Vitamins and minerals are essential to our survival. Even a small deficit of a key vitamin or mineral can be enough to get your whole body out of whack. Strangely enough, vitamins and minerals are often overlooked, though they are by far the easiest part of a diet to regulate! Every grocery store in the civilized world has at least some basic vitamins for sale, yet a large percentage of people walk around with one kind of deficit or another!
Your primary goal should of course always be to get as much of your vitamins and minerals from the food you eat. Nothing beats good ol' healthy food! However, since so much of what we eat today has had its vitamin content partly or entirely destroyed through processing, it's almost a necessity to supplement your diet. Fortunately, this is easy, considering the vast selection of quality multi vitamin/mineral supplements out there.
Overdosing
Now, before you run to the store and stock up on every bottle you see, keep in mind that you CAN overdose on certain vitamins and minerals. Like everything else, too much of a good thing turns bad, so you want to make sure not to go overboard here. A regular, store-bought multi vitamin/mineral capsule should work like a charm for 90% of people.
If you think that you are deficit a specific vitamin, do NOT start stuffing yourself with extra pills! Talk to your doctor about your suspicions and let him or her do a simple blood test. That will tell you exactly how things really are and whether you need extra supplementation or not. Don't gamble with your health - when in doubt, check with the good doc!
Also, bear in mind that some brands of multi vitamin/mineral supplements purposefully aim their products at different types of people. Obviously, a product intended for children won't be enough for a grown adult, and vitamins aimed at women often contain too much iron to be suitable for men. This should be pretty obvious, but once in a while there are manufacturers who mess with the proportions of their vitamins and minerals for no apparent reason. There is probably no major harm in deviating a little from the RDA, but here are the official guidelines for what a normal, healthy adult should aim to get in a day:
Click here to download the latest RDA from the USDA
Vitamin Profiles
Remember: Just because something says that the signs of overdose are 'unknown' does not mean that it is fair game to overdose it!
Vitamin A - More Info
Benefit: Maintains eyesight, skin, hair, mucus membranes.
Sign of deficiency: Bad skin, night blindness.
Sign of overdose: Yellow skin, blurred vision, vomiting, hair loss, headache.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
Benefit: Maintenance of nerves and muscles. Helps metabolism.
Sign of deficiency: Beriberi.
Sign of overdose: Unknown.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Benefit: Antioxidant. Maintains vision, skin, hair, and nails. Helps metabolism.
Sign of deficiency: Skin problems.
Sign of overdose: Unknown.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Benefit: Aids metabolism and maintains skin.
Sign of deficiency: Sensitivity to light, fatigue, skin problems.
Sign of overdose: Flushed face, neck, and hands.
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid) - More Info
Benefit: Maintains skin and nerves. Needed for energy production and utilization.
Sign of deficiency: Fatigue, nausea.
Sign of overdose: Unknown.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) - More Info
Benefit: Protein synthesis and fat metabolism. Regulates fluid balance. Aids red blood cell production.
Sign of deficiency: Nerve and muscular failure.
Sign of overdose: Numb feet, bad hand coordination, impaired brain function.
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)
Benefit: Formation of red blood cells. Metabolism of protein and fat. Helps growth in children.
Sign of deficiency: Weight loss, confusion, pale skin, depression.
Sign of overdose: Unknown.
Biotin
Benefit: Enables metabolism.
Sign of deficiency: Dermatitis, depression, muscular pain.
Sign of overdose: Unknown.
Folate (Folic Acid)
Benefit: Forms red blood cells. Utilizes protein. Very important during pregnancy.
Sign of deficiency: Anemia, stomach problems.
Sign of overdose: Unknown.
Vitamin C - More Info
Benefit: Antioxidant. Maintains skin, cartilage, bones and teeth. Heals wounds and maintains immune system. Aids iron
absorption.
Sign of deficiency: Bleeding gums, weakness, slow wound healing, bad immune system.
Sign of overdose: Stomach problems.
Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol) - More Info
Benefit: Regulates calcium metabolism.
Sign of deficiency: Bone softening.
Sign of overdose: Stomach problems, lethargy.
Vitamin E - More Info
Benefit: Antioxidant.
Sign of deficiency: Diarrhea, anemia, problems with the pancreas.
Sign of overdose: Unknown.
Vitamin K
Benefit: Needed for blood clotting.
Sign of deficiency: Excessive bleeding when injured.
Sign of overdose: Anemia, potential liver damage.
Mineral Profiles
Boron - More Info
Benefit: Promotes bone health.
Calcium - More Info
Benefit: Builds bones and teeth.
Chromium - More Info
Benefit: Metabolizes Insulin.
Copper
Benefit: Aids in iron absorption. synthesizes hemoglobin, produces energy.
Flouride
Benefit: Health of bones and teeth.
Iodine
Benefit: Regulates thyroid hormone.
Iron
Benefit: Formation of red blood cells.
Magnesium - More Info
Benefit: Aids muscle function, supports teeth and cardiovascular system.
Manganese - More Info
Benefit: Helps formation of bones and collagen, metabolizes carbohydrates, synthesizes fatty acids and protein.
Molybdenum
Benefit: Metabolizes iron. Regulates enzymes.
Phosphorus
Benefit: Health of bones and teeth. Regulates enzymes.
Potassium
Benefit: Supports function of nerves, metabolizes protein and carbohydrates. Aids in fluid balancing and muscle contraction.
Selenium - More Info
Benefit: Antioxidant. Protects cells from damage by free radicals.
Vanadium
Benefit: Metabolizes cholesterol and blood sugar.
Zinc - More Info
Benefit: Contributes to maintaining immune and reproductive systems. Aids enzymes.
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