Growth
Each and every bodily process has
its base in the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are
consumed, and the process of growth is no exception. From the growth
and development that takes place in the uterus to infants growing
into children to children growing into adolescence and then adulthood,
nutrition influences every level of growth. Improper nutrition
not only can slow growth, but also can cause birth defects and
malformed limbs, as well as a variety of other physical deformities.
The vitamins that make up the Vitamin B complex
are truly an amazing group. necessary to many physical and
mental structures and functions
of the body, including cognitive and emotional functioning,
the Vitamin B complex is also essential to the proper growth
of children.
In particular, Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, due to
its cobalt content, is an important part of normal growth
in children. It
also serves to build genetic material and to maintain the
central nervous system. Children need .9 micrograms to 2.4
micrograms, depending on size and age. Folic acid, or Vitamin
B9, is
also essential
to growth, especially in the uterus. Sufficient folic acid
taken during the earliest parts of pregnancy can prevent
serious birth
defects, specifically neural tube defects of the sort that
result in spinal bifida. It also serves to create and form
DNA.
The mineral zinc is also essential to the normal growth of children,
as is iodine, which is essential to the functioning of the thyroid,
and thus influences body weight. In the developing nations, specifically
where the soil that crops are grown in lack iodine and iodized
salt is not common, retarded growth is all too common. Children,
depending on age and size need 10mg to 15mg of zinc daily and 70
micrograms to 150 micrograms of iodine each day.
The quality of the growth of bones rests firmly upon the levels
of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, Vitamin
C and Vitamin K present in the body. These nutrients work together,
each according to its specific capacities, complementing each other
in the creation of the hard surfaces of the bones and teeth. Because
the bones are constantly losing calcium, which needs to be continuously
replaced, and the rapid growth that occurs from the development
in the uterus right through adulthood, maintaining the levels of
these nutrients is essential to normal growth.
It can sometimes be difficult to get children
and adolescents to consume all the nutrients that are so
essential to their growth
and health. Nutritional supplements can be a safe and reliable
means of seeing that children and adolescents reach the standard
recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals and
other nutrients each and every day. However, because taking
too much
of certain vitamins and minerals can cause serious health
problems, it is advisable to have the child’s primary health care provider
serve as an active participant in devising a nutritional supplement
plan that is specific to your child’s dietary needs. Always
keep dietary supplements well out of reach of children to
avoid any potentially harmful accidents.
Muscles
The muscles of the body depend heavily on the vitamins, minerals,
and other nutrients we provide them for their health and performance.
By being sure to consume the standard recommended daily intake
levels of the nutrients our bodies need, we can help to keep our
muscles strong and healthy, able to perform their important tasks.
Muscles do far more than help us to look good and lift things.
The heart is the essential muscle of the body, as it runs the circulatory
system. Our muscles help to keep our internal organs in place and
to perform each and every movement we make, from chewing and swallowing
to controlling our bladder to sitting, standing and walking. Healthy
muscles are essential to our day-to-day lives. There are several
vitamins and minerals that directly affect the health and performance
of our muscles.
Potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus work together in
seeing to it that the muscles are able to contract smoothly and
effectively, as they should. This is, of course, essential to keeping
the heart beating in a regular and efficient fashion. However,
that is not the only place in the body that the ability to contract
is important. Each muscle needs this ability.
Vitamin C is essential to the health and performance of muscles
because it works with potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus
in their muscle regulation tasks. Vitamin C is also necessary to
the formation of collagen and elastin, which are important connective
tissues of the body, forming the structure of muscles. Vitamin
C also is responsible for the health of the blood vessels, which
support the muscles need for oxygen and nutrients.
Naturally, as with most of the important processes and systems
of the body, the vitamins that make up the powerful and essential
Vitamin B complex have a role in the health and function of the
muscles. In fact, deficiencies in the B vitamins can lead to all
sorts of muscle problems, including a lack of coordination. The
B vitamins are greatly responsible for the creation of the red
blood cells that support the entire body.
Nutrition is an essential part in seeing to it that the muscles
have what they need to function efficiently and to be strong. Exercise
is also an important part of muscle health and strength, and should
be a part of any health plan that is seeking to increase the health,
strength and endurance of the muscles. However, before beginning
any exercise program after a period of inattention to physical
activity, it is a good idea to have a general physical and to increase
your level of physical activity gradually.
Sometimes, at the rapid pace of today’s
life, it can be difficult to obtain all of the vitamins,
minerals and other nutrients
that the body and its muscles need through diet alone. Nutritional
supplements, when used with care and attention to standard
dosage practice, can be an effective and reliable way to
see to it that
each and every day you are able to meet the standard recommended
daily intake levels of nutrients you need for the health
and well being of your body and your mind.
The Nervous System
The health and performance nervous system is essential to that
of the body, and the daily intake of vitamins, minerals and other
nutrients
affects the ability of the nervous system to perform its many
necessary functions. There are several vitamins and minerals that
directly
influence nervous system functioning and health, and it is important
to see to it that these are consumed at adequate levels.
The Vitamin B complex is one of the most important of the vitamins
that influence the health and performance of the nervous system,
as it is members of this powerful group that are responsible for
the creation of some of the most basic structures within the nervous
system. Vitamin B12, also referred to as cobalamin because of its
cobalt content, has a significant role in both the formation of
the nervous system and in the maintenance of its efficient and
healthy operation. It helps in the formation of the nerve cells
themselves, the most basic of the nervous system structures. In
fact, deficiencies in vitamin B12 can lead to irreversible spinal
cord degeneration. Adults need 2.4 micrograms of Vitamin B12 per
day, with pregnant and breastfeeding women increasing their intake
to between 2.6 and 2.8 micrograms daily. Children, depending on
age and size, should have between .9 micrograms and 2.4 micrograms
of Vitamin B12 per day.
The other B complex vitamins important to the nervous system include
B9, also called folate or folic acid, which, in addition to its
role in the upkeep of the adult nervous system, is involved in
the production of neurotransmitters. Adults should have at least
400 micrograms of folic acid daily, with pregnant women increasing
their daily intake to 600 micrograms and breastfeeding women increasing
their daily intake to 500 micrograms. Children should have, depending
on size and weight, between 150 micrograms and 300 micrograms of
folic acid each day.
Among the minerals that serve to enhance nervous system function
is calcium. In addition to its other functions, it also has a role
in the health of nerves and their ability to communicate. Magnesium
is a mineral that helps the body to use calcium effectively, giving
it a role in nervous system function as well. Deficiencies in magnesium
contribute to nervousness and confusion. A lack of potassium can
lead to nervous disorders.
Proper nourishment affects every aspect of
the body’s efficiency
and function, and thus affects quality of life as well. The
body functions on a delicately balance system of chemical reactions.
The nutrients we consume make up a large part of these essential
chemicals, and it is important to do the best we can to achieve
the standard recommended daily intake levels of the vitamins,
mineral
and other nutrients that our body needs. Nutritional supplements
can offer a safe and effective means of achieving those daily
intake levels. If you are unsure of the best dietary supplements
for you,
or are inexperienced in using then, a consultation with a
licensed nutritionist can help you to devise a personalized nutritional
supplement plan that is best suited to your individual dietary
needs and health goals.
The Digestive System
It is through the digestive system the body is able to make use
of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are consumed.
The digestive system breaks down the material until it is in a
form that can of use on the cellular level. There are several vitamins
and minerals that directly affect the quality and efficiency of
the process of digestion. Making sure to achieve the standard recommended
daily intake levels of these nutrients will help to ensure that
your body is able to make the best use of the foods consumed.
The digestive process begins in the mouth, with the saliva
and the teeth. Healthy teeth are essential to proper chewing,
which breaks the food down so that it can pass through
the esophagus, but also puts it into a form in which the
enzymes can start their work. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus,
Vitamin D and Vitamin C are essential to the health of
the teeth, as their very structure depends on these vitamins
and minerals. Calcium and phosphorus are the primary building
blocks of the teeth, with Vitamin D serving to enhance
calcium absorption by the body and magnesium and Vitamin
C being necessary to the processes by which those substances
come together to form the structure of the teeth.
As with all of the important body functions
and systems, the powerful vitamins that form the Vitamin
B complex have a significant role
in the digestive system. Thiamin, or Vitamin B1, serves to
help the body have a good appetite, and also keeps the
nerves in good
working order. Nerves, the communicators of the body, are
important to the process of digestion, as much of it is
the result of involuntary
movements that are regulated in part by the nervous system.
Niacin, or B3, is necessary for the health of the digestive
tract, serving,
in addition to the general health and functioning of the
digestive tract, to keep its surfaces healthy. Niacin also
helps to keep
the tongue in good health, able to perform its role in the
digestive process efficiently. Vitamin B9, also called
by the names folate,
folic acid and folacin, is also important to the maintenance
of the gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria in the digestive
tract
help to produce Vitamin K, essential to the blood’s ability
to clot.
There are many minerals that serve as cofactors to the enzymes
that break down food, meaning that without those minerals the enzymes
would be incomplete and digestion poor. Manganese is just one of
the minerals that serves this purpose, not only serving as a cofactor
in the enzyme processes that break down food, but also in those
that allow the body to utilize it. Chromium is a mineral that helps
to regulate appetite, important for food intake.
There are many digestive disruptions that can be traced back to
poor nutrition. Meeting the standard recommended daily intake levels
of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your body needs
is a good way to avoid inefficient and incomplete digestion. Nutritional
supplements can offer a safe and effective means of meeting your
dietary needs and health goals.
The Reproductive System
Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the development
and performance of the reproductive system. Nutrition plays a role
in the development and maturation of the reproductive system through
childhood and adolescence, and can affect the endocrine system,
which regulates the hormones that rule the functions of the reproductive
system. Nutrition can affect fertility and fetal development, as
well. Striving each day to consume the standard recommended daily
intake levels of the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that
the body needs is an important part of the good health and proper
functioning of the reproductive system.
The nutrients that a child consumes while growing up can affect
the developing reproductive system. Zinc, for example, is essential
to the development of the reproductive organs themselves. A deficiency
in zinc can result in significantly delayed sexual maturation.
Zinc also serves in the regulation of male hormones and has a role
in prostate functions and sperm production. Iodine helps to regulate
thyroid function, which in turn helps to regulate growth and body
weight. Body weight has to do with the onset of puberty, which
will not begin until the appropriate threshold of body weight and
fat has been crossed.
The endocrine glands secrete hormones, and hormones are essential
to the functioning of the reproductive system. Thus, endocrine
gland health is a precursor to mature reproductive functioning
and health. While several nutrients are directly associated with
the production of hormones, like manganese, which serves to maintain
the production of sex hormones, many others act as cofactors to
a variety of complicated chemical reactions that carry out the
tasks of the reproductive system.
Proper nutrition is essential in fetal development, as well. Folic
acid, for example, can serve to prevent serious birth defects by
reducing the incidence of neural tube defects, such as the type
that cause spinal bifida. However, this defect occurs so early
in fetal development that at the point at which it occurs, the
woman has yet to find out that she is pregnant. Therefore, it is
best for any woman of childbearing age to be especially careful
to get enough folic acid each day.
The vitamins that make up the Vitamin B complex
have a primary role in red blood cell production. The developing
fetus gets all
nourishment and oxygen via the mother’s blood stream. Therefore,
making sure to keep red blood cell production up to par is
important to the reproductive system, particularly during
pregnancy. The
nutrients received by the developing fetus will affect every
aspect of his or her being.
Proper nutrition is essential to each part and every stage of
the reproductive system, from development to maturation to the
creation and nurturing of new life. It can be difficult, particularly
at the rapid pace of life today, to get the full amount of each
and every vitamin, mineral and other nutrient that serves to support
the reproductive system. However, nutritional supplements can offer
a safe and reliable way to achieve your dietary goals, when used
with care and attention to standard dosage amounts. It is important
to remember that too much can be as damaging as too little.
Vegetarians
There are many vegetarians throughout the world,
some by circumstance and some by choice. Those that are
vegetarians by choice can be
divided into two general groups, those that do not eat meat,
poultry or fish, but do consume dairy products as – in theory – the
animals are not harmed or killed by the gathering of those
products. Vegans, however, use no animal products whatsoever.
There are many health benefits to a planned vegetarian diet, as
opposed to the unplanned vegetarian diets that result from poverty
and a lack of food availability. However, there are also some special
precautions that need to be taken to safeguard nutrition, as adequate
amounts of some of the most important nutrients can be more difficult
to obtain. This is especially true for those following the more
restrictive vegan diet.
The body is a complex and delicate system, and the foundation
of all of its functioning is chemical and electrical actions, interactions
and reactions. The operation of this system rests firmly upon the
balance of these chemicals. The majority of the chemicals in these
essential physical processes come from the food that we eat, from
the nutrients that come from its consumption. Thus, nutrition has
a deep influence of the health of the body and the quality of its
functioning.
Because the brain, like the body, functions on chemical reactions
and electrical impulses, the processes of cognition, emotion, and
so on, are also affected by nutrition. In fact, deficiencies in
certain vitamins and minerals can result in mental illness and
retardation, as well as cognitive dysfunction and difficulties
and emotional instability.
The Vitamin B complex offers a perfect example of how vegetarians
must pay special attention to their diets to ensure peak performance
of body and mind. The Vitamin B complex is involved with every
major system in the body and has a role in almost every important
bodily process. It is essential to mental health and functioning,
and essential to life itself. However, there are certain Vitamin
B complex vitamins that need special attention by vegetarians,
as vegetarians do not consume the richest sources of these vitamins.
The richest sources of Vitamin B2 are milk and organ meats. It
is available in enriched breads and cereals, but care must be taken
to consume the right amount daily. Niacin and Vitamin B6 are other
B complex vitamins in which the richest sources are meats and,
again, are available in smaller concentrations in enriched breads
and cereals. Vitamin B12 is only found in animal products. It is
important to note that vitamin B12, in addition to being important
to the production of red blood cells, is essential for the normal
growth of children.
Nutritional supplements can serve to enhance the health benefits
of the vegetarian lifestyle. Indeed, they can serve to prevent
the serious health consequences that vitamin deficiency can cause.
Nutrition is especially essential for children, as their minds
and bodies are growing and developing. If you are vegetarian or
vegan, you may want to consider the complete, safe and reliable
nutrition that dietary supplements can provide.
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