Vitamin And Mineral Basics: What You Need To Know

Are you aware of your body and what it needs? Most individuals do not. There are a multitude of vitamins and minerals needed by your body each day and it is important that you understand how each of these affects you. The tips, like in this article, can help you better understand these items.

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.

Vitamin A deficiencies can cause hyperkaratosis, keratomalacia and night-blindness. Forms of vitamin A, include retinol, beta carotene and retinal. This fat soluble vitamin can be found in orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, spinach, fish, liver, soy and milk. Vitamin A supplements can also provide you with the nutrients your body needs.

It is not safe to take more then the recommended value of most vitamins, so make sure that you avoid this. One example of this is iron, which can be damaging to the liver when taken in large doses. If you feel like you are not getting the greatest benefit from your vitamins, you should probably consult a dietician about this.

If you want to have strong and abundant red blood cells, you must get enough iron. These cells are most important; they carry oxygen to each cell in your body. Women are going to need a daily supplement that contains more iron, so women's vitamins are formulated according to this knowledge. Iron deficiency often causes exhaustion and breathing problems.

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.

Make sure you choose your beverages wisely. Try to avoid drinking a lot of coffee, tea, or soda. These drinks all have caffeine, which can keep your body from absorbing certain vitamins and minerals like iron. They can also cause you to increase secretion of water-soluble vitamins in your urine.

If you notice that you have been feeling odd after taking particular vitamins and minerals, it would be a good idea for you to leave them alone. Many people believe that vitamins have no side effects, but this is not the truth. Instead of dealing with ill effects, you should look for another way to get what you need.

Do you know more about nutrition and your body at this point? With the help of the tips here, you can create the balance your body needs. Now, it should be easier for you to keep your body in good shape.