Most people should get all the nutrients they need by having a varied and balanced diet, although some people may need to take extra supplements.
Are You Getting What You Need?
Contents
Most people should get all the nutrients they need by having a varied and balanced diet, although some people may need to take extra supplement.
Vitamins And Minerals
are essential substances that our bodies need to develop and function normally. A number of minerals are essential for health: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, sulfur, cobalt, copper, fluoride, manganese, and selenium.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015–2020 recommends that people should aim to meet their nutrient requirements through a healthy eating pattern that includes nutrient-dense forms of foods. Multivitamin/Multimineral Supplements
Multivitamins/multiminerals (MVMs) are the most frequently used dietary supplements, with close to half of American adults taking them.
Vitamins And Minerals Are Obtained From Food
Research indicates that most of the vitamins you get from the food you eat are better than those contained in pills.
The synthetic form (in a supplement or fortified food) is better absorbed by the body than folate from food sources. Research shows a food component that has an effect on the body may not have the same effect when it is isolated and taken as a supplement. This could be because the vitamins and minerals in foods are also influenced by other components of the food, not just the ‘active ingredient’.
Phytochemicals are an important component of food and are thought to reduce the incidence of heart disease and some cancers.