Herbs
have been used for centuries, many as food flavorings and some
as predecessors to pharmaceutical remedies. Today, herbal supplements have
become popular once again as nutritional answers to common ailments and as
a preventative measure against numerous illnesses.
As important as vitamins are, they can do
nothing for you without
minerals. Vitamins cannot be assimilated without
the aid of minerals. And though the body can manufacture a few vitamins,
it cannot manufacture a single mineral. All tissues and internal fluids of
our body contain varying quantities of minerals. Minerals are constituents
of the bones, teeth, soft tissue, muscle, blood, and nerve cells. They are
vital to overall mental and physical well-being. Minerals act as catalysts
for many biological reactions within the body, including muscle response,
the transmission of messages through the nervous system, the production of
hormones, digestion, and the utilization of nutrients in foods.
Minerals are elements that originate in the Earth and cannot
be made by living systems. Plants obtain minerals from the soil, and most
of the minerals in our diets come directly from plants or indirectly from
animal sources. Minerals may also be present in the water we drink, but
this varies with geographic locale. Minerals from plant sources may also
vary from place to place, because soil mineral content varies
geographically.
Vitamins are organic compounds that the human body needs for
growth, health and reproduction and to maintain normal body functions.
Some vitamins are essential for growth, repair and maintenance of cells in
the body. Others control biological processes in the different cell
functions. Vitamins are usually in the foods we eat, however, some can
also be man-made. These synthetic vitamins generally work in the body the
same way that vitamins from natural sources do.
There are two forms of vitamins: fat-soluble and
water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins are those found in the fatty portion
of cells. The body processes and stores them the same way it does fat.
Fat-soluble vitamins are also not absorbed by the body unless there is
some form of fat present in the digestive system, so it’s best to take
them after a meal. Vitamins A, D, E and K are all fat-soluble vitamins.
Water-soluble vitamins are found in the watery part of cells
in the body. They are necessary for growth and maintaining life. These
include the "B" vitamins (Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin
B12), Biotin, Choline, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, and Vitamin C are all
water-soluble vitamins.
Trace minerals are minerals that occur in tiny amounts
or traces. They play a key role in health and disease prevention. They
are essential in the assimilation and utilization of vitamins and
other nutrients. Trace minerals aid in the digestion process and
provide the catalyst for many hormones, enzymes and essential body
functions and reactions. They also assist in replacing electrolytes
lost through heavy perspiration or extended diarrhea and protect
against toxic reaction and heavy metal poisoning
|
|
