Vitamins And Minerals – An Introduction
- Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 0:04
- Vitamins & Supplements
- 1,191 views
- Add a comment
Vitamins are natural organic substances made by the plants and living organisms whereas minerals are non-organic substances that come from the earth and are absorbed by the water and soil, which in turn are absorbed by the plants.
Humans and animals get their minerals by eating the plant based foods. Our body cannot produce all the nutrients by itself, although there is an exception of Vitamin D, which we absorb from the sun’s rays onto our skin. Since we need to get the nutrients from other food sources, vitamins and minerals are hence necessary for the development of our body.
The best way to give our body the required vitamins and minerals is through the food that we eat. The reason being, food not only supplies the vitamins and minerals but also provides the anti-oxidants, omega-3 fatty acids and other photochemicals, which are essential to the body. You could get all these by taking supplements or multivitamin tablets every day, but why not just eat food rich in such elements, after all a man needs to eat to live! You could just get the required vitamins and minerals through a balanced diet of a variety of foods.
Are supplements really necessary when you can get the nutrients through food?
Sometimes yes. You may have to take the supplements in case of a deficiency. Some other people who may need supplements are,
a. Pregnant women or someone who is trying to conceive is advised to take supplements or prenatal especially with a minimum of 400mcg of folic acid in them. Folic acid is a B vitamin, which is mostly found in leafy green vegetables. Since it is not enough through the food alone, an extra dose of folic acid is preferred. It is believed that folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida in newborn babies.
b. Breastfeeding women. They are advised to take supplements that are high in calcium and iron to build strong bones and reduce anemia.
c. Women who have a calcium deficiency, which can lead to osteoporosis, will need to take supplements. If the body does not meet the daily requirement of 1000mg of calcium per day, it is a good idea to take a calcium supplement.
d. People who do not have a balanced diet due to the fast-paced life we are leading today.
e. People who drink and smoke a lot.
f. People who lead a stressful life, physical as well as mental stress.
g. Vegetarians and vegans.
Are vitamins & mineral pills safe to consume?
They are safe to consume on a recommended daily basis although should not be taken in larger quantities, which may lead to kidney problems. Since vitamins come in two categories, water- soluble and fat-soluble, the excess water-soluble vitamins are not stored by the body and are excreted from the body quickly. But the fat-soluble vitamins are stored by the body and care should be taken to see it is not consumed in excess. Minerals also play an important role as building blocks for cell structures and a supplement may be necessary if there is a mineral deficiency.
Our body needs the vitamins and minerals for an overall development, growth, strength of the bones, vitality, and digestion, elimination of ailments and functions of the organs. The only way to a better health is a well-balanced diet of the food from the food pyramid.
Recommended Products
VitaComplete Liquid (Multivitamin) Supplements
2 Bottles – $72
Free Shipping Worldwide
Qty 2 – $54.4
Free Shipping Worldwide
Calcium Liquid Supplements About the Author
sanjay has written 385 stories on this site.
