Your body needs vitamins and nutrients for so many reasons. Vitamins and minerals help your body perform daily functions that you take for granted. Understanding how vitamins work and what vitamins help with what functions is important when planning a healthy diet. Keep reading to learn more about giving your body the nutrients it needs.
If you want your workout to be as effective as possible, make sure to take your vitamins. In addition to speeding up recovery time, minerals and vitamins help the body burn fat and build muscle.
If you are lacking in the vitamin department, you should consider changing your diet. While many people take this as a sign that they need to run to the store and buy a supplement, most of the nutrients you need can be found in food. Do a little research in order to figure out what changes need to be made.
Never ignore the product warnings on vitamin levels. Vitamin and supplements can have serious side effects when taken with prescription and over the counter medicines. Ginseng can be very dangerous if you have high blood pressure or take heart medications. Lycopene can be deadly if you have a tomato allergy. Always read the warning labels or ask your pharmacist or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements.
If you decide to take a multivitamin, be sure you are choosing the right one. Some multivitamins do not contain all of the vitamins and minerals that truly benefit a person. Be sure to look for a multivitamin that contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, C, D, E, and K. It should also have minerals zinc, selenium, chromium, copper, molybdenum, and magnesium.
Fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C. Vitamins and minerals taken in supplemental form are perfect to eliminate any deficiency you may have. This vitamin is excellent for the prevention of colds, skin infections, stomach ulcers, acne, and gum disease. Recent studies have suggested that vitamin C has a positive effect on individuals that have ADHA, Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Some people believe they are able to get all the nutrients their body needs just by eating a healthy diet. This really is a good place to start, but it would be impossible to eat enough to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs because most foods have been over-processed.
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.
While vegetarian and vegan diets can be very healthy, people often are lacking in certain vitamins and nutrients. Vitamin B12 and iron are two helpful nutrients that often need supplemented by vegetarians. Vegans often need to supplement their calcium and vitamin D intake to ensure they get the proper nutrients.
As it was stated previously, vitamins and nutrients are essential for a healthy lifestyle. Eating well is an important part of getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs, but there are other ways. Use the information and tips listed above to make sure your body is nourished like it should be.