Vitamins, Minerals & Facts You Should Know About Both

Do you want to be perfectly healthy? Have you decided on picking up supplemental vitamins which are complete from A to Z? We know for a fact that vitamins and minerals are very important for it helps in the prevention of diseases and promotion of good health. The problem is where can these vitamins and minerals be found? There are several vitamins and minerals, and this article discusses the most important ones. It also explains where you could get them for regular intake guide.
One of the most important vitamins is beta-carotene. It is known to help prevent night-blindness, other eye problems, and skin disorders. It helps in boosting a person’s immune system and protects from cancer formation, colds or flu. It has even benefits for acquiring beauty, by having good skin and helps slow down aging-process. The sources of Beta Carotene are almost all green-yellow-orange vegetables and fruits, examples of which are carrot, tomato, mango, orange, papaya, watermelon, peanuts and more.
On the other hand, there’s calcium which is one of the most important components that should be included in your diet. This is because calcium mainly comprises the formation of bones, teeth and soft tissues. It also aids in the metabolic process as well and blood clotting. As an advice, it is good to take calcium with vitamin D to increase the calcium’s absorption on the gastrointestinal tract. Calcium is used in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and is usually derived from dairy products.
Aside from calcium, there’s folic acid which is considered a vitamin of high importance as well. Also known as Vitamin B9 or folacin, it helps in reproduction, prevention of heart disease and cancer. But beware in taking folic acid for it should be taken in right amounts to avoid masking symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiencies. Sources of folic acid are leafy vegetables, egg yolks, sunflower seeds, banana, strawberry and more.
Moreover, there’s another mineral that is important in the prevention of iron deficiency anemia which affects half a billion people. It’s called iron and is usually found in animal liver. Iron helps in prevention of fatigue, poor work performance and decreased immunity. Foods that are rich in iron are chicken liver, beef liver, tuna and more.
Potassium is considered a vital part of our diet as well as it ensure proper function of all cells. At the same time, it plays a very important role in heart function, and skeletal and smooth muscle contraction making it normal for digestive and muscular function. Many foods contain potassium, including all meats and numerous fruits, vegetables and legumes.
Then there’s a trace mineral called selenium which is important for the body because of its antioxidant properties. Having sufficient selenium helps in the prevention of cellular damage and helps in immunity. Foods that contain selenium are brazil nuts, chicken, macaroni, eggs and a lot to mention. People who need to take selenium are with severe gastrointestinal problems such as Crohn’s disease or surgical removal of a part of the stomach. Always remember that nutrients should primarily come from food.
Vitamin D, is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is helpful in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and aids in promotion of bone health. Vitamin D appears to have effects in immune system functions and its deficiency leads to rickets or osteomalacia. Food sources are catfish, salmon, sardines, whole eggs and more. Vitamin C on the other hand is an essential nutrient for humans for it serves to be an antioxidant and helps in prevention of oxidative stress. It serves to boost immune system and has an antihistamine effect. Sources are citrus, papaya, cabbage and more. Lastly, Vitamin E serves to be an antioxidant and can give good skin, with common sources of which are peanuts, eggs and green, leafy vegetables.