Vitamin & Mineral Nutritional Supplements
What do vitamin & mineral supplements, amino acids, herbal remedies, DHA, and fish oil all have in common? They are all nutritional supplements that are growing increasingly popular via media streams and also increasing in sales. In fact, a 2002 study by the ADA titled Nutrition and You found that 49% of U.S. adults are already using a nutritional supplement daily. And despite the barreling economy consumers obviously felt health care was a top priority since sales of nutritional supplements have increased 5.9% (thru Dec 27, 2008); the result was $3.8 billion in vitamin and other supplement sales, according to Nielsen. While food is the preferred source of vitamin and mineral nutrition for our diets, I believe it's safe to say that most of us realize we are in need of some form of nutritional supplementing. Vitamin and mineral supplements equal to or below the "Tolerable Upper Limits" (UL) are usually considered the best and safest for the vast majority of the population. Vitamin & Mineral Nutritional Supplements: Who Benefits? Supplements can indeed have a positive effect on health. Some examples of who may benefit from vitamin and mineral supplements are : People with vitamin and mineral deficiencies Newborns (vitamin K) People living in areas without a supply of fluoridated water Vegans (vitamins B12 and D) Pregnant women (iron and folate) People experiencing blood loss (iron) Persons on limited or restricted diets (multiple vitamins & minerals) Adults at risk for heart disease (folate, Vitamin E) People at risk for osteoporosis due to low calcium intake and poor vitamin D status (calcium, vitamin D) "You can trace every sickness, every disease, and every ailment to a mineral deficiency." Dr. Linus Pauling, winner of 2 Nobel prizes
Vitamins and minerals have widely and increasingly been recognized as the standard treatment for deficiency diseases. Generally, the long care treatment or cure for deficiency diseases is dietary improvements. Yet, vitamin and mineral supplements are also showing potential promise as “preventative medicine” for certain disorders and as an important part of the treatment of others. Some improvements or preventative examples are: Supplemental vitamin C and E are associated with a decreased risk of cataracts in the elderly. Calcium and vitamin D supplements play a role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in some people. Doses of Vitamin C of about one gram daily appear to decrease the severity and duration of colds. Vitamin E may help protect against the harmful effects of air pollution and may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Using Vitamin and Mineral Supplements for the Wrong Reason People often take supplements as a sort of insurance policy against problems caused by poor diets. Although multivitamin, mineral, and other nutritional supplements may help fill in some of the nutrient gaps caused by poor diet choices and food habits, they definitely can’t make a bad diet good. Whether a diet is good or bad is determined by more than just its vitamin and mineral content. The “goodness” of a diet also depends on its caloric, fat, cholesterol, fiber, water, complex carbohydrate, and protein content. A lot or combination of nutrients is taken into account. Additionally, many supplements do not provide substances found in food such as flavones, phenols, lycopene, thiocynates, and other important compounds that may have a positive influence on overall health and wellness. One of the most serious consequences of consuming supplements results when they are used as a remedy for health problems that can be treated, but not by vitamins or minerals. Vitamin and mineral supplements are still undergoing studies to test their effectiveness or treatment for behavioral problems, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, obesity, or stress, for example. The Rational Use of Vitamins and Minerals as a Nutritional Supplement Like all medications, vitamin and mineral supplements should generally only be taken if there is a need for them. Exceeding the UL of vitamins can impose some nasty health risk ranging from headaches and nausea to death. The same stands true for minerals; taking excessive amounts of minerals can result in consequences such as dehydration, high blood pressure, infertility, liver disease, and more. If a nutrition supplement is taken, dosages should not be excessive. 7 Simple Guidelines for Choosing, Using, and Buying Nutritional Supplements 1. Choose supplements that contain 100% of the Daily Value (DV) or less; more is OK, but the supplement in question should never exceed the Tolerable Upper Levels (ULs). 2. Check the expiration date on the supplement in question and only use unexpired supplements. 3. If you have been diagnosed with a need for a specific vitamin or mineral it is generally best to take that vitamin or mineral and not a multiple supplement. However, a multiple supplement is generally suitable if it contains an amount equal to or exceeding the specific prescribed amount. 4. Try to avoid calcium supplements that are made from oyster shells or bone. They may contain unsafe levels of lead or aluminum. 5. Try to buy a nutritional supplement that contains substances found in food such as flavones, phenols, lycopene, and others. 6. Take supplements with meals, not as a substitute for a meal. Remember: healthy food choices should be your main source of nutrition. The sole purpose of supplements is to just fill in the gaps. 7. Store supplements out of the reach of small children.
Please consult your physician, dietician, or health care provider about your health problems and specific supplemental needs before taking supplements on your own. Primary Source: Nutrition Now, third edition, Source 1, Source 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Are you looking for a liquid multi vitamin and mineral supplement blend that contains levels considered safe for a nutrition supplement? Enjoy wholesale 66% discount pricing on the best liquid vitamin nutritional supplement available. Try GBG 10-in-1 for only $19.95 today!