Nutrients are needed for the body to be healthy. And all can be obtained in the foods we eat, thus a healthy food diet is needed. But when we fail to consume some of the foods we need then vitamins and minerals may be substituted.
There are 13 vitamins, nine of which are water soluble, and four that are soluble in body fat. The fat soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K. The water soluble vitamins are C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, B12, biotin, folic acid, and pyridoxine.
A CAUTION: Vitamins can be toxic. For example, vitamin D can cause kidney damage, vitamin A may cause liver damage, and niacin can cause heart and liver problems. A further caution is that vitamin and mineral directions on bottles may be wrong for you and that could cause problems. Too much of one, or too many can also cause health problems. Also note that vitamin and mineral supplements are not regulated by the government. Thus care is needed when starting or continuing a vitamin and mineral regimen.
There are vitamins for depression, to prevent disease, for athletes and hard exercise, men and women, and children and older adults. One can find a vitamin or mineral for about any condition or situation, and though this is good in general, uncontrolled use can be dangerous for you. Thus some tips.
#1: Check with your doctor first. He may want to see what your food diet is like, so take that along. Knowing your health and your diet he can then decide on what vitamins and minerals you may need, or do not need.
#2: Purchase your supplements from reputable suppliers and sources.
#3: Depending on what your doctor has directed, purchase vitamins and minerals in levels of not more than 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance, the RDA.
#4: Take them with food, mealtime being a good time. This will help avoid digestion problems.
#5: When a vitamin causes any problem, stop it immediately, and discuss it with your doctor. Remember that vitamins can cause reactions that are not harmful. Niacin, for example, can cause a flush, that is not harmful. However, do not risk problems from vitamins and minerals and discuss them with your doctor. You are planning to improve your health and not harm it.
#6: Remember that you can obtain all these nutrients from food, thus food is the best option for daily gaining all nutrients. And the body will accept, digest, and use those from food better, and with little or no unwanted reactions. Your doctor or drugstore can supply you with a healthy food diet.
#7: Keep in mind that there are those with special needs: athletes, children, older people, and some medical or health conditions. If you are one of these you do want your doctor to provide you with what you need, and in what dosage.
The ready availability of vitamins and minerals is a blessing, but abuse can be very harmful. So do not take chances with your health. Determine with your doctor what you need, the daily dosage level for you, and then purchase supplements from reliable sources. When doing these things you can be on your way to better health, and having better health enjoy life more.
Have happy vitamin and mineral intake!
