Minerals
Importance of Minerals
Minerals are important for growth & development as well to regulate vital life processes. They regulate acid-base balance in body. They are essential for transmission of nerve stimuli, muscle contraction, cell membrane permeability and maintenance of osmotic pressure & water balance.
Foods that predominantly contain acid forming minerals like sulphur, phosphorus and chlorine produce acidic reactions in the body. Specific foods are milk, cheese, pulses, meat & eggs. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron and calcium produce alkaline ash. Most of the fruits and vegetables produce alkaline reaction. Most of the minerals if taken in excess result in undesirable effects. Excess calcium predisposes renal calculi or hypercalcemia. Excess iron results in hemosiderosis & liver damage.
Some minerals in excess quantity may create imbalance and result in reducing utilization of other minerals where as some produce toxic reactions. Sources of minerals and effects of their inadequacies
Foods that predominantly contain acid forming minerals like sulphur, phosphorus and chlorine produce acidic reactions in the body. Specific foods are milk, cheese, pulses, meat & eggs. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron and calcium produce alkaline ash. Most of the fruits and vegetables produce alkaline reaction. Most of the minerals if taken in excess result in undesirable effects. Excess calcium predisposes renal calculi or hypercalcemia. Excess iron results in hemosiderosis & liver damage.
Some minerals in excess quantity may create imbalance and result in reducing utilization of other minerals where as some produce toxic reactions. Sources of minerals and effects of their inadequacies
| Mineral | Sources | Effect of inadequacy |
| Calcium & Phosphorus | Milk Group Meat & Fish group Green Leafy Vegetables Legumes & Nuts Cereals & Grains | Rickets Osteomalacia Osteoporosis Poor Blood clotting Dental problems |
| Sodium | Table Salt Baking Powder Sodabicab Preservatives Protein Foods Fish, Milk . Poultry | Muscle Cramps Mental Confusion Fluid Electrolyte Imbalance |
| Potassium | Milk Group Meat Group Fruits and Vegetables Instant Coffee | Fluid & Electrolyte Imbalance Tissue Breakdown |
| Iron | Organ Meat Whole Grain Dry Fruits | Hypochromic Microcytic Anemia |
Vitamins
Vitamins are essential organic compounds needed daily in a very small quantity to perform specific functions in the body. Since most vitamins are not synthesized in the body in adequate amounts, it is necessary to obtain them from the diet. A properly formulated diet can supply all vitamins in adequate quantities from natural foods. However, synthetic vitamins too are nutritionally equivalent to natural vitamins.
Functions of Vitamins
In the digestive process, vitamins interact with other nutrients to enhance absorption. They can work as co–enzymes to speed up body chemical reactions. Vitamins help release energy from biological reaction during metabolism. They themselves do not provide energy.
Classification of Vitamins
Water soluble Vitamins
Water soluble vitamins cannot be stored in the body, the excess gets excreted in urine. Daily supply of these vitamins is therefore, important to avoid ill effects of inadequacy. Carefully selected foods in daily diet can supply adequate amount of vitamins. Supplements in synthetic forms are not advisable in normal conditions, as they do not provide any additional benefits.
| Vitamin | Sources | Effects of Inadequacy |
| C–Ascorbic Acid | Amla, Guava, Citrus Fruits Orange, Sweet lime Lemon, StrawberriesDrumstick, Papaya, Watermelon, Tomato, Cabbage | Acute–Scurvy. Delayed wound healing, Low resistance to infection,Iron deficiency, Anemia,Fragile capillaries, Decayed teeth. |
| B1–Thiamin | Nuts & Oil seeds, Sesame, peanuts, Whole grain cereals, Wheat Germ, Soyabean | Acute–Beriberi, Leg Cramp, Mental Depression, Edema, Loss of appetite, Weight Loss |
| B2–Riboflavin | Milk & Milk Products, Wheat germs Yeast,Green leafy vegetables | Lesions around mouth and nose.Glossitis, Hair loss Scaly skin,Light sensitivity |
| B3–Niacin | Yeast, Peanuts & Peanut ButterSesame seeds, Soybean Whole grain cereals, Nuts, Meat, Fish, Poultry, organ meat | Acute–Pellagra, Anorexia, Sore mouth, Weakness, Irritability Mental depression, Damage to central nervous system, skin |
Fat Soluble Vitamins
| A–Retinol | Liver, Carrot, Apricot,Dark green leafy vegetables, Pumpkin, Broccoli, Mango, Papaya | Night blindness Keratinization Xeropthalmia Faulty bone growth Decreased resistance to infection |
| D–Cholecalciferol | Fish liver oil, Cod liver oil, Sunlight –UV rays penetrate in skin & convert precursor of vitamin D present under the skin, into cholecalciferol | Rickets, Osteomalecia (de–calcification of bones) Tender & painful bones in adults |
| E–Tocopherol | Vegetable oils, Wheat germs, Nuts, Whole grain, Margarine | Mainly noticed in premature or S.G.A. infants |
| K–Menadione | Green leafy vegetables, Cauliflower, Tomato, Soybeans, Wheat bran, Egg yolk, organ meat | Disturbance in blood clotting mechanisms. |
Excess of vitamins can have ill effects. E.g. Excess of vitamin C may interfere with other drugs or cause G.I Tract disturbances, kidney stones or bladder irritation, excess of vitamin A is highly toxic. It accumulates in liver causing enlargement, vomiting, skin rashes, hair loss and joint pains. Excess vitamin E may lead to headache or dizziness, blurred vision or thrombophlebitis and that of vitamin D may cause kidney damage.
Need for Vitamin Supplements
Some people are of the view that taking vitamin supplements are a waste of money and could in fact, be harmful to your health! While many of us do get the minimum recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamins deemed necessary by dieticians and nutritionists, the fact remains that deaths do occur due to diet–related illnesses. Since the incidence of certain types of cancer and heart disease are considered to be closely linked to diet (and nutrient intake), clearly, something is going wrong with the diets and lifestyles of many of us.
Balanced diet
Vitamin supplements do not replace a healthy diet. You are what you eat. If you live on junk food and expect a multivitamin to protect you from diet–related diseases, then you are going to be in for a surprise. However, if you ask different people what constitutes a healthy, balanced diet, you will get different answers. Nutrition is a new science and vitamins were only discovered last century. Moreover, recommendations for maintenance of health through diet change constantly. It is no surprise to see a lot of people confused.
Feeling healthy
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA’s) are standards set by worldwide food and nutrition associations that provide guidelines about the amounts of each vitamin we need to consume on a daily basis to avoid deficiencies. Recommended levels vary from country to country. However, RDAs are calculated to meet the needs of healthy people, rather than the needs of those who are ill, stressed, on medications or live in an environment that results in their nutrient requirements to be raised.
They are also meant for people who are not particularly active. Besides, even those who exercise a lot could have greater needs. Take vitamin C, for instance, the US RDA has recommended a dose of up to 60 mg per day, which is adequate to prevent deficiency diseases like scurvy. However, if you smoke, each cigarette depletes your body by 15mg of vitamin C. If you happen to be under stress, your body uses even more vitamin C. If you suffer from any infection, you require more reserves of vitamin C to support your immune system in its fight against infection. Hence, your vitamin C levels could get completely depleted and you could become deficient in it. So, though people may get the RDA of all vitamins in their diet, it does not mean that they are free from the threat of nutrition–based illnesses.
They are also meant for people who are not particularly active. Besides, even those who exercise a lot could have greater needs. Take vitamin C, for instance, the US RDA has recommended a dose of up to 60 mg per day, which is adequate to prevent deficiency diseases like scurvy. However, if you smoke, each cigarette depletes your body by 15mg of vitamin C. If you happen to be under stress, your body uses even more vitamin C. If you suffer from any infection, you require more reserves of vitamin C to support your immune system in its fight against infection. Hence, your vitamin C levels could get completely depleted and you could become deficient in it. So, though people may get the RDA of all vitamins in their diet, it does not mean that they are free from the threat of nutrition–based illnesses.
Nutrition is an individual thing
What is a healthy amount of a particular nutrient for one person may turn out to be deficient for another. While a balanced diet would usually prevent illnesses caused by vitamin deficiencies, it may not ensure optimum health for all. This means that although severe vitamin deficiencies are rare in developed countries, there are a lot of people who feel that they are just not feeling as well or as fit, or look as good as they can be. That’s when vitamin supplements could help.
Health insurance for your body
Taking a high–quality multi–vitamin and multi–mineral formula could serve as a foundation of a nutrition supplementation program. However, this does not mean that a deficiency will automatically occur if you don’t take a supplement. Research has established the safety and efficacy of vitamin & mineral supplements. So don’t take any chances and take a vitamin & mineral supplement.
Description
Leading health journals recommend that all adults take a multivitamin daily. NUTRILITE Daily is a potent, convenient way to help fill in the nutritional gaps in your daily diet. It offers the added nutritional benefits of phytonutrients in NUTRILITE Concentrate, including alfalfa, watercress, parsley, and Acerola cherries.
Benefits
- NUTRILITE Daily Multivitamin includes plant concentrates, which provide beneficial phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are found only in plant-based products, not synthetic products .
- 100% or more of the Daily Value for 12 essential vitamins and 8 essential minerals.
- Broad nutritional "insurance" coverage and a balance of nutrients
- No added artificial colors or preservatives
- A Nutrilock® coating, to make the tablets easier to swallow
Product Advantage
Nutrilite Daily contains more of six essential nutrients compared to Advanced Formula Centrum†*
† Trademark: Advanced Formula Centrum (Wyeth Holdings Corp., Madison N.J.).
*Advanced Formula Centrum also contains a phosphorous content of 109 mg.
| 220% more Vitamin K | ||||||||||||||||||
| 53% more Riboflavin | ||||||||||||||||||
| 27% more Selenium | ||||||||||||||||||
| 53% more Thiamin | ||||||||||||||||||
| 50% more B12 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 900% more Biotin | ||||||||||||||||||
*Advanced Formula Centrum also contains a phosphorous content of 109 mg.
Advisories
More Information
Children under 4 years of age, pregnant women or nursing mothers, or anyone with a medical condition should consult with a physician before using this product. Keep out of reach of children.
How does NUTRILITE Daily compare to other once-a-day multivitamin products?
There are several national brands and when you look at the labels, you'll find that NUTRILITE Daily compares very favorably. NUTRILITE Daily is the only daily multivitamin with the added nutritional benefits of NUTRILITE Plant Concentrates with phytonutrients.
More Information
NUTRILITE Brand Position on Banned Substances
Certified kosher and halal.
Suggested Use
Take one tablet a day, with a meal.
NUTRILITE products are formulated not to contain any ingredients banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the official agency to monitor banned substances.* NUTRILITE recommends that athletes with specific concerns seek approval from a health-care professional before taking supplements.
*Based on the 2008 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
*Based on the 2008 World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited List.
Certified kosher and halal.
Suggested Use
Take one tablet a day, with a meal.
- About 5–7 servings of carbohydrates (equivalent to about 2 1/2 cups of brown rice or wholegrain noodles, or 5–7 slices of whole meal bread (NB: NOT white rice or white bread which are not as nutritious)
- About 5 servings of vegetables (2 1/2 cups of cooked vegetables or 5 cups of salad)
- About 2–3 servings of fruits (2–3 pieces of fruit or 1–2 cups of chopped fresh fruit)
- About 3 servings of protein (only 120 gm of fish, or 105 gm of meat, or 3/4 cups of legumes or 3 cups of milk)
- About 2 servings of good quality fats (1 tablespoon of vegetable oil)
- About 6–8 glasses of water (1–2 liters)
