Who doesn’t love food? Unfortunately, food does not always give your body all it needs to be properly maintained. Vitamins and minerals are essential to proper body function and you can’t always get what you need from food alone. Keep reading the following paragraphs to learn the importance of vitamins and how to make use of them in your daily life.
In order for the vitamins to be used appropriately, they must be synthesized. As a result, you have to understand the ways in which vitamins and minerals interact. An example is how iron has difficulty being absorbed with calcium present. Therefore, when taking your iron pill, wait at least a half an hour to take an antacid or calcium supplement and don’t have any dairy products within this time frame.
Calcium is integral for the construction of your bones. You need to have lots of vitamin D to absorb calcium, though. You can get out in the sun, take a supplement or eat a fortified food. Each of these can help ensure your body can absorb calcium.
The two easy ways to get vitamin D are drinking milk and getting outside in the sun. Take a supplement if you do not prefer milk. This vitamin is good for keeping your bones from becoming brittle, so they don’t break as easily.
From time to time your body may ache for reasons you don’t quite understand. Try taking some new vitamins and minerals before going to the doctor at the first sign of pain. Vitamin E is a great vitamin to start out with because it is safe and can help reduce the amount of toxins in your body.
Vitamin A is an essential antioxidant that helps increase your immunity, reduces the chance of heart disease and provides many other benefits. However, if taken in huge amounts, it can be very harmful. It is important that you stay with the recommended dosage each day of 2300 IU. Carrots are one of the best sources for Vitamin A.
If you are menopausal avoid taking prenatal vitamins since it is not the right blend of nutrients for you. Women often take these vitamins as to improve their skin, hair and nails. Though this might be safe, post-menopausal women can receive too much iron by taking them.
Fruits and veggies are very high in vitamins and minerals. Choose fresh produce over canned to get the most out of it. Besides healthy meals, many people need to supplement their diet with vitamins and minerals made from high quality sources.
The starting point in any supplement journey is having your doctor test you for specific nutrient deficiencies. This will help you to nip any problem in the bud.
You should always question the source of the information you receive about vitamin and mineral supplements. Advertisers want to sell you a product that may not always be what your body needs. Always question the information you get. If you have any doubts at all, talk to your doctor before taking any supplement.
Food is delicious, but it is not always nutritious. It can be important to look for supplements. As you’ve seen, vitamins may be a major factor in helping your body work properly. Apply what you just learned about keeping your body fueled and healthy.