioxide. The fruits greatest in the mineral consist of raisins, grapes, oranges, apples, cherries and plums.
2. Veggies
There are several vegetables that can provide some of the suggested daily allowance of silicon dioxide. Vegetables with silicon dioxide consist of artichokes, beans, peas, asparagus, beet, greens of all kinds, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes and onions.
3. Nuts
In addition to the other nutrients in nuts, almonds and peanuts include reasonably high quantities of silicon dioxide.
4. Sunflower seeds
Likewise understood for high nutritional worth, roasted sunflower seeds also consist of a healthy quantity of silicon dioxide.
5. Pumpkin seeds
Roasted pumpkin seeds have a moderate quantity of silicon dioxide so make an easy however healthy treat.
6. Whole grains
Rice, oats and entire grain breads are high in silicon dioxide. Eating entire grains is an easy way to fill the everyday requirement for this trace mineral.
7. Water
Normal drinking water is a possible source of silicon dioxide. Difficult water has greater levels of the mineral than soft water.
8. Drinks
Coffee, tea and other drinks made with water will consist of some amount of silicon dioxide.
9. Herbs
Horsetail has one of the most quantity of silicon dioxide of all the herbs. Parsley and garlic are two other herbs that supply a reasonably high quantity of the mineral. Horsetail is thought to be greatest in silicon dioxide. You can discover extracted horsetail powder from pharmaceutical companies.
Also read: List Of Starchy Vegetables
Silicon Dioxide in Supplements
1. A food additive
Silicon dioxide is added to powdered foods and other natural food supplements to keep other ingredients from binding together. For instance, manufacturers add silicon dioxide to salt and numerous spices to keep those dry compounds from clumping.
2. Health advantages
Silicon dioxide is critical for the development of strong nail, bones, teeth and hair. Research indicates that an absence of this mineral may lead to arthritis, bad bone development, unhealthy skin and poor tooth advancement. Silicon dioxide also counteracts the results of aluminum in the body, which may help avoid Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Health concerns
Due to the fact that silicon dioxide is a crystal, it can be an eye irritant if direct exposure happens. When eyes are exposed to this mineral, the outcome will be red and watery eyes. If skin is directly exposed to silicon dioxide, the skin might become inflamed and itchy. If silicon dioxide is inhaled with time such as can occur with miners, lung damage and potentially lung cancer may result.
4. Food safety
When used in food, the proportion of silicon dioxide to food need to be strictly managed. The mineral needs to be no more than 2 percent of the total weight of the food. It is also crucial that the particle size of silicon dioxide be within limits specified by the Food and Drug Administration.
Other Silicon Dioxide Uses
In addition to its use in food, there are likewise manufacturing uses for silicon dioxide. These include:
1. Electronic devices
Silicon dioxide has an extremely high melting point so is useful in electronic devices where high heat is produced. The mineral is necessary for producing fiber optic cables, semi-conductors, and insulation for wires.
2. Conversion of energy
Silicon dioxide has piezoelectric residential or commercial properties. These properties enable the mineral to convert one form of energy to another. For example, silicon dioxide enables mechanical energy to be transformed to electrical energy. This conversion of energy makes it possible for television and radio stations to transmit signals.
3. Glass
Silica is among the primary parts of glass. Blended with soda and boron oxide, silicon dioxide produces glass that is extremely heat resistant. Thus, in addition to other glass items, silicon dioxide is important in the development of heat resistant cooking utensils.
4. Cement
Silicon dioxide is vital in the production of cement. Cement is contributed to other ingredients to make concrete — the foundation of much of the world’s infrastructure.
5. Refractory products
Lastly, silicon dioxide is vital for production of refractory materials. These materials used in structure and other areas are highly shock resistant.
