There are a lot of web sites that have lists of vitamins, minerals, dietary supplements, and other things that are “known to assist with balancing the pH levels in the human body.” One of the first sites mentioned was dye jt. His list of recommended dietary supplements had a whole lot of sodium, chromium, and “antioxidants” listed in the ingredients. That is something we may wish to investigate, but it is always best to check with your health care provider before beginning any new dietary program.
I recently came across a website with a whole bunch of minerals contained in a multivitamin supplement. The first thing that struck me was that there were not very many key minerals contained in this supplement. It lists aluminum, magnesium, strontium, zinc, and even thiamin in the contents. While these can be beneficial for people with certain health issues, they are not something a person would want to take in conjunction with a vitamin or mineral supplement. We already know that these key minerals should be included in a balanced diet, and perhaps this supplement is just another way to provide the body with them.
The second thing that struck me about this website was that it was geared towards people with special health conditions. Yes, there are some vitamins and mineral supplements on the market that are made to help those who have specific illnesses, but this seems like an additional step. These types of products also tend to have a higher price point. Why are the nutritional companies so focused on targeting those who need special nutrients but not focusing on everyone?
There is no doubt that vitamins and minerals do play a crucial role in everyday life. When we eat food, our bodies absorb the nutrients from them. Without them, we would not survive. It’s true that many of us do not get enough of the right nutrients due to a variety of reasons. Some of the most common reasons are a poor dietary habit, a busy lifestyle, and insufficient time. For those of us who have a more difficult time getting enough of the right nutrients, dietary supplements can be a valuable way to increase the amount of dietary fiber and other nutrients that we receive.
What I found interesting about the website is that they focus primarily on the benefits of their multi-vitamin/multi-mineral products, and not much attention was paid to the one thing that I believe is the most important nutrient – chromium. chromium is a mineral that our bodies naturally produce, and it is vital to maintaining good health. However, people who are getting enough chromium in their diet through food aren’t showing any increased blood flow, and there are actually research reports that show that their blood flow decreases as they age. How could a company go to all of the trouble to market a multi-vitamin only and leave out one of the most important nutrients for their target population?
In looking at the website I saw that they had several links that discussed the benefits of their supplements, and some of them mentioned chromium in particular. So I decided to take a closer look to see if there were any research reports that discussed the relationship between the two. Turns out there were a few studies done on the topic, and they were all conducted by one of the top researchers in the field, Michael Schmitz. Based on the research he did, and the results he showed, it is safe to say that chromium affects your blood flow in a positive way.
Based on his findings, the average person should be consuming about four grams of chromium per day. That is a very conservative amount, however. Based on my calculations, if you consumed five or more grams of chromium in a day, then you would experience some of the same benefits that the company is claiming with their multi-vitamins. If they advertised 90 supplements in a single bottle, then that would be a bit excessive. Regardless, I’m happy to report that all of the minerals contained in these products are pure, organic, and natural, which makes them extremely good for you.
Because the minerals are all natural, they don’t have any of the unpleasant side effects that are common with other dietary supplements. For example, most of the ones sold over the counter will contain ephedra, which can have unpleasant side effects like anxiety, vomiting, heart problems, and even death. However, the minerals that I looked at were not typically sold over the counter, so I didn’t purchase them. Instead, I got a nice little supplement that I can put together myself at home. It contains a variety of different minerals and nutrients that I could never find other ways, and the great thing about it is that I actually feel better while taking it.