Compositions and methods are provided for improving the health of an animal by reducing certain diseases and by binding certain heavy metals that may be unintentionally introduced into the body of the animal from the environment. Compositions and methods are also provided for improving the feed conversion ratio of an animal. In addition, compositions and methods are provided for reducing nitrate pollution in the environment. In one embodiment, the composition may include mastic gum, a mixture of ionic minerals, and optionally an essential amino acid not produced by the animal. The ionic minerals may be derived from water sourced from an inland sea such as the Great Salt Lake, the Dead Sea, or another inland sea. The essential amino acid may be included in the form of a protein. The animal may be a ruminant, poultry, or other animal. Methods are also provided for processing mastic gum.
