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Why Should I take a Multi-Vitamin?
Many medical
journals, newspapers, and popular magazines have reported new findings related
to vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional supplements. They reported on their
benefits in the maintenance of health and in the prevention of illness. For
example, a recent issue of Prevention magazine contained an article about the
health benefits of the top 10 vitamins and herbs.
In this article, the multivitamin was listed as the single most important
nutritional supplement for everyone to take. One of the most commonly asked
questions are "Why should I take a multivitamin supplement?" It is estimated
that seven out of ten Americans take dietary supplements. Why? Because vitamins
and minerals are essential nutrients that the human body alone cannot
manufacture in sufficient quantities to provide the foundation for all normal
biological functions. Vitamins and minerals are required for normal metabolism,
growth, and general well being. A single deficiency of any vitamin or mineral
can endanger the whole body.
Many people believe they are eating the 'right' foods, and getting the proper
amount of essential nutrients in this way. And, of course, eating a balanced
diet is one way to obtain the vitamins and minerals you need. The problem is,
few of us get a truly balanced diet. According to one U.S. Government survey of
21,000 people, not a single person obtained 100 percent of the Recommended Daily
Allowance (RDA) for each of ten basic nutrients. Processing, storing, or even
cooking can reduce the vitamin content of foods. Foods can also be adversely
affected by chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and soil conditions. Nutrients are
also adversely affected by heavy smoking, alcohol consumption, and numerous
health conditions including obesity and chronic illness.
Your multivitamin should contain a full range of vitamins and minerals to meet
essential nutritional needs. For example, the average diet frequently provides
less than the recommended daily allowance for zinc. A low-dose supplement (15 mg
per day) can fill in dietary gaps. Statistics show that over 65% of American
diets are deficient in Zinc. Zinc is considered the most important mineral for
proper immune system function. Magnesium is also an important element available
in multivitamin form, and is also in a majority of American diets. A lack of
this essential mineral can lead to fatigue, abnormal heart rhythms, muscle
weakness and spasm, depression, loss of appetite, listlessness, and potassium
depletion.
A recent study, published in the Western Journal of Medicine, showed a
correlation between vitamin intake, prevention, and health care costs. The
research team studied the effect of vitamin intake on the relative risk
estimates for birth defects, premature birth, and coronary heart disease, to
estimate potential annual cost reductions in U.S. hospitalization charges.
Amazingly, nearly $20 billion in hospital charges were potentially avoidable
with daily use of folic acid and zinc-containing multivitamins by all women of
childbearing age and daily vitamin E supplementation by those over age fifty.
A good multivitamin with pharmaceutical grade vitamins and minerals accompanied
with high quality herbs can give you reassurance that you are obtaining the
proper amounts of vitamins and minerals needed for good health. Whatever your
specific nutritional needs are, Wilderness Athlete's Multivitamin should be the
foundation of any nutritional supplement or vitamin regimen and will
significantly increase the effectiveness of the other supplements you take.
Protect yourself from the inside out.
