Vitamins and Minerals Facts

Knowing Your Vitamins and Minerals Facts

If you have ever wondered why the word 'essential' usually precedes the term, 'vitamins' - the reason is simple. Vitamins and minerals ensure that our bodies function as they were designed to.  An interesting fact about vitamins is that the body lacks the ability to manufacture most on its own vitamins and minerals.  Instead, it must rely on outside sources, such as food, to meet its nutritional needs.  The consequences of not meeting your body's needs for these essential components is detailed in the following vitamins and minerals facts.  Don't be one of those individuals who learns too late the importance of supplementing your diet with essential vitamins and minerals.    

What are Vitamins?

Vitamins are organic compounds found naturally in many of the foods we eat. They are also available in the form of vitamin supplements. There are 13 different vitamins that are needed to perform such crucial functions as 1) helping protect against disease and infections, 2) helping the body's metabolism, 3) assisting the body to grow, 4) and helping the body's waste removal process.

In fact, vitamins are a lot like building blocks.  It is a healthy body that is able to put these blocks together to create the hormones and enzymes that control blood pressure, heart rate, glucose levels, and other chemical reactions.  They are also responsible for the health of our largest organ - our skin.  For example, skin conditions like acne can be improved through a regular program involving vitamin supplementation.   

What is the Right Amount?

Depending on a person's age and current state of health, the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of the various vitamins will be different. Women who are pregnant, for example, require a different combination of vitamin supplements to protect the fetus against birth defects. Men of adult age will have different requirements than adult women. Children and teenagers both have different nutritional requirements, as well, and have childrens vitamins formulated specifically for their growing bodies.  The elderly have an even different set of requirements due to changes in their aging bodies. 

Many of the high quality multi-vitamin anti-oxidant supplements available today will meet the general requirements for the average adult, however, special formulations for women, children, and elderly provide additional insurance that your specific nutritional needs are met.  And don't forget that the key is to take your vitamin supplements daily.  So, buy the type (capsule, pill, or liquid vitamins) that makes it easy and convenient for you to ingest your supplements.  They will do you no good just sitting on the shelf!  

Problems Associated with Vitamin Deficiencies

To put it simply, think about food as a source of fuel. If you give your body the right type of fuel, it will perform at optimum capacity. Provide the wrong type of fuel, and over time, the body's performance will begin to decline.

Although not noticeable at first, vitamin deficiencies can result in serious health issues over the long term.  As you probably know, few people eat what would be considered a nutritionally-balanced diet. As a matter of fact, many have developed some very poor eating habits. Processed foods, high fat foods, and fast food restaurants have all taken the place of healthy foods.

Because it is not obvious to most people as to what is going on inside their bodies, it is difficult to get a good understanding, or feel, of the negative effects a poor diet can have on the body. It is generally not until your body begins to put on excess weight that the effects of the deficiencies start to become visually noticeable. However, know that trouble is already brewing inside long before the excess weight settles in.

You may wonder what types of problems are associated with vitamin deficiencies.  Well, they range from just a general malaises to serious and grave consequences.  An insufficient supply of Vitamin D can cause weak or even deformed bones. Not enough Vitamin E can result in the destruction of red blood cells.  A shortage of Vitamin C can cause tiredness, weakness, sore muscles and even cause your gums to bleed. Most serious is an overall vitamin deficiency - this can lead to death.

All is not lost, though!  Quality vitamin supplements are an effective way to complete the nutritional gaps that are caused by poor eating habits. Unfortunately, the only accurate way of knowing whether your body is getting enough vitamins, is to have a blood test taken at your doctor's office.  Bottom line - If you don't think you're getting enough vitamins, you're probably right. Isn't it about time that you started to take care of your body with an "insurance" policy of nutritional vitamin supplements?  You'll be glad you did!

We hope that the vitamins and minerals facts provided in this article clarified any questions you may have had regarding the important role of vitamins and minerals in maintaining a healthy and strong body.