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About Vitamins and Minerals
"The ABC's of Vitamin & Mineral Supplements"
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Many people believe that dietary supplements can be used as a
replacement to healthy foods and as a source of nutrition.
Unfortunately, this isn't the case. Whole foods, including grains,
vegetables and many fruits, provide a unique combination of
minerals, vitamins and fibre not easily duplicated in most
nutritional supplements.
While vitamin and mineral supplements shouldn't be used as
replacement for a health diet they can be used to compliment your
diet. If you suffer from a deficiency, have a poor diet, or have
trouble getting enough nutrients, you could benefit from taking a
vitamin or mineral supplement.
The ABCS of
Vitamins and Minerals
For small yet consistent amounts of normal function, growth and
health your body requires the right amount of essential vitamins
and minerals. When taken together vitamins and minerals are
referred to as micronutrients. Your body is unable to produce most
micronutrients on its own so you must obtain these nutrients from
the foods you eat, or in some instances from supplements.
Vitamins: Help Regulate Body Functions
Vitamins are required by the body for a variety of important
biologic processes, including growth, digestion, alertness, to
fight away infections, and for proper health. Vitamins also allow
your body to effectively process, store and use carbohydrates,
proteins and fats (they serve as biological catalysts) starting or
speeding up biochemical reactions in the body. Even though
vitamins are involved in converting food into energy, it is
important to remember that most vitamins supply no calories.
Water-soluble vitamins
verses fat-soluble vitamins
Water-soluble vitamins include biotin, Vitamin C, and the seven B
vitamins including thiamine (B-1), riboflavin (B-2), niacin (B-3),
pantothenic acid (B-5), pyridoxine (B-6), folic acid (B-9) and
cobalamin (B-12). Water-soluble vitamins easily dissolve in water
and are not stored by the body in any significant amounts. Water-soluble
vitamins that are not used by your body are expelled in your
urine.
Fat-soluble vitamins including vitamin A, D, E or K when not used
by your body after ingestion are stored in your liver and in your
body fat. Many people don't realize that excess fat-soluble
vitamins can accumulate in your body and become toxic. The human
body is especially sensitive to excessive amounts of vitamins A
and D. And because vitamins E and K affect blood clotting, any one
taking a blood thinner, such as "Warfarin" and who wants to
supplement with either of these vitamins should consult with their
doctor first.
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Health
Supplement Store
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Patient &
Member Area
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Minerals: Building blocks for your body
 Minerals are the main ingredient that make up your teeth and
bones, and are the building blocks for other cells and enzymes.
Minerals help to regulate the balance of fluids in your body and
control the function of nerve impulses. There are even some
minerals that aide the body in delivering oxygen to cells and
carrying away harmful carbon dioxide.
Minerals fall into one of
two general categories: Major
minerals which include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium,
potassium, sulfur and chloride are classified as major minerals
because most adults require them in large amounts - in excess of
250 milligrams (mg) per day.
Trace minerals including chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, iron,
manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc are referred to as trace
minerals because the human body needs them in smaller amounts -
less than 20 mg a day.
Whole foods: Your best source of
micronutrients
Most professionals now agree that whole foods are the best source
of vitamins and minerals. There are three reasons you should
consider eating whole foods:
Whole foods are complex - they can provide the body with a variety
of micronutrients not just one or two. For example, an orange not
only provides the body with vitamin C but also beta carotene,
calcium and other important nutrients. A basic vitamin C
supplement may lack many of the nutrients obtained by simply
eating an orange.
Whole foods provided dietary fiber - Fibres is a very important
nutrient that aides in digestion and helps to prevent many
diseases including cancer, diabetes and heart disease as well as
prevent constipation. Many whole foods include phytochemicals,
which are believed to help protect against a variety of diseases,
among them cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure,
etc., etc.
Whole foods are also
a good source of antioxidants
So who
needs vitamin and mineral supplements? A lot of people should
still take vitamin and mineral supplements. Many people,
especially those in Western society, don't receive all of the
nutrients they require from their diet because they can't or
simply don't eat enough health foods. For these individuals
multivitamin mineral supplements can provide the vitamins and
minerals that their bodies are not receiving via their diet. It is
quite common for pregnant women and older adults to benefit from a
supplementation.
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© Quantum Evolution Pty Ltd 2009
15 Eveleigh Ave, Blackheath. NSW. 2785
Australia: ABN 96072787234
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