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