Boron is ANYTHING but Boring
Boron is boring.
I’m sure everyone reading this has thought that before, right?
I’m sure very few of you have given too much thought to boron in your lives. Perhaps when you were in chemistry class in high school or when you read some of our articles on our Calcium Free Bone Support…and that’s about it.
But, as God would have it, boron is incredibly important for your health. Far more important than you might expect.
For men and women, boron can positively impact sexual health.
For people who want to live a longer life, it can help with bone strength.
It can help people feel better overall through improved cognitive function, among other improvements.
Let me show you why Boron is anything but boring.
6 Ways Boron Can Help Boost Health
Boron, what is it?
Well, it’s naturally occurring and primarily found in the environment in the form of borates and boric acid.
It’s on the periodic table with the atomic number 5 and is located in Group 13 of the periodic table, which means it’s pretty important. It’s technically a metal and is relatively scarce in the Earth's crust, yet it is essential for plant growth and is found in soil, rocks, and water bodies.
It’s one of the few nutrients I’ve added to our custom products (it’s in our calcium-free bone support).
Let’s discuss how supplementing with it or including it in your diet can positively impact health.
1 - Boosts Bone Growth:
Boron is pivotal in enhancing bone health. Without adequate amounts of boron, your body can’t actually metabolize minerals like calcium and magnesium, which are critical for bone health.
What you may not know (and why boron is so useful) is calcium is primarily involved in the formation and maintenance of bone structure, while magnesium aids in bone density and energy metabolism.
Boron enhances the body's ability to absorb calcium and magnesium efficiently, ensuring optimal bone formation utilization.
Boron regulates enzymes and hormones associated with bone growth, such as vitamin D.
Boron positively modulates the activity of 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1α-hydroxylase, an enzyme crucial for converting vitamin D to its active form, thereby enhancing calcium absorption.
Studies, such as one highlighted by Nielsen in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, underscore how boron supplementation can prevent bone demineralization and support skeletal health, especially in conditions like osteoporosis and osteopenia.
So if you want strong bones, then you need boron.
2 - It Helps Hormonal Balance:
Hormones are the chemical messengers in our body that help to inform the body what to do in given circumstances (like adrenaline for fight or flight or testosterone for male reproductive function).
Proper hormonal balance is essential for numerous body functions, including reproduction, metabolism, and mood regulation.
As I mentioned, boron appears to influence hormone levels by modulating the actions of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which binds hormones like testosterone and estrogen, effectively controlling their availability in the bloodstream.
By reducing SHBG levels, boron increases the amount of free, active testosterone and estrogen in the body.
This can improve libido, energy levels, and muscle mass in men, while in women, it helps maintain bone density and regulate menstrual cycles.
The Journal of Trace Elements in Experimental Medicine study by Naghii reveals significant increases in free testosterone levels and reductions in estradiol due to boron supplementation, highlighting its vital role in endocrine balance.
3 - Enhances Cognitive Function:
Your brain demands so much energy and nutrients that it’s no wonder an important mineral like boron plays a role in its optimal function.
Like magnesium, boron is believed to bolster these cognitive processes by influencing electrical activity in the brain and enhancing neuronal function. It affects the brain's capability to process information and maintain attention.
Research has shown that boron can improve brain function by modulating the metabolism of neurotransmitters, substances that transmit signals in the brain.
The study in Environmental Health Perspectives found that individuals with higher boron intake demonstrated improved cognitive metrics, such as reaction time and fine motor skills. This suggests a potential role for boron in supporting mental clarity and preventing cognitive decline, especially in aging populations.
4 - Assists with Inflammation Reduction:
Inflammation is a natural response to injury or illness but can lead to chronic health issues when unchecked.
Boron is thought to combat inflammation by downregulating inflammatory cytokines and modulating the immune response.
Cytokines are signaling proteins that mediate and regulate inflammation, hematopoiesis, and immunity.
In conditions like arthritis, where inflammation leads to joint pain and degradation, boron suppresses these pro-inflammatory markers and promotes an anti-inflammatory environment.
Research published in Integrative Medicine indicates that boron can reduce symptoms of inflammatory disorders by influencing the activity of enzymes like cyclooxygenase, which plays a role in the inflammation pathway.
5 - Improves Nutrient Absorption:
As I referenced in the section about bone health and boron, this nutrient is incredibly helpful because it helps your body absorb more of the nutrients needed to build strong bones.
But that’s not the only way it’s effective.
The study by Devirian found in Biological Trace Element Research illustrates that boron's ability to boost vitamin D metabolism leads to better calcium management. Calcium is essential not just for bones but also for cardiovascular and muscular functions. Boron promotes a synergistic effect with better nutrient absorption, improving overall metabolic efficiency.
6 - Has Antioxidant Properties:
One of the major risks we all expose ourselves to, willingly or unwillingly, is the damage that oxidative stress from free radicals does to our bodies.
Oxidative stress can lead to cellular damage and chronic diseases like cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
The good news is that boron offers antioxidant benefits by enhancing the body's defense mechanisms against free radicals, supporting detoxification processes, and reducing oxidative stress markers.
Research shows that boron increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, thereby safeguarding cells from oxidative damage and potentially reducing the risk of chronic diseases. These complex biochemical pathways may help stabilize cell membranes and enhance the synthesis of antioxidative enzymes for even greater protection.
Where to Get More Boron?
Clearly you want to get enough boron in the diet. So where’s the place to get it?
Glad you asked.
It’s mainly found in plant-based sources. This list is fairly comprehensive.
- Apples
- Pears
- Grapes
- Prunes
- Raisins
- Avocados
- Broccoli
- Potatoes
- Nuts (especially almonds and peanuts)
- Legumes (such as beans, lentils, and chickpeas)
- Peanuts
- Soybeans
- Chickpeas
- Dates
- Oranges
Supplements are also a good option if you need to boost levels past what your diet will provide alone.