Are Your Vitamins Working for You?

A vitamin is an organic substance which is made by plants and animals. Minerals are inorganic substances which come from the soil and water. As plants grow, they are able to take up minerals from this soil and water. As humans and animals eat plants, we are able to absorb the needed minerals. Vitamins and minerals from natural sources such as plants are the most adsorbent form we can obtain.

With the fast pace world in which we live it is no wonder that only 20% of Americans eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetable each day. Not only are we not eating the recommended amount, but we are also filling our diets with high fat, cholesterol, high amounts of sugar, and preservatives. It is no wonder that we have heart problems, overweight children, and an increase in the cancer rates.

As a result of our insufficient diets, many of us need to use a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. Any grocery store or large box store you shop at has a huge selection of vitamin supplements on their shelves. How do we know which one is the best for us? Are the more expensive ones any better than a store brand? How often should a take a vitamin?

When selecting a vitamin product, you want to find one which has a high solubility rate. With a high solubility rate, the vitamins and minerals will be absorbed by your body and put to good use. If your body is not able to absorb the vitamins, you are not only wasting your time taking them but also wasting your money. Over the years, I have learned that for vitamins to dissolve, they must be in an acid situation, such as in your stomach. Very recent research has shown that once the dissolved vitamin leaves your stomach and moves into the non-acid intestine, it crystallizes back into a less absorbent form. In other words, your body cannot make full use of the nutrients.

Your age will also be a deciding factor in which vitamin you choose. From the very smallest of children to the oldest adult, our nutritional needs are different. Children should not be given adult vitamins any more than an adult should be taking a children vitamin. Nutritional needs are also different for men and women. For example, women are more prone to develop osteoporosis and need to have a multivitamin with higher levels of calcium for bone building. If your vitamin does not contain sufficient amounts of calcium, you should add additional calcium supplements to your diet.

There are a lot of vitamins on the market which sell on the fact that you only have to take a vitamin a day to get all the supplementation you need. They are selling you on the convenience of their product and not on the quality. The main problem with the once a day products is that your body cannot absorb the vitamins and minerals before they pass through your system and are flushed from your body. When vitamins are taken twice a day, your body has that second chance to absorb more of the needed nutrients.

So, if you are currently taking a nutritional supplement, look at the bottle and make sure that you are getting what you need. If you are not taking any type of supplements, look at your diet and see what you are consuming. Are you getting the daily recommended amounts of vitamins and minerals? Do you need to consider changing your diet or adding supplements to it? Remember, vitamins and minerals from food sources are the best form, but if you are like 80% of Americans, you will need to supplement this.

For the past four years, I have enjoyed helping families to bring wellness into their homes. For additional tips on healthy living, visit my blog at http://totalhealthtoday.blogspot.com

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