Organic silica is one of the most important essential trace elements for the body. It is involved in cellular processes such as the formation of collagen and other molecules such as elastin. As the years go by, the concentration of silica in the body decreases. In fact, several studies have determined that it is from the age of 30 onwards that we start to have a lower and lower concentration of this trace element.
By promoting natural collagen synthesis, silica is involved in regenerating and strengthening bones and joints, increasing the elasticity of muscles and tendons, the consistency and strength of hair, skin and nails, and the elasticity of blood vessels. In addition to the above, silica has also been shown to be effective in the elimination of neurotoxins such as aluminium, which is responsible for neurological pathologies such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
How is organic silica obtained?
Traditionally, humans have absorbed silica from food and water. Today, with water purification systems, the purity and concentration of silica in water has decreased. It was also possible to obtain silica from certain vegetables, especially cereal husks, but the systems for obtaining and refining grain and other foods has also reduced the quality and presence of silica in these sources. Our intestinal absorption also plays a role: our current lifestyle, often marked by prolonged stress and sometimes unhealthy habits, has made our gut microbiota less able to solubilise and assimilate silica properly.
Fortunately, there are silica supplements on the market which, if complemented with the right diet and habits, will help us to maintain an optimum concentration of silica in our bodies.
What should we look for when choosing an organic silica supplement?
Although there are many options on the market today, not all of them are equally assimilable by our bodies. We can easily determine whether a supplement is right for us by looking at the labelling on the product. We should look at the following:
- What type of plant extracts do you have: extracts such as untreated bamboo or nettle extracts are obtained by crushing the stems or leaves of plants. Commercial plant extracts usually do not contain assimilable silica; when plants absorb silica from the soil, it quickly oxidises. In other words, they crystallise it and convert it into phytoliths. These correspond to very fine grains of siliceous stone which are not assimilable. Therefore, these supplements, whether in liquid, capsule or powder form, are not effective because they contain oxidised silica.
- The form in which the product is marketed: if it is a liquid, make sure it is soluble. When we are advised to shake the product before taking it, this means that the silica remains at the bottom of the container and is therefore in the form of agglomerated silica particles, another form of silica that cannot be assimilated by the body.
- Type of silica: we can come across the so-called colloidal silica or silica dioxide in some products. It was made famous in the 1970s by a German company. However, it is an irreversibly polymerised product. This means that the particles of the element have clumped together to form molecules that are much larger and more complex and therefore much more difficult to assimilate.
Orthosilicic acid, known as OSA, is well assimilated by the body. However, it is a molecule which, from a concentration of 90 ppm onwards, builds up an insoluble mass that cannot be assimilated. The body then eliminates it. Many products on the market contain this insoluble matter made up of oxidised silica. For a supplement to be effective, it must be concentrated, and this can only be achieved by stabilising the OSA so that it contains at least 180-200 ppm and does not clump together.
Another of the purest particles we work with at Silicium is MMST (monomethylsilanotriol). This molecule can pass through the outermost layer of cells, ensuring an effective release of silica into the body.
- Silica concentration: for this trace element, less is more. An ideal concentration of silica is not based on the number of milligrams in the product, but on the fact that these mg are monomeric. This means that silica is made up of small molecules and can therefore penetrate the cells quickly. If a product contains 30 mg of silica per daily intake, but only provides 1 mg of monomer per day, it will be less effective than one that provides 10 mg per day and all these mg are monomers.
With these details in mind, it will be much easier for us to find the right organic silica supplement for us.
Why Silicium Laboratories?
At Silicium, we were among the first to distribute food supplements and natural cosmetics based on Dr. Loïc le Ribault’s organic silica formula. In 1994, Dr. Le Ribault launched in France a silica molecule that had been scientifically studied for many years. Its demand quickly spread throughout the world; especially in 2005, where our brand, after acquiring the inventor’s exclusive licenses, continued to expand internationally. 20 years later, we are operating worldwide, exporting to 50 countries and have more than 100,000 customers who endorse the effectiveness of our products and the excellence of our service.
The success of the product was the molecular configuration studied with scientific rigour to obtain maximum absorption and efficacy at a deep cellular level, achieving an effective therapeutic action.
We have continued to develop studies on an ongoing basis to evaluate the efficacy and the wide range of possibilities offered by our product. We meet the standards of safety, bioavailability and efficacy required by our business and provide our customers with products of the highest quality.
Now that you know how to choose a silica product properly, what are you waiting for to try its benefits? Remember that if you have any doubts, our professional team will be at your disposal to help you choose the best option based on your needs.
