|
Why
Vitamins? Why Minerals? Why Essential Fatty Acids
(EFAs)?
 Standard
orthodox medical doctors used to believe that diet and supplements were
not
important, or at least were unrelated, to health. New
research now shows conclusively that
nutrient deficiencies and dependencies do exist when people try to
maintain
their health on three meals a day using the "four food groups".
Enough
research has been done in
the last few decades to prove these major points:
- We
cannot get all the vitamins and minerals we need for metabolic
competence from the standard three meals a day.
- When
the body has been assaulted by stressors, drugs, pollutants, injury or
sickness, nutrients are lost more rapidly than normal and if they are
not replaced, the victim’s ability to withstand stressors or
fight off disease is reduced.
- We
use so many labour-saving devices that we
need fewer calories. As food
intake is reduced, it is nearly impossible to get all the nutrients we
need without taking supplements.
- Pollutants
in the air, food and water put a stress on all of us. As a result, we
require more vitamins and minerals to support the enzyme systems which
aid in discharging these unwanted toxins.
- Those sweet, "empty calorie" foods we
eat rob the body of the nutrients required for digestion and
absorption. In addition, food sensitivities and yeast infections damage
intestinal lining cells so that even when we do eat nutrient-dense
food, absorption is limited.
Why Minerals?
Why
Trace Minerals?
Why
Vitamins?
 A
Polish researcher by the name of Dr Cacimir Funk proposed the term
‘Vitamine’ meaning a vital amine to designate a new food substance
which cured beriberi.
But later finally the alphabet “e” was dropped and the word “Vitamin"
met with popular favor.
The potent organic compounds which are
found in small concentrations in
foods are known as vitamins. They are important and vital to the
functioning of various organs in the body. Absence of vitamins - or
their deficiency or improper absorption - results in specific
deficiency disease. All the possible vitamins are essential for the
growth and development of human body. They are found in minute
quantities in organic
foods in their natural state. These foods provide us with all the
essential vitamins and dietary supplements - unfortunately, the
nutritional content of foods is severely compromised today and the
necessary nutrients may not be found in our food chain, supplementation
almost definitely is indicated for most.
There are different kinds of vitamins
and they differ from each other
in their chemical structure, physiological functions and in their
distribution in the food. There are two varieties of vitamins - namely fat
soluble and water soluble.
They are not normally destroyed by ordinary cooking methods and are
stored in the body to some extent normally in the liver. Their
measurement is done in international units (IU).
Vitamins cannot be stored permanently in the body and hence they have
to be taken daily in foods/supplementation. Certain extra vitamins
taken (which are not currently required by the body) are eliminated as
waste. They are measured in milligrams (Mg) or micrograms (Mcg),
whichever is appropriate. Drugs can be very toxic and have many
side-effects, while vitamins - taken safely and with knowledge
about
interactions and contraindications - are largely mon-toxic and safe.
The various types of vitamins are listed below:
Top
| Vitamin |
Value |
Deficiency |
| A: |
Is essential for optimum
growth and vitality.
It increases resistance against respiratory and other infections and
works mainly on the eyes, lungs, stomach and intestines. It prevents
diseases of the eye and plays a vital role in nourishing hair and skin.
The main sources of Vitamin A are whole milk, curds, fish liver oil,
pure ghee, cheese, cream, butter, green leafy vegetables and other dry
fruits such as almonds. |
|
| B-complex |
There are
different varieties of vitamins in the B group, the more important among
them are:- Thiamine/B1: is very important in the normal functioning of the
nervous system, the regulation of carbohydrates and good digestion.
Whole grains, nuts, pulses, peas, milk, eggs, bananas are the main
sources.
- Riboflavini/B2: is necessary for the growth and general health and
also for healthy eyes, skin, nails and hair. Main sources are almonds, sunflower seeds citrus fruits tomato and green leafy
vegetables.
- Niacin/B3: is essential
for proper circulation, healthy
functioning of the nervous system and proper protein and carbohydrates
metabolism. It is found in liver, fish, poultry, peanut, whole wheat,
tomato, dates and figs.
- Pyridoxine/B6: helps in proper absorption of fats and proteins
protects against degenerative diseases and prevents skin and nervous
disorders. The main sources are wheat bran, pulses,
cereals, walnuts, milk, liver and fresh vegetables.
- Folic Acid/B9: is essential for the formation of red blood cells
and improves hemoglobin. Its main sources are spinach, lettuce,
breweries, mushrooms, yeast, liver and peanuts.
- Panthothenic acid
/vitamin B5: helps in cell building and
development and growth of central nervous system. The main sources are
whole grain, bread and cereals, gram, vegetables, peas, beans and
peanuts.
|
|
| C/ Ascorbic Acid: |
Is necessary
for the maintenance and normal growth of all the tissues inside the
body especially those of bones, teeth, joints and gums. It is a natural
antibiotic and protects from infections. It also helps in decreasing
blood cholesterol. It prevents infections, colds neutralizes various
toxins in the system, increases sexual vitality and speeds up healing
processes in virtually all cases of health. Found in
citrus fruits, berries, grean leafy vegetables, tomatoes, potatoes and
green and sprouted Bengal gram. |
|
| D: |
Is necessary for the proper functioning of
the thyroid gland and for proper bone and teeth formation. It assists
in the assimilation of phosphorous, calcium and other minerals from the
digestive tract. The main sources of this vitamin are raysofsun, fish,
milk and eggs. This vitamin is necessary in the treatment of
constipation, nervousness and other muscular disorders. |
|
| E: |
Is essential for fertility, physical
stamina and normal reproductory functions.
It is essential for the
prevention of asthma, heart diseases, arthritis and many other
conditions. It is available in milk, grain, cereals, eggs, whole
sprouted seeds and nuts. This vitamin has proved to be beneficial in
the treatment of various forms of paralysis, various heart diseases and
diseases of the muscles. |
|
| K: |
Is necessary to prevent bleeding from any part
of the body, clothing of blood and normalize the liver functions. It
reduces excessive menstrual flow in women during periods. Its
deficiency can lead to reduced vitality, premature ageing and
insufficient bile salts in the intestines. The main sources of this
vitamin are cow’s milk, yolk, eggs, green leafy vegetables,
cauliflower, cabbage and tomato. |
|
Thus we can conclude
that vitamins taken in our daily food and
supplementation improve health, vigour and stamina naturally, without
the side-effects of medicines.
Top
Why Essential
Fatty Acids?
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