| We all know that we should eat at least
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| | to be effective as they don't,
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| five portions of fruit and veg every day
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| | themselves, supply any energy or
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| - because the Government tell us - and
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| | contribute to the tissues of the body,
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| that we are what we eat - because the TV
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| | but enable the various biochemical
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| is telling us, but sadly, "knowing" and
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| | processes of the body. This includes the
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| actually "doing" what is good for us are
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| | release of energy stored in food, the
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| entirely different things.
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| | formation and repair of tissue,
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| Even if we do make the effort and produce
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| | reproduction, digestion, the production
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| a meal rich in vegetables and full of
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| | of urine and sweat, the secretion of
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| "good" foods, the stark truth is we're
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| | hormones and the ability to resist
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| still unlikely to be getting all the
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| | disease and infection.
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| nutrients that we should.
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| | Evidence is growing that certain vitamins
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| Aggressive factory farming has seen
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| | are antioxidants. These are substances
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| nutrient values of vegetables diminish
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| | that protect tissues from cell damage.
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| measurably over the past few years - to
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| | How much?
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| the extent that the calcium content of
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| | So far there has been no world agreement
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| broccoli is down by 50%, the iron you
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| | on what constitutes an adequate intake of
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| used to find in watercress is down by up
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| | vitamins.
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| to 90% and the vitamin C in cauliflower
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| | In the EU there are Recommended Daily
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| has dropped by 40%.
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| | Amount (RDA) which are approximately the
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| We live in a world where time seems to be
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| | average quantities of key nutrients an
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| shrinking and we never have enough hours
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| | "average adult" should obtain from their
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| in the day to live our lives anyway,
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| | diet. However, these are based only on
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| without having to stop and think about
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| | the requirements of men and so are only a
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| what we are eating or trying to cook a
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| | rough guide for other groups of people.
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| nutritious, balanced meal at the end of a
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| | Using Vitamins.
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| hectic day.
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| | Responsible manufacturers print
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| When you add to this our love affair with
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| | instructions about proper use on their
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| fast foods, processed foods and junk
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| | supplement labels, so always check before
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| food, frankly, we haven't got a hope of
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| | you purchase.
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| having a healthy, balanced diet rich in
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| | Some nutrients may interact with one
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| all the essential vitamins, minerals and
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| | another , which can affect their
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| trace elements that we need to keep us
| |
| | absorption or utilization by the body.
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| running around in our daily lives.
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| | For example, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D,
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| This is where food supplements (such as a
| |
| | E and K) require some dietary fat to
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| multi-vitamin) come into their own.
| |
| | facilitate absorption, so should be taken
|
| Millions of people, every day, happily
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| | with food
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| take some form of vitamin supplement in
| |
| | Other nutrients, when taken together,
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| the belief that it will compensate for
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| | enhance one another's benefits. For
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| some lack of nutrition from other
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| | example, vitamin C helps to regenerate
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| sources, or will cure their ills. And
| |
| | vitamin E, so these are best taken
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| it's true - they will, but only if they
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| | together.
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| are taken for the right reasons, in the
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| | The "Hype".
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| right way, in the right combinations and
| |
| | Supplement manufacturers have developed
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| only if they're right for you.
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| | their own means of differentiating their
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| These products are exactly what they say
| |
| | products. These are usually terms
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| they are - supplements, not replacements
| |
| | suggesting a superior product, but don't
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| - and so should only be taken after you
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| | have a standard definition agreed upon by
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| have looked at your lifestyle and food
| |
| | supplement regulations.
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| intake and discovered a shortage. In
| |
| | Always read the ingredients and
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| fact, many of them can do more harm than
| |
| | directions on the label, rather than
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| good if you are already getting
| |
| | terms such as:
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| sufficient from your diet.
| |
| | · Clinically proven
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| What are vitamins?
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| | · Highly concentrated
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| Vitamins are chemical compounds that
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| | · Pure
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| occur in foods and have been shown to be
| |
| | · Maximum absorption
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| essential for life. Many of them can also
| |
| | · Quality extracts
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| be produced, at least in limited amounts,
| |
| | Above all, remember that supplements are
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| in the body. However, the food we eat is
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| | a part of complementary medicine (not
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| our main source of vitamins and our
| |
| | alternative medicine) and should be taken
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| bodies have adapted to obtain these from
| |
| | - preferably - under the guidance of your
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| a range of whole, natural foods with
| |
| | doctor/pharmacist/health professional for
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| maximum efficiency.
| |
| | you to get the best possible result.
|
| Vitamins are only needed in small amounts
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| |
|
