About Vitamins

Have you ever stood in the vitamin and supplement aisle at your drug store and wondered just which of these should I be taking? I know I have. From the time I was a child, I was told by my mother and heard on television that all I ever needed to be healthy was three square meals a day. In today's fast-paced world, I can barely manage to eat a healthy dinner. It is too easy to "drive-thru" at a fast food restaurant. We certainly know that french fries and ketchup aren't really healthy vegetables. We need a balanced diet rich in calcium, protein, fats, carbohydrates and fiber. Vitamins and supplements can help us fill in the dietary "gaps" that we miss over the course of a fast-paced day.

When I look at the back of a cereal box or a loaf of bread, I see the nutritional breakdown of a serving listed and have an idea of how much I need of each vitamin or mineral over the course of a day. Calcium, for example, is essential for women. An average Calcium supplement contains 30-50% of the recommended daily allowance. Women must consume foods to account for the other 50-70% of their Calcium each day. Foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese and ice cream will help meet that quota. I notice that many Calcium supplements also contain Vitamin D, a vitamin necessary for bone health. While Vitamin D can be absorbed through sunlight, many of us in northern climates or those too busy to get outside during the day must take a Vitamin D supplement to make sure we get 100% intake of the recommended daily allowance for strong, healthy bones.

Taking proper care of myself requires that I learn about the vitamins and minerals my body needs everyday. I have learned that not only will a vitamin deficiency hurt my health, but that taking too much of some vitamins and supplements can also have a bad effect. I have learned about proper vitamin and supplement intake by searching the web and reading healthy living magazines. Information about which vitamins and minerals to take, and how to incorporate them into your diet, can be obtained by visiting a nutritionist or naturopathic physician. Here's to healthy living!

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  • Nutrition Vitamins

    In today's world, there really is no excuse for not eating right and living a healthy life. With the health and nutritional knowledge available today, we know which foods are good for us and which are not. We know what we need to do to live longer and healthier lives. Can you believe that in some African nations, the average person only lives until their mid-30s? We don't live in an impoverished, war-torn nation. We know what we need to do in terms of health, exercise and nutrition to lead a longer, healthier life. We know we need to cut out the fast food, soft drinks, smoking and excessive drinking. Don't be a junk food junkie. Eat right, eat healthy and live longer. Eat low fat foods, drink plenty of water and add a daily vitamin supplement.

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