Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and Minerals are important nutrients that help our body function as efficiently as possible. Though each influences our bodies in a different way, they are all important contributors to our bodies’ systems. A healthy intake of vitamins and minerals are essential for healthy growth and development, especially in children, and promote strong teeth. Bone formation, nerve muscle contraction and impulses, heartbeat regulation, hormone balance and disease prevention are all assisted by the nutrients from minerals and vitamins.
Although you can get a significant percentage of the suggested daily intake through foods like fruits and vegetables, often your diet is deficient in one or more of these important elements. Natural and organic dietary supplements are a safe and healthy way to ensure that your body receives adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals regularly. There are 22 essential minerals and 13 different vitamins that your body needs in order to develop properly and function productively.
Getting enough vitamins will allow your body to be balanced and regulated, as they have several biochemical functions. The two categories of vitamins are water soluble (C, B) and fat soluble (A, D, E, K). Water soluble vitamins are not stored in the body, and if they aren’t used your body excretes them as waste products. Fat soluble vitamins are stored in the body and then used as needed. Vitamins are necessary to prevent chronic disease and encourage healthy body functions. For example, taking a biotin (water soluble vitamin) supplement will help prevent hair loss, and aid metabolism of fats and proteins. Vitamin K is needed for normal liver function as well as blood clotting, and vitamin C is crucial for proper functioning of the thyroid and adrenal glands and necessary for healthy bones, teeth and gums.
Minerals are also divided into two categories know as macro-minerals and trace minerals. Macro-minerals are used in larger quantities by the body, where as trace minerals are needed in smaller amounts. The macro-minerals are calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, chloride, sodium and sulfur. These minerals have a wide variety of purposes in the body. Magnesium, for example, is needed for healthy bones and muscle tone and calcium is needed for muscle contraction, formation of bones and teeth, heart function and blood coagulation. Trace minerals like iron, zinc, copper and iodine play important roles even though the body needs them in smaller amounts. Iron is essential for the formation of hemoglobin (carries oxygen from lungs to the body’s cells) and also builds your resistance against disease and stress. Zinc assists growth, sexual development, wound healing and tissue repair.
Taking natural dietary supplements of minerals and vitamins can increase your body’s general health and efficiency by making certain you consume an adequate amount of each nutrient. Make sure to follow the suggested dosage amount for each supplement. Although too much of a water soluble vitamin like, vitamin B, won’t be harmful to your health, too much buildup of a trace mineral like iron or zinc could result in health concerns, and could even become poisonous. |
