Supplements, Vitamins, And Minerals
A vital part of health is practicing prevention and self-care to ensure you remain
able-bodied and healthy! Prevention and self-care start at home by attending to your health via addressing symptoms and complaints as they arise. With the increasing cost of health care more and more individuals have been
looking towards preventative measures to promote good health and for many the first step lies in dietary supplements. Last year in North America over $20 billion dollars was spent on supplements, vitamins and minerals. But what exactly are supplements, are they beneficial and do we need to take them?
First let's define supplements. In 1994 Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) and thus defined the term "dietary supplement" as a product that is: intended to supplement the diet, contains one more dietary ingredient: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals (plant, part of the plant used for flavor, scent or potential therapeutic properties; flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, stems and roots), amino acids, and certain other substances or their constituents, is intended to be taken by mouth: tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap or liquid and is labeled as a dietary supplement.
Probably the most popular group of dietary supplements is vitamins. Vitamin is derived from the words vital and amine, because vitamins are- vital to life. They are organic compounds that are essential to normal human metabolism and each vitamin compound performs specific vital functions and is required by the
body for disease prevention and good health. Vitamins are divided into four fat-soluble types (A, D, E, and K) and nine water-soluble types (eight B vitamins and C). Fat soluble vitamins can be stored in the body; whereas, water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body and because of this and the fact that water-soluble vitamins are easily excreted, they must be consumed frequently for optimal health.
Often multivitamins contain minerals as well. Minerals are inorganic molecules, other than water and because they are required by the body in very small amounts, these minerals are micronutrients. All minerals are considered essential nutrients in that our body does not make them, so we must get them from our diet. Six major minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, chloride and potassium) and eight trace minerals (iron, copper, iodine, selenium, chromium, manganese, molybdenum and zinc) are vital for our health.
Do we need supplements? Given the depleting nutrient levels of our soil, among other food processing factors, even those with the healthiest of diets often do not get the essential vitamins and minerals we need from diet alone, therefore a multivitamin or supplement would be beneficial. Research is supporting supplementation by reporting that some dietary supplements are effective in preventing or treating diseases (though no supplement can make claims that it can diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease and be very cautious of those that do). Research has concluded that folic acid can prevent birth defects, calcium
and vitamin D can support the health of the bones, thus helping in the prevention of bone loss and osteoporosis and recent research indicates other supplements that may be helpful for various health concerns; like fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids to support cardiovascular health.
As a tool in your effort to be well and stay healthy, supplements are a wonderful way to ensure you are getting the nutrients your body needs to maintain vitality and strength; however, supplements should not take the place of a healthy diet. Another important part of self-care and prevention is to properly utilize your health care resources and know when to consult your health care provider. Always check with your health care provider before beginning a supplement or exercise regime if you are being monitored for
any health condition or taking medication. Prevention includes a wide range of lifestyle choices; from supplements to exercising to eating healthy so be mindful of the choices you make on a daily basis and how they will ultimately impact your health.
Live well.naturally!
by: Yeates Endson
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