Vitamins and minerals are an essential part of life. You get the foods and vitamins you need from practicing the right dietary habits and supplementing your diet where needed. The following pertinent information about important vitamins and minerals can help you get started making sure you’re following the proper diet.
Vitamins are also essential for getting good results from exercise. The right nutrients will make it easier to burn fat and build muscle.
Your bones rely on calcium to grow and stay strong. You need to have lots of vitamin D to absorb calcium, though. Sunlight, food and supplements all provide the body with Vitamin D. These will help your body absorb calcium.
The best source of vitamins and minerals are fresh fruit and vegetables. Making sure that you eat at least five servings of vegetables and fruit every day can help ensure you get all of the vitamins and minerals you need to be healthy. For the best results, eat them raw or very lightly cooked by steaming or poaching.
While most vitamins can be stored at room temperature, you should store oil-based and gummy vitamins in the refrigerator. If you fail to do this, they may become sticky and clump together. Since there will be no definitive way to break them apart, this would render the entire bottle useless.
If you are trying to grow out your hair or nails, consider adding a Biotin supplement. While it won’t make your hair or nails grow faster, it will make them stronger and more resistant to breakage. In fact, Biotin is often recommended to chemotherapy patients to help them regrow the hair that they lost during treatment.
Folic acid prevents birth defects, certain cancers, stroke and heart disease. This B vitamin is added to flour, cold cereal and pasta. Additionally, many leafy vegetables, melons, beans and meats contain folic acid. Folic acid is used to treat Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, RLS, neuropathy, osteoporosis and other signs of aging.
If you give your young children vitamin supplements make sure to keep them stored out of reach of the children. Most children’s vitamins are flavored and very similar to candy. This is to encourage children to take them. However, it can also lead to children confusing them with candy. Since it is possible to overdose on vitamins, keep them out of reach.
If you are planning a surgery, let your doctor know any and all dietary supplements that you are taking. Vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements can all have adverse effects on your upcoming surgery. It is best to stop taking all supplements at least 2 weeks prior to surgery to avoid any dangerous complications.
Believe it or not, taking more of a vitamin is not beneficial and can actually be harmful. Depending on the vitamin, large amounts can have adverse effects and cause problems with how any medication you are taking works. Vitamin A, vitamin D, and iron need to be taken with the recommended daily allowance and not more.
Potassium can be found in dried fruits, cereals, milk and beans. This important mineral is used to treat Menière’s disease, menopause symptoms, arthritis, muscle aches, Alzheimer’s, intestinal disorders and allergies. Studies have shown that potassium may be beneficial to those suffering from high blood pressure and may help prevent stroke.
Juicing is very popular these days, and it is a great way to consume healthy fruits and vegetables. Many people add a powdered vitamin and mineral supplement to their juice drink to create a healthy breakfast smoothie they can enjoy every day. This drink is not only very healthy, but also helps increase energy levels.
Cheap food is nutrient poor, so consider what you are eating. For example, eating vegetables out of a can means you’re missing out on fresh, nutrient-rich vegetables instead. Your diet is your key source of vitamins and minerals, and there is no point in taking supplements if you’re eating junk all day long.
Even if you’re not menstruating, you should continue to take your iron, magnesium and folic acid. It doesn’t matter what time of the month it is, you need to boost your levels of these nutrients every day. If you take a multivitamin which provides you with the recommended daily dose, you’ll be good.
As we get older we often discover that we have a shorter memory span and forget the simplest things. This is often due to a lack of vitamins and minerals in the system. By talking to your doctor or taking some form of multi-vitamin you will assuredly notice a big difference in memory and brain function.
The tips you just read about vitamins and minerals should serve you well. It’s always important to make sure your body is getting the right nutrients in order for you to stay healthy. Make sure you use the advice given so that you get all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs.
