Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Importance of vitamins, macro and micronutrients in the body
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
The human body needs vitamins. This cannot be disputed. Vitamins are essential “for normal growth and functioning. Some facilitate crucial chemical reactions, while others act as building blocks for the body” (Sine). Where one gets vitamins can be from two main sources: food and supplements. Due to changes in lifestyle and the huge presence of the fast food industry, food may not always be an adequate way to receive all of one’s essential vitamins every day. That’s where supplements can be extremely valuable in assuring that people receive all of their nutrients. In many cases, supplements have even been linked to preventing diseases and other conditions. That is why taking food supplements should be a part of everyone’s daily regiment.
Maintaining a healthy diet does not provide the daily-recommended vitamins and minerals (also known as micro-nutrients) one needs to function. “ ‘It’s easy to get enough micro-nutrients from your food if you maintain a healthy diet,’ Audry Cross PhD Clinical Professor of Nutrition at Columbia’s School of Public Health, tells Web MD. ‘But most people fail the test; they’ll eat two or three servings of fruits and vegetables per day rather than the required five.’ That’s why Cross (and many other nutritionists) suggest a multi-vitamin as a sort of nutritional safety net for many of their patients” (Sine). It’s impossible to know the exact amount of nutrients one gets with so many food sources available today. A micronutrient that’s getting a lot of attention recently is Vitamin D. This is a very important micronutrient as it aids the body in the production of strong bones. Vitamin D, which is not always found in foods but rather absorbed through the skin from UVA/UVB rays is lacking in many peo...
... middle of paper ...
...ments. At the end of the day, who can put a price on good health? For this reason alone, it is worth the extra cost of the supplements for the added peace of mind.
Works Cited
Brennan, Colin. "Vitamin Supplements Are Usually Unnecessary." Opposing Viewpoints: Health. Ed. Auriana Ojeda. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. VCCS System - used for scripted access. 4 July 2010
Greenblatt, Alan. "Obesity Epidemic." CQ Researcher 13.4 (2003): 73-104. CQ Researcher. Web. 4 July 2010.
Kolata, Gina. “Vitamins: More May Be Too Many.” The New York Times 29 April 2003, Science Desk; Section F. Factiva. Web. 10 July 2010.
Masci, D. (2001, February 23). Diet and health. CQ Researcher, 11, 129-160. Retrieved July 4, 2010
“Vitamin D.” Life Extension 16.6 (2010): 70-74. Alt Health Watch. EBSCO. Web. 30 June 2010.
Brownstein, Joseph. “Some common vitamin supplements could increase death risk, study finds.” 10 October 2011. Vitals on mnsbc.com. Web. 11 January 2012. http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news
(13) Pazirandeh S. Overview of vitamin K. In: UpToDate, Post TW (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA. (Accessed 27th April 2014)
In 2011, the University Of Minnesota took women who take vitamins daily and studied them(Offit, Paul., 2013). The result was the same in that there was no supporting evidence that favors Pauling’s claims and statements. In conclusion, the general public believed the words of a man who had no specific evidence to support his own claims over researches done by trusted establishments who had evidence towards their own claims against Linus Pauling. Vitamin D is essential in many aspects especially during growth periods such as adolescents and infancy as indicated by Winston Koo and Nitin Walyat who are the respective authors of “Vitamin D and Skeletal Growth and Development”. Vitamin D is essential for the body as it helps development organ cells; without the development of organ cells, the body cannot fight against harsh diseases and it will eventually cause severe diseases which can lead to delayed growth rate(Koo, Winston ., 2013, p.188).. Children who drink breast milk are more prone to vitamin D deficiency because breast milk does not contain as many vitamins as mineral (Koo,
With all the unregulated dietary supplements being sold and recommended, our health insurance costs will continue to rise. If the product causes severe side effects, it should no longer be permitted to be sold in stores. The only way to touch the minds of many people is to inform them of the dangers of consuming dietary supplements. Disposing of all incorrect information in product labeling and ingredient lists is important. People need to recognize the faults that plague many advertisements. In addition businesses should promote safe products instead of the harmful ones that they advocate for. The United States Congress should consider regulating dietary supplements to maintain safety. If people are aware of the many lies companies present, then dietary supplements will be one less problem to worry about.
Goldstein, Hesh. Why There is an Obesity Epidemic. 16 Nov. 2009. 12 Nov. 2011 .
The body can manufacture only vitamin D; all others must be derived from the diet. Lack of them causes a wide range of metabolic and other dysfunctions. In the U.S., since 1940, the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council has published recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.
The American Dietetic Association’s position statement on Nutrition and Athletic Performance, written in conjunction with the Dietitians of Canada and the American College of Sports Medicine, makes specific references to the effects of Vitamin D, both independently and in reference to other micronutrients who are influenced by Vitamin D within the body. The American Dietetic Association’s position statement also describes that Vitamin D is required for a myriad of functions within the body, which include adequate calcium absorption, regulation of serum calcium and phosphorous levels, promotion of bone health, and regulation of homeostasis and development of the nervous system and skeletal muscles 1.
Flegal, K. M., Carroll, M. D., Ogden, C. L., & Curtin, L. R. (2010). Prevalence and trends in obesity among U.S. adults, 1999-2008. Journal of Medical Association. 303, 235-241.
23 July 2018. Print. The. Brody, Jane E. “Attacking the Obesity Epidemic by First Figuring Out Its Cause.” New York Times.
Having to list what I eat each day, see the calories consumed and then see the lack of nutrients that were contained therein was not only eye opening but a total shock. I would have predicted that I was eating well enough to provide all my essential nutrient needs. However, I was very mistaken. I think this was my biggest shock of the semester. Because I love vegetables, I thought that it would make up for the fact that I don’t particularly care for fruits. However, by tracking what I eat and analyzing the nutrient values, I see where I am not getting some of the important vitamins that I need. Although, it has been subtle, I am making some changes in my diet, however, the awareness is keenly there. On a spiritual note it really emphasizes the truthfulness of the Word of
"Global Dietary Changes Threaten Health." World Health Federation. Medtronic Foundation, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. .
Vitamin D is a necessary component for calcium absorption to prevent boss loss. Nutritionally our body can create vitamin D by sun exposure however many factors can prevent our bodies to create vitamin D such as using sunblock or not getting enough sun exposer from daily routine. Vitamin D can be found in many foods that we such as milk including almond milk, eggs yolks, saltwater fish, and liver. Other vitamins that can help prevent bone loss are vitamin A and C. Vitamin C is an antioxidant which helps reduce oxidative stress which can have a negative effect on the cells in the body. This helps protect against inflammation which takes away calcium from the bones. Vitamin C can be found in many foods such as papaya, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, strawberries, pineapples, oranges and kiwifruit and fruit juices have supplement vitamins. Vitamin A is important for bone growth, vision, cell division and cell differentiation. There are two different forms of vitamin A are retinol and beta-carotene. Retinol can be found in meat, poultry, fish and dairy products while beta-carotene can be found in fruits, vegetables and
Vitamins, a group of organic substances required in our diets in small amounts for growth and nutrition, are usually found in foodstuffs or taken as supplements. Yet vitamins probably present a wider gap between myth and reality in the layman's understanding than almost any other area of our diet. Surveys have found that while a majority of Americans do take vitamin supplements on a regular or occasional basis for reason of health concerns, there exists enormous confusion about the actual purpose and benefits of this practice ("Use of Vitamin and Mineral Supplements in the United States," 1990:161). Most people have a recognition that Vitamin C prevents scurvy, that Vitamin A is found in fish-liver oils, or that Vitamin D is found in dairy products; many people believe that Vitamin E preserves youth and prevents sterility, or that Vitamin C can present colds and cancer. Beyond this, however, there is still considerable ignorance and widespread myth.
Illness is one of the main causes when you don’t have enough vitamins in your system because your immune is weak by not having any vitamin. A weak immune system can make you more susceptible to a common cold or fever. It seems that taking vitamin supplements does not work as well as taking vitamin in by a healthy diet. When eating unhealthy you could get different types of diseases. Having a high blood pressure can cause a higher risk of strokes and heart problems along with diabetes. Over time our population
The nutrients we get from eating fruits and vegetables are also very important in our daily diet. When we eat anything we get nutrients from it, but the question is are we eating too much? Too much of a good thing can be bad! The different vitamins have many different purposes, vitamin A keeps the eyes and skin healthy and helps protect against infections. Vitamin C helps heal cuts and wounds and keeps your teeth and gums healthy.