The ads all say you should be taking a daily multivitamin.
But, can you trust the ads? After all, they are companies trying to sell a
product. So, should you believe what the ads say? Why should you take
multivitamins? Is it really that important?
Getting your vitamins and minerals from food rather than
supplements is the best method to ensure you are receiving all the nutrients
your body needs. However, there are several reasons this isn't always going to
work. Many of us just don't eat right, and even when we do eat right, the
nutritional levels in the foods we buy may not be as dense as they could be, or
used to be. Multivitamins provide an easy way to get the nutrients you may be
missing.
But, just grabbing a multivitamin off the shelf may not be
the best advice. Before you buy, check the label to ensure you will be getting
what you need. The vitamins and minerals you want to be sure are included are:
·
Vitamin A
·
Vitamin C
·
Vitamin D
·
Vitamin K
·
Copper
·
Folic Acid
·
Iron
·
Zinc
These are the basic 'building blocks' for good health and
proper nutrition. Be sure to check the FDA’s Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)
for each vitamin and mineral's individual amount required, then read the label
and make sure you are getting what you need.
When you have the right balance of vitamins and minerals
in a multivitamin, you will help give your body the ability to function
properly. Here are just a few areas where the correct nutrients can help fend
off illness and promote good health:
Preventing Deficiencies
When your body is deficient in vitamins and minerals, you
can experience an array of health problems. Taking a daily multivitamin can
help reduce the risk of health issues due to these deficiencies.
For example, vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that
protects the body's cells from damage; both externally and internally caused
damage. For instance, in patients with cataracts, this vitamin has shown the
ability to help stop the progression of cataracts, and in some cases even
reduce the formation of cataracts.
Reducing Stress
Daily stress is something everyone lives with. Life is
filled with stressors, both bad and good. When you feel the adrenalin pumping,
you know your body is using up your resources of vitamins and minerals just to
handle the anxiety and stress. If you don’t have the proper nutrients your body
needs to replenish and handle the drain on your body, you will suffer a
deficiency. That’s when you get sick.
For example, our bodies quickly use up vitamin C during
stressful situations. If not regularly replaced, this leads to a deficiency.
And, in this instance, a deficiency can cause more than an illness. A
deficiency of vitamin C can actually perpetuate the stress cycle as it causes
irritability and anxiety, causing more stress, causing a drain of more vitamin
C, and so on and so forth. Taking a supplement with vitamin C can help end this
cycle.
Boosting Energy and Brain Power
Lack of proper nutrition can make you feel sluggish and
tired. By taking a multivitamin every day, you know you're providing your body
with the vitamins and minerals it needs. We all skip breakfast sometime, and we
know how we feel if we do. Having that bit of nutrition 'insurance' helps your
body stay healthy and awake, and doing what you ask it to do.
In much the same way, having the proper balance of
vitamins and minerals provides your brain with the nutrition it needs to stay
focused and alert. If achieving mental clarity is a priority in your life, then
by all means add a multivitamin to your daily regimen.
Most of us want to eat right. After all, we need to keep
our bodies fed with the proper amount of vitamins and minerals to operate at
maximum capacity. Getting the nutrition we need from our food is ideal. But,
the fact is, life keeps us busy. We don’t always take time to eat properly.
Including a multivitamin in your day can help fill the gaps in nutrition. That
one little step may just give you peace of mind as you strive to achieve a
healthy lifestyle.
AMK
No comments:
Post a Comment