With today’s fast paced world, it is important to ensure you are taking in the right types of vitamins and minerals that will support your body’s function at all times. There are many nutritional supplements on the market today, some more beneficial than others and some simply a waste of your money and time. Here are a few things to consider when purchasing your vitamins and minerals:
Key Ingredients: Iron, Zinc, Vitamins A, B, C, E and Magnesium. The best forms of all of these B vitamins can be found in multi-vitamins. In order for vitamin E to have the best effect, you must take it with folic acid and not folate. Folic acid is found in leafy green vegetables and citrus fruit and can be taken as a supplement.
Water Soluble Vitamins: Taking in daily doses of vitamins and minerals through water soluble vitamins decreases the absorption rate into the bloodstream. The type of vitamin which is water soluble is called Vitamin D. Therefore, daily doses of Vitamin D are essential for bone health. However, there is a limit to how much of it you can get in your diet from food alone. Water soluble vitamins also have an effect on the metabolism of fat. This means that in order for the body to burn fat at a faster rate, you must be taking in high doses of Vitamin D.
Water Soluble Minerals: Zinc and Folic Acid are the only minerals found in all foods that humans need in large quantities. Both minerals are vital to good overall health and prevent and fight diseases. However, in addition to these two vitamins there are other important minerals that must be taken in high doses in order to make sure your body receives all of the nutrients it needs. Some examples of these include Vitamin B12, Magnesium and Calcium.
Vegetable And Plant Foods: Certain foods may benefit your health more than others depending on what you eat. For example, some green leafy vegetables may benefit your health more than others depending on whether you’re eating them raw or cooked. However, there are certain types of vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage which may benefit your health less than other vegetables because of the amount of fat they contain. Other vegetables such as spinach may benefit your health more than others depending on the iron content of the iron-rich seeds.
Food Sources: Although most people rarely eat any kind of vitamin deficiency, food sources for the vitamins are still available. Some of these food sources include fish, nuts, and whole grains. However, it is important to note that vitamin and mineral supplements are not good for you and should only be used under a physician’s supervision. In fact, if you were to take a vitamin supplement without a doctor’s supervision, you could become fatally ill.
Usual recommended intakes for adults are the estimated daily values of vitamins and minerals found in foods that you would like to eat. The recommended dietary intakes of the different vitamins and minerals are usually based on your age, gender, and your family history. If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, it is important that you discuss this nutrient intakes with your doctor. You may need to increase or decrease your nutrient intakes according to your doctor’s recommendations. If you are taking prescription medications, you should also discuss this nutrient intakes with your doctor.
Note: It is best to consume the whole spectrum of nutrients from the four nutrient classes (vitamin, mineral, protein, and fat) in order to achieve a balanced diet. In addition, you should also make sure to get all the recommended daily amounts of the recommended vitamins and minerals. This includes the more water-soluble vitamins (such as Vitamin A, C, E, and B complex) and the less water-soluble (such as Vitamin D and carotenoids) vitamin supplements. By eating a balanced diet comprised of healthy foods, healthy fats, and the proper amount of supplements containing these types of nutrients, you can protect yourself from nutritional deficiencies that can result from a diet that lacks these basic food elements.