| These important nutrients are essential to good | | | | Minerals play a part in the maintenance of immune |
| health since they help the body use the energy | | | | cells, in blood coagulation, in the synthesis of |
| stored in food. If you eat a balanced, varied diet, | | | | oxygen in the blood, in bone formation, and in |
| vitamin and mineral supplements are probably | | | | numerous other functions. Some, such as calcium, |
| unnecessary. | | | | phosphorus, and magnesium, are necessary in |
| A surprising number of people take vitamin or | | | | fairly large amounts. The need for others, known |
| mineral supplements each day as a kind of | | | | as trace minerals, is much smaller. In fact, |
| nutritional insurance - usually without understanding | | | | although they are present in human tissue, a few |
| how they work and what they do. Nutrients such | | | | of these trace elements play such dubious roles |
| as riboflavin, vitamin C, zinc, and many others are | | | | that they are considered nonessential. The |
| essential to good health, but they are no | | | | essential trace minerals include iron, zinc, fluoride, |
| substitute for food. In fact, vitamins and minerals | | | | and copper. Any of these minerals, whether |
| are facilitators that enable the body to make use | | | | essential or nonessential, is toxic if ingested in |
| of the energy stored in food. These nutrients in | | | | sufficient amounts for long enough periods. |
| and of themselves are of little value of the body. | | | | How necessary are supplements? For years, |
| Simply taking vitamin and mineral supplements | | | | controversy has raged between those who |
| without eating food is like sending in bricklayers to | | | | believe supplements are necessary and those |
| build a wall, but neglecting to supply the bricks. | | | | who say that they are at best a waste of |
| What vitamins do which is crucial to the normal | | | | money and, at worst, a hazard to health. With |
| maintenance of healthy cells, is perform an | | | | few exceptions (notably vitamins D and K), the |
| extraordinary range of functions in the human | | | | human body cannot make its own vitamins or |
| body. They not only help convert food into | | | | minerals, so they must be obtained from foods. |
| useable energy, but they also assist in the | | | | The traditional view holds that a balanced diet will |
| manufacture of blood cells, hormones, and the | | | | supply all the vitamins and minerals that are |
| chemicals of the nervous system. | | | | necessary to maintain a good health. |
| Vitamins are divided into two categories, which | | | | The opposing argument for supplements is that |
| are water-soluble and fat-soluble. The four | | | | many modern diets lack balance. In fact, they are |
| fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K, are absorbed | | | | so loaded with processed and refined foods that |
| into body fat and may be stored for later use. If | | | | they cannot provide adequate amounts of |
| taken in excess, however, some fat-soluble | | | | essential vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, |
| vitamins can accumulate in toxic amounts. Vitamin | | | | because many people skip regular meals and |
| C and the eight B vitamins are all water-soluble | | | | instead rely on fast foods, and nutritionally |
| meaning that they dissolve in body fluid, and most | | | | vacuous snacks, supplements may be a necessity. |
| of the excess is eliminated through sweat or | | | | Other proponents of supplements claim that the |
| urine. As a result, there is little concern about | | | | chronic stress bought on by fast-paced lives can |
| toxic overdoses although excessive doses of B6 | | | | increase our need for these important nutrients. |
| can be toxic. | | | | |