Silicon the dietary nutrient
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Why G5 or the same sized molecule works at low concentration
G5 is not a dissolved mineral. It travels as a tiny particle — small enough to slip into a cell without needing a receptor or a gate. Once inside, its silicon surface is chemically reactive in a specific way that stimulates collagen production.
Think of it like a very small key rather than a large dose of a nutrient. The key doesn't need to be present in large quantities. It just needs the right shape to open the right door.
The "right shape" here is the unusual geometry of the carbon-silicon bond — which orients three reactive hydroxyl groups in a way that mineral silicon, dissolved in water as an ion, simply cannot replicate.
That's it. Small particle, right shape, gets inside, does a specific job.Silicon is not just a structural material. At the cellular level it acts as a biological catalyst for hydroxylation reactions.
Silicon also participates in:
Glycosaminoglycan synthesis — the gel-like molecules that hydrate cartilage and interstitial tissue
Elastin formation — the protein that gives arteries and skin their elastic recoil
Mitochondrial membrane stability — silicon-hydroxyl interactions help maintain membrane fluidity under oxidative stress
NB: Need a further development: Mitochondrial energy as a key mechanism to optimize recovery.
Mitochondria — the actual bottleneck of recovery
Every repair process that could be discussed — collagen synthesis, glycosaminoglycan production, elastin formation — is energetically expensive. It runs on ATP. And ATP is produced almost exclusively in mitochondria.
The mitochondrial inner membrane is where this production happens — specifically at the electron transport chain, a series of protein complexes embedded in that membrane. Their efficiency depends entirely on membrane fluidity and integrity. QED (CFFD, in French: What had to be demonstrated / proved).
Excerpt
Silicon as Versatile Player in Plant and Human Biology
Source: doi: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00994
Si bioavailability in human diet, e.g., strengthens bones and improves immune response, as well as neuronal and connective tissue health. Despite this empiric knowledge, the essentiality of Si still remains enigmatic. -
@Luke sweden
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so is anyone taking a silica supplement and what are the results?
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so is anyone taking a silica supplement and what are the results?
You won't notice any result if you don't lack it.
Read my answer again to know what it does and how it fucntions.
Most people lack Si at 50ies. I took it first for backpain but now only as a cure every 3-4 months (G5) or when I use it in a homemade cream with aloe vera and lavendula hydrolat. -
@wester130 no because it is abundant in foods:
whole grain rice
green beans
cucumber with skin ons
oats
wheats
beersa normal amount of food gives supplement level doses
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I started a bamboo extract supplement by Nutricost, 800 mg per serving, 70% silica) for about 6-7 months a year or so back, with maybe a one month break in between.
The effects which I felt I noticed could have been the supplement helping or just placebo. I can't be sure.
One maybe odd thing I noticed was I felt it gave me better bowel movements.
It seemed to contribute to hair regrowth, and I've seen people attest to how it makes their hair and nails grow like crazy.
Also felt stronger in the gym during the time I was taking it.
I'd say its worth experimenting with again, especially after a long break from it to see if I notice the effects again and see if it was just placebo.
I'd be interested to try just boosting my levels through dietary intake. Green beans, barley, and oatmeal have pretty high levels in a standard serving.
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@wester130 no because it is abundant in foods:
whole grain rice
green beans
cucumber with skin ons
oats
wheats
beersa normal amount of food gives supplement level doses
Many people on "ray peat diet" dont eat any of these foods
@hearthfire did you notice any difference in your sciatica while taking the silica supp?
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This post is deleted! -
@user1 I dont have sciatica lol
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Any source of silica, including clean supplements are heavy in thiaminases. So you'd need to watch your B1 status. And the comparison to gorillas is misguided. They have very long, large bowels and different milieu/flora, which would account for ability of eating heavy vegetative things and fibers.
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@bio3nergetic goated ball anecdote. any specific source? Have you noticed a tendency that certains specific b vitamins tend to be higher as silica content increases?
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@user1 https://www.cir-safety.org/sites/default/files/equise062020slr.pdf
If taken, one can ensure the brand features absolute clean source of just silica and/or have a bit extra thiamine away from when it is taken.
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