It’s impossible to read a magazine, watch TV adverts or walk into a supermarket without being bombarded with information about vitamins and minerals. And while most people would agree that getting plenty of vitamins and minerals into our bodies is a good thing, not everyone is sure about what they might do, and in some cases what they even are.
To make sure our wellbeing is as positive as possible we have to live a healthy lifestyle, and vitamins and minerals are certainly important for that. But it’s always crucial that we make informed decisions so that we know exactly what we are getting.
Vitamins and minerals are nutrients that are essential for our survival and wellness. They are obtained from the food that we eat, but can also be taken as a supplement generally using a pill or powder. Vitamins are either water soluble or fat soluble.
Water soluble vitamins include the B complex vitamins. This is a family of vitamins that include B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, folic acid and B12. B12 and B6 can generally be found in animal products, while the others are more common in plants. Vitamin C is also water soluble – it’s an antioxidant that helps out the immune system. Oranges are most commonly associated with it, but it’s actually in virtually all vegetables and fruits.
The fat soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K. Vitamin A is common in dairy products and is useful in keeping your lungs and skin healthy. Vitamin E is found in seeds, nuts and avocado and has strong links to cardiovascular health. Vitamin K is in leafy green vegetables and ensures that the blood is able to clot.
Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin because we can photosynthesise much of our needs simply through contact with direct sunlight. Vitamin D deficiency is the most common deficiency in the world.
Minerals are compounds and metals that are found in minute quantities in our food. They include substances such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. Minerals are generally important for muscles and nerves to respond correctly.
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