Why take vitamin-mineral supplements?
Vitamins and minerals promote essential biochemical reactions in the
cells of the body. Men and women have similar nutrient requirements but
they vary somewhat in the specific essential nutrients and the amount
required to maintain maximum health.
We have developed a multivitamin that is specifically designed for men and another for women.
Multivitamins help support the cardiovascular system, the nervous,
system, the circulatory system, tissue and cell regeneration, and
muscular response. Vitamins and minerals together are called micronutrients.
A micronutreint deficiency can cause a disease or health problem
that is most often reversed when the micronutrient is replenished. For
centuries sailors on long voyages often suffered from brittle bones,
bleeding gums, and even death. There was a suspicion that scurvy was
caused by lack of fresh fruit, but the correlation was not proven until
1747. It was finally discovered that lemons and oranges prevented the
disease, however it took until 1928 for a scientist to give the name
"vitamin C" to the active ingredient that cured or prevented scurvy.
Vitamins and minerals are vital for all metabolic processes. They
play a critical role in normal growth, proper digestion, hormone
synthesis, energy metabolism, immune system response, nerve and
muscular function, mental alertness, and numerous other body functions.
Dietary imbalances can lead to gastrointestinal problems, decreased
immunity, fatigue, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, osteoporosis,
cancer, stokes, and diabetes.
There is greater need to supplement you and your families
nutritional needs today than ever before. Unfortunately, soils are
often depleted of important nutrients. Although food is still produced,
the soil is often not as vitamin and mineral rich as it was in the
past. Not only do we eat nutrient depleted foods; many of our diets
also consist of processed foods high in sugar and fat content. Adding
this health hazard to continued exposure to pollution and industrial
toxins, it is not surprising that we suffer from elevated risks of
various forms of cancer, strokes, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis,
and stress.
What are the essential vitamins and minerals?
There are thirteen vitamins. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble,
and are stored in the body's fat. The other nine vitamins are vitamin C
and eight B vitamins: thiamine B-1, riboflavin B-2, niacin, vitamin
B-6, pantothenic acid B-12, biotin, and folic acid are water-soluble,
and are not stored in the body to any significant degree. Vitamins are
critical to the proper maintenance of our immune systems. They also act
as catalytic agents in chemical reactions that enable our bodies to use
fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.
The human body also depends on fifteen minerals to help regulate
cell function. Minerals consist of sodium, chloride, selenium,
molybdenum, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, calcium, mangnesium,
chromium, and zinc.
Who benefits most from vitamin-mineral supplements?
Vitamins-mineral supplements should not be taken as a substitute for
a healthy and nutritious diet. It is important to note that supplements
should only be taken as adjuncts to an already healthful diet. The
problem is only one person in ten consumes the recommended five
servings of fruit and vegetables. Our fast paced lives often cause us
to skip meals. Poor nutritional habits are further exacerbated by fast
foods and fad diets. There is a convincing body of scientific evidence
that vitamin-mineral supplementation optimizes health. A daily
multi-mineral supplement may bolster your immune system and decrease
your risk for infections.
Suggested Dosage: As a food supplement, take one tablets
with a meal three times daily (3 per day). Take vitamins in
divided doses rather than in one large dose because it is easier
for the body to absorb in smaller doses and is closer to the way
the body naturally absorbs nutrients over the course of a day.
