Vitamins and minerals are needed to make our bodies function properly. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies lead to various diseases, including allergies, high blood pressure, cancer, miscarriages, reproductive problems, depression, and heart disease. Before the chemical fortification of food began, we were advised to eat a balanced diet to keep our immune systems strong and healthy. What is contained in those foods can actually hinder our body’s ability to absorb the right vitamins and minerals.
A good nutritionist or family doctor should be consulted for help in choosing the right supplement for your needs. I am not going to discuss what food is currently being fortified with vitamins and minerals, as this has been done before, and most people already know what they like to eat.
While the various vitamins and minerals do not work separately, some combinations are better than others. When we take vitamins and minerals individually, they have their own pathways in our bodies.
For example, Vitamin C does not work well when it is in a water-soluble form, such as Vitamin C capsules. In order to absorb the needed amount of the vitamin, the water is first to be broken down, which slows down the rate of absorption. On the other hand, if it is an ionized form, such as Vitamin C tablets, it is absorbed by the intestines immediately, which helps keep the levels up.
Mineral supplements usually need to be combined with other vitamins and minerals to be absorbed in the body properly. These “supplements” are not technically vitamins and minerals, as they are just individual minerals that cannot be absorbed by the body naturally.
You might ask: So what does a mineral supplement do? It gives the minerals a chance to react with each other in the body and will therefore create a nutrient that we can use. We are given what we need on the first pass. If you are looking for a multi-vitamin, I would suggest that you avoid mineral supplements. Although they are often called “minerals”, the supplement should contain both specific and general minerals. The supplements will provide your body with the proper amount of these important elements, but you don’t need to be taking supplements all the time.
Instead, you can buy the mineral supplements at a health food store. However, even at a health food store, you can be more selective than I would be. Find a store that sells the highest quality minerals, so that you will get your money’s worth.
If you want a supplement that includes a combination of vitamins and minerals, there are some homeopathic supplements that do that. They contain herbs, such as Hyoscyamus, which is used for depression and anxiety. It also contains magnesium sulfate, which is recommended to treat hypertension.
As you can see, there are some homeopathic supplements that contain vitamins and minerals. They are very powerful, but they have side effects, so use them with care. Just be careful that you know exactly what you are taking and be very cautious when you take them.
Vegetables and fruits also contain nutrients that we may not get enough of. The fruits are always high in fiber, which helps keep the bowels moving. Fruits also have Vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that helps protect us from a lot of diseases.
Vegetables and fruits also contain Vitamin A, which is a precursor to the Vitamin A we get from the skins of citrus fruits. There are also some that contain Vitamin B12, which helps protect the brain from Alzheimer’s disease. Take care with these supplements, as we now know that vitamins and minerals can be absorbed separately from foods, but only if they are in their proper forms.
