Understanding Vitamin and Mineral Supplements For Teens

Teenagers are at one of the busiest growthWhat are the benefits of supplements?
stages of their life and it is important for them toIf you are not getting the proper nutrition in your
be getting all the right nutrients to support thatdiet, you may need to supplement with vitamins
growth.and minerals. Benefits include:
Their diet may be comprised of pizza, fried foods,- Immune system booster.
chips, and sugar-laden sodas, making a ripe- Aid in growth
atmosphere for the development of acne and- Helps the efficient functioning of organs.
other health problems.Healthy diet For Teens:
What is a vitamin?While a teen is undergoing all the associated
Vitamins are essential nutrients found in most ofgrowth and physical change it is important their
the foods we eat, as well as in dietarydiet helps facilitate this. The diet needs to include:
supplements. They are critical in helping our bodies- Fruit and vegetables.
to function normally, slow the aging process, and- Whole grains and nuts.
help fight disease.- Lean meats, fish, and poultry.
A good diet will usually be enough for us to- Dairy that is low in fat.
receive all the essential nutrients, but if a particularVegetarians must be careful to avoid vitamin
area is lacking, supplements can be used.deficits in zinc and iron, which are found in animal
Two categories:products. These trace minerals can be obtained in
Essential nutrients are available as fat soluble anddried beans, seeds, nuts, and fresh green
water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins easily dissolve invegetables.
fat and can accumulate in the body to causeRed blood cell production is aided by B12. If you
toxicity. Fat soluble vitamins include A, D, E, and K.don't eat meat, try to get B1 from other sources
Water soluble vitamins on the other hand are notsuch as eggs, dairy and whole grains.
stored by the body and need to be constantlyVegans, who will have nothing to do with animal
replenished. Examples of this category areproducts, must take vitamin and mineral
vitamins B and C.supplements to avoid vitamin deficiencies and
Vitamin sources:maintain health.
Vitamins come from plant sources while mineralsTeenagers who have a poor diet should look for
come from the soil and aren't organic. They aresome assistance in learning how this can be
soaked up by plants and eaten by animals. Thisimproved by either eating the right foods or
allows us to get our required intake of thesetaking the necessary supplements.
nutrients.