Vitamin Trader - Healthy Discounts on Quality Vitamins

Few people today follow a healthy diet, one that’s low in fat and refined carbohydrates with an emphasis on whole rather than processed foods. Most people don’t eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Even if you do try to eat a healthy diet, many factors strip food of beneficial nutrients – soil depletion, processing, storage methods and how food is cooked. Then add stress, which depletes stores of B-complex vitamins and vitamin C. Environmental toxins further increase the need for protective antioxidants.

A high potency multiple vitamin and mineral formula is absolutely essential for optimum health, especially one that provides sufficient levels of antioxidant nutrients and provides extra insurance that you are giving your body all of the essential vitamins and minerals it needs. A deficiency of any nutrient that your body requires on a regular basis can lead to cellular dysfunction. The human body utilizes these nutrients as components of enzymes - molecules that give us life by either making or breaking down other molecules - or as structural components (e.g., calcium in our bones). A deficiency of any nutrient can mean the difference between health and disease. In addition to the enormous number of studies showing benefits from the individual nutrients in a high potency multiple, studies have shown that people taking a multiple vitamin and mineral formula may experience higher energy levels, improved brain function, fewer colds or infections, an improved ability to deal with stress, greater sense of well-being, and reduced risk for cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Just taking the bargain basement of multi-vitamins will not provide the kind of protection and support that we all need. They might be full of sugar, artificial colors and flavorings, preservatives and additives. The RDA or Recommended Daily Values of vitamins, which are guidelines for amounts of certain nutrients that an adult needs to prevent a deficiency disease, like scurvy, are not designed to promote optimal health (instead of just an absence of disease).

Everyone’s body needs extra nutrients with age

You need the full spectrum of essential nutrients in the amounts and forms that the human body needs to function at optimal levels. These nutrients include:

Antioxidants counteract the “oxidation” process which destroys healthy cell membranes, proteins and even DNA. The Alliance for Aging Research has cited studies indicating a 20-40 percent reduction in the incidence of cancer, heart disease, cataracts, and other diseases simply from taking antioxidants.

Vitamin C is a key link in important enzyme reactions. C neutralizes harmful free radicals and it inhibits the kind of cholesterol (LDL) that is responsible for building up plaque in the arteries. Men taking 300 mg. per day of vitamin C have 50% (!) fewer heart attacks than men taking 100 mg. or less. These are just a few of the myriad benefits of proper vitamin C intake.

Vitamin E has been shown to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease by 77% when taken in amounts of 400-800IU per day. Vitamin E also supports immune health, protects against cancer and relieves leg cramps. It may slow the progression of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin A & Beta Carotene. Both have antioxidant properties and may help prevent a variety of cancers and even heart disease. Vitamin A is Important to eye health, to the immune system, to skin, bone and teeth health, and for nerve cell membrane production as well as collagen and cartilage synthesis.

B Vitamins are essential for proper functioning of your nervous system, including mental function. They also are necessary for metabolizing homocysteine, a toxic byproduct of metabolism that in excessive amounts can promote heart disease.

Vitamin D not only promotes calcium assimilation and use by the body, but it also supports immune health. Deficiency is associated with several types of cancer. While sunlight is the best source of vitamin D we often don’t get enough in winter or when sun block and protective clothing are used so supplements of vitamin D-3 (the natural form) can fill in the gap.

Minerals are involved in hundreds of enzymatic reactions and you need both small amounts of trace minerals and larger amounts daily of “macro” minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium.