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Vitamins for health and proper functioning

Vitamins for health and why we need them

The source of the word "vitamin" is derived from Latin: Vita = life, and indeed they are Life - vitamins are essential for the proper functioning of the internal systems of the body. The body is not able to produce the vitamins it needs, and it has to be obtained from the diet. A deficiency of one or more vitamins can damage and disrupt various body processes associated with those vitamins.

The vitamins are divided into two groups:

Fat-soluble vitamins: Vitamins A, D, E, K.
The fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body longer than the water-soluble vitamins, so it is not recommended to consume beyond their recommended daily dose unless specifically recommended to a particular person by a qualified medical agent.

Water-soluble vitamins: vitamins from a group (B, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, C)
Most water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body. Excess amounts of these vitamins will be expelled through the urine and sweat, so the body requires a daily dose from this group. Although the body is able to excrete excess vitamins, it is not recommended to take high doses of these vitamins unless necessary.

Minerals

It is customary to divide the minerals into two groups:
Macro Minerals -
For example, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iodine.

Micro-minerals or trace elements - Are needed for a low-dose body ranging from micrograms to a few milligrams, such as iron, zinc, selenium.

Minerals have key functions in different systems of the body, for example:
Iron is needed to make hemoglobin and hemoglobin - proteins that bind oxygen and carry it in blood and tissues.
Calcium is a major component of bones and teeth.
Zinc is needed for cell division, tissue regeneration, and proper functioning of the immune system.
Iodine is a component of the thyroid hormones, which are responsible for regulating metabolic rate.


The availability of minerals and their absorption in the body varies according to the type of food, such as the availability of iron and zinc to the body is much higher than animal sources (mainly meat) than from plant sources.

Vitamin C improves mineral absorption Iron and calcium, vitamin D is essential for the absorption of minerals Calcium and phosphorus, the mineral Selenium helps the anti-oxidant activity of vitamin E and more .

Why should you get extra vitamins and minerals?

Dietary surveys indicate that a large part of the population does not receive the daily intake of vitamins and minerals from food. The modern way of life is characterized by a busy schedule and emotional and physical tension. All of these together with the constant exposure to fast foods make the meals we eat during the day irregular and do not contain all the foods needed for the body.

Many people do not know that vitamins and minerals in food are destroyed or reduced due to processing and cooking, exposure to light and heat, pasteurization processes, prolonged storage and due to the growth conditions of fruits and vegetables.
At the same time, there are situations or periods in life in which our body requires more vitamins and minerals than normal: in the period of growth and development, during pregnancy and lactation and in physical or mental stress situations. During these periods, it is almost certain that the diet is not enough and it is recommended to get extra vitamins and minerals.

Who should get extra vitamins and minerals?

Nutritionists and doctors recommend to anyone who belong to one of the following groups to take a daily supplement of vitamins and minerals:


* People with poor eating habits, who eat irregular meals, a varied and unbalanced menu, and eat a lot of processed and preserved foods.
* People who are on a losing weight diet for prolonged or repeated diets.
* People in stress.
* People suffering from chronic or acute illnesses and after surgery.
* Women who use birth control pills.
* Vegetarians and vegans.
* Adults who suffer from a gradual decrease in absorption capacity of vitamins and minerals in the body.
* People who take long-term medications that may cause absorption disorders or increase the secretion of vitamins and minerals from the body.
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
* People who regularly exercise.
* Smokers.
* People who drink a lot of alcohol.
* Most of the population belongs to at least one of these groups and therefore needs nutritional supplementation.

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