Vitamins and Minerals - What they do

Hippocrates said "Let food be your medicine, let medicine be your Food"

Vitamins are necessary for health and normal metabolism. The are not manufactured in the human body so it must be obtained from the food we eat.   Unfortunately, a lot of food have been processed to the point of not having much vitamins left.

The choice is either to eat whole organic foods to get these vitamins, or supplement. A lot of people supplement.   We advise whole food vitamin supplements.

When you put vitamins manufactured in a lab into the body, you body doesn't recognize it as food - this is why some people take 1000s of mg of a supplement. We recommend the type of vitamins that are combined and made of food nutrients so that the body recognizes it and absorbs what is there. One brand of vitamins that does this is made by the Wellness Support Network®. You can find products they sell here.

Another brand is Standard Process. They us the chemical vitamins but combine it with whole real food so the body can absorb it better. These vitamins are not for sale except through Health Professionals (not our idea, but the company insists that you can only buy from a professional. For a list of Health Professionals go here.

When insufficient amounts of any vitamin are present in the body, deficiency symptoms appear.
The solution is to provide the vitamins that are missing.

We do not claim that vitamins can cure anything, but with the proper nutrition - what the body needs - you build good health - and when you build good health, disease tends to disappear.

Minerals are inorganic substances that are necessary for growth, development and health.
You need small, but constant supplies. Minerals ensure that the body functions properly. The minerals are responsible for the body structure - i.e. bones are composed of calcium, phosphorus and fluorine.

As with vitamins, minerals are not provided in most of the food we buy due to the depleted soil
Because minerals are water soluble and are flushed out of the body, it is common to have a mineral deficiency and deficiency symptoms..

MINERALS	Benefits	Foods	Is more effective when taken with. . .	Deficiency Symptoms	Will be depleted by...
CALCIUM	Bone & tooth development & maintenance. Muscle contraction, nerve transmission.	Milk, cheese, green vegetables.	Vitamin A, C, D, phosphorus.	Heart palpitations, muscle cramps, tooth/bone weakening.	Excess saturated fat in diet.
CHROMIUM	Carbohydrate metabolism, energy production and optimum utilization of glucose.	Yeast, whole grains, vegetable oils.	Unknown.	Poor glucose tolerance. Low blood sugar levels.	Excess iron.
COPPER	Enzyme function. Hemoglobin production.	Nuts, seeds, organ meats, raisins.	Iron, zinc, cobalt.	Anemia, fatigue, weakness, bone fragility.	Exhaust fumes, cadmium.
IODINE	Production of thyroid hormone. Regulates metabolism.	Seafood, kelp, iodized salt.	Unknown.	Enlarged thyroid gland in neck,
IRON	Transport of oxygen to tissues. Enzyme functions.	Whole grain cereals, nuts, green vegetables.	B6, C, B12, folic acid. Fiber increases absorption.	Fatigue, weakness from anemia, brittle fingernails.	Excess saturated fat in diet, excess protein.
MAGNESIUM	Enzyme activity. Health of heart arteries. Protein production. Nerve function. Need of Magnesium in the Summer	Whole grains, seafood, green vegetables.	B6, C, calcium, phosphorus.	Growth failure, leg cramps, nervousness, confusion, easily angered.	Excess iron.
MANGANESE	Enzyme activity in reproduction, growth, fat metabolism.	Whole grains, eggs, nuts, green vegetables.	Not determined	Poor growth, reproductive and coordination abnormalities.	Alcohol, coffee, cortisone, diuretics, excess sugar.
PHOSPHORUS	Bone/tooth formation, muscle contraction. kidney function, nerve & muscle activity.	Eggs, fish, meat, poultry, grains, cheese.	Calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, vitamins A & D.	Continuous thirst, dry skin, general weakness, weak reflexes.	Alcohol, phytic acid, oral contraceptives.
POTASSIUM	pH balance of blood, body-water balance, nerve and muscle function	Dates, raisins, figs, peaches, sunflower seeds.	Sodium.	Irregular heartbeat) muscular weakness. Build-up of lactic acid.	Mercury, cadmium.
SELENIUM	Antioxidant (with vit. E). Protects cell membrane and internal structures.	Whole grains, seafood, eggs, meat, brown rice.	Vitamin E.	Anemia, heart muscle enlargement, irregular beat.	Coffee, excess zinc or copper.
ZINC	Wound healing, "nature's penicillin"- its what's in chicken soup) reproductive organ development & growth. Male hormone production.	Yeast, whole grains, liver, sunflower seeds. Chicken Soup	Calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, C, Vitamin D increases absorption.	Loss of sense of taste, poor growth and wound healing.

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We have used our best judgment in compiling this information. The Food and Drug Administration may not have evaluated the information presented. Any reference to a specific product is for your information only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease