A Recipe for Health – is Boron boring?

Is Boron a boring trace mineral? What does it have to do with your health? Isn’t it best known as Borax- a cleanser and mineral used in the making of glass?


Boron is a trace mineral found in plants. Plants take the mineral out of the soil and give it back to us when we eat the fruits and vegetables. We cannot get our minerals directly from the soil so we are dependent upon plant life to supply us with the necessary minerals to insure health.

Boron has recently been shown to be effective in preventing bone loss and deterioration. In a US Agricultural study boron was given to post menopausal women, who were at high risk of osteoporosis. The results of the study suggest that boron works much like estrogen to help prevent bone loss. But don’t rush out and buy boron supplements. A healthy diet and a multi- vitamin should give you enough boron. Check with your primary physician if you are considering supplementing.

There appears to be no shortage of boron in humans due to only a limited amount of boron is needed and it is highly available through the fruits and vegetables we eat. Boron is a trace mineral and not an essential mineral meaning we only need trace amounts for health.

Fruits and vegetables are the best sources for boron; meat and fish are poor sources. A diet containing a variety of fruits and vegetables will supply adequate amounts of boron. One such fruit that is rich in boron is the pear. Pears contain large amounts of boron and thus pears help to prevent osteoporosis.

Besides boron, pears are an excellent source of water-soluble fiber. They contain vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, folic acid and niacin. It is also rich in copper, phosphorus and potassium, with lesser amounts of calcium, chlorine, iron, magnesium, sodium and sulfur.

Some varieties have more iron content than others. This can be seen when a cut pear turns brown. If it doesn't turn brown, it means that the iron content is very low or non-existent.

In Greek and Roman mythology the pear was sacred to Pomona the Roman goddess of gardens and trees. In Europe it was customary to plant fruits trees when a couple got married. The longevity and fruitfulness of the trees were thought to give strength to the marriage and children. As each child arrived, an apple tree was planted for every boy and a pear tree for each girl.

Somehow boron doesn’t seem so boring when you bite into a fresh succulent pear and partake of all the wonderful nutrients that nature so aptly provides. If we let her; Mother Nature will always take care of our health.