Vitamins and food

No matter where one may take a look, either throughout the internet, or a health magazine, either in a doctor's office or at the TV, there's an enormous debate on vitamins versus food. Is food enough for a healthy life or is vitamin supplements needed in the diet. Why should I take vitamins if I'm on a diet, vitamins help increase weight don't they?

It seems that food and vitamins have become a real industry and more and more people in the business of selling vitamins and supplements build up their companies on the thoughts and worries of the general public.

Now, let's take each at a time and confront these myths with clear reality. The first thing to say is that plenty of food doesn't always mean healthy nutrition.

Much of the fruits and vegetables grown nowadays are forced to grow bigger and quicker with the help of pesticides, therefore the main nutritive factors are irremediably lost. Eating this foodstuff does not necessarily give us the nutrition we need within our diet.

Unfortunately food that is good for us is usually grown organically and tends to be very expensive and outside the reach of those people who live on limited incomes.

Also the animals which end up on our tables are also usually artificially fed. Meat and fish are no longer what they were even a few years ago due to the way they are farmed. Much of our food contains coloring and antibiotics which often plays havoc with our bodily systems.

Taking into consideration all these causes, the single and most comfortable solution seem to be taking vitamin supplements.

Think of your body as of a house. A lack of vitamins and minerals in the body is like a house without windows, doors or roof. The action of cold and hot weather, of winds and rain would have a similar action on this house as life has on our bodies when deprived of the nutrients and minerals we need.

Now we've shown that there's a point in taking vitamin supplements, we should understand also their effects. How about developing a strong bone system and a protected heart and normal blood pressure.

Would you like beautiful skin, hair and nails and last but not least improved physical and mental energy?

I almost forgot, vitamins do not imply a higher weight. This myth is wrong. Our body accepts only the specific amount of vitamins it needs to work properly; most of the rest are eliminated either through sweat, or urine. For vitamins and supplements to have any impact on your weight, it would mean overdosing on them which would of course ultimately cause you harm. It's true that your appetite may rise with the help of vitamins, but the cause of obesity and weight problems is too much food or a disease, not a daily multivitamin.

Try to be moderate and accept the needs of your body; give it the meals and supplements it requires. Try to do physical exercise, too. The result will be seen in no time, a healthy mind in a healthy body.

Vitamins news on the Web

Vitamins and Cancer Link (FOX 10 Phoenix)
We all know the importance of vitamins, but what about Vitamin D? Some believe that a dose of D can help when it comes to battling a life-threatening disease like cancer.

Fish oil and vitamins reduce violence in prison inmates (3news)
One of the secrets of controlling violent young offenders in prison is being unlocked.

Cpnradio.com.pe (Cadena Peruana de Noticias)
Shop For Quality & Find Value! Spend $50 And Get $5 Off Today. www.SwansonVitamins.com Buy One Get One Free Vitamins Sale. See The Items On Sale This Week!

Hyping A Supplement For HIV (Forbes)
An exchange with the founder of K-PAX vitamins.

Residents dump their drugs in successful Sheriff’s Office event (Bluffton Today)
Residents dump their drugs in successful Sheriff’s Office event “The purpose of this event was to reach out to the citizens of Beaufort County with expired or leftover medicines including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and herbal supplements in their homes, and provide them the opportunity to have these materials safely disposed of,” according to a Sheriff’s Office news release.

Vitamins stored in bathrooms, kitchens may become less effective (Science Daily)
High humidity present in bathrooms and kitchens could be degrading the vitamins and health supplements stored in those rooms, even if the lids are on tight, a new study shows. Crystalline substances are prone to a process called deliquescence, in which humidity causes a water-soluble solid to dissolve. Keeping vitamins and supplements away from warm, humid environments can help ensure their ...

Barbara Quinn: Vegetable questions, and more (The Monterey County Herald)
Dear Barbara: I'm a senior and live alone. I try to eat properly, and like veggies. But you told me once that fresh vegetables lose their vitamins after three or four days in the fridge. If I buy fresh, I get a small amount but end up eating the same vegetable every day until it is gone.

DMH offers monthly prescription drug reviews (Herald & Review)
DECATUR - Between the two of them, Judy Cornell, 68, and herhusband Jim, 71, take about 25 prescriptions, over-the-counterdrugs, vitamins and supplements for conditions such as heartdisease, diabetes, glaucoma and acid reflux.

Canadian Music Week preview (Jam! Showbiz)
Take your vitamins because you aren't going to get much sleep.

Side Orders: Guacamole a great use for heart-healthy avocadoes (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
I've started adding avocados to my shopping list every week, buying them when they're still firm, then letting them ripen in my kitchen windowsill. Getting two or three each week lets me have them ripe and ready for several meals. When I have too many ripe ones, I make guacamole. They're just so good for you, with lots of heart-healthy fats and vitamins.