Food can be a strong medicine. Many experts agree, that nutrition plays an essential role in preventing and treating an assortment of illnesses. The vitamins and minerals found in food can protect against many diseases including cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes. Many people confuse the role of food vs. vitamins. They think, if vitamins play such an important role in health, why not just pop a pill and forget about it? The answer is because in order for certain vitamins to be effective they need to work with food, and are not productive alone. For example, in order for calcium to be fully absorbed by the body, vitamin d also has to be present. Therefore, taking a calcium pill can often be ineffective compared to eating calcium rich foods, which are naturally designed to be easily absorbed by the body. Also, vitamin pills do not satisfy hunger or provide other vital nutrients such as fiber; both of which aid in the weight loss process. At times, it is beneficial to take nutritional supplements, but one should never forget the value of healthy eating.
Vitamins & Minerals are essential to sustain life. Its what keeps us alive and healthy. Among many other things, they help us digest food, burn energy, grow hair, re-build muscel fibers, strenghten cells, and its what keeps our skin smooth. Since our bodies are made out of these certain vitamins and minerals, we need to consume these nutrients daily to replenish our bodys useages.
Vitamins and Minerals are macronutrients. A macronutrient is something that our body needs in small amounts. This is different than nutrients that we need in larger amounts like proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Not only are vitamins and minerals macronutrients, but they are considered coenzymes as well. This is because they assist the enzymes in the body to carry out all of the daily activities as efficiently as possible.
There are about 50 essential nutrients.
Intro to Vitamins and Minerals
*RDA stands for Recommended Daily Allowance
*MG stands for Milligram
The 6 major classes of nutrients are:
1. water - Essential for all body functions
2. carbohydrates - Fuel or "go" foods
3. fats - Concentrated Fuel or "go" foods
4. proteins - Building blocks or "grow" foods
5. vitamins - "glow" foods
6. minerals - "glow" foods
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