Our body needs many vitamins and minerals for health and growth.
Vitamins work as enzymes or catalysts to biochemical reactions in the body, releasing energy from food and speeding up chemical reactions. Minerals form the hard bony structure of the body, and are vitally important in chemical reactions and in regulating water balance, nerve response and muscle contraction
Some vitamins also act as antioxidants and form an integral part of the structure of proteins, hormones and blood.
With the exception of Vitamin D, which is made by sunlight on the skin, and Vitamin K, which is synthesized by bacteria in our intestine, vitamins must be derived from our diet.
Vitamins are usually classified as fat soluble or water soluble. Fat Soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) are stored in the body, so excess of these vitamins can cause unpleasant side effects. They occur in association with fat and are fairly stable during cooking and processing. Water Soluble Vitamins (B group and C) dissolve in the body fluids, therefore excess intake is mostly excreted in urine. They are distributed in many foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains and meat and are often sensitive to heat.
Minerals are usually classified as major or trace. Major minerals are needed in large amounts, and include calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, sodium and iron. Trace minerals include zinc, copper, iodine, fluorine, manganese, selenium, chromium and molybdenum. They are found in many different foods, including meat, fish, eggs, nuts, dairy, grains, fruits and vegetables.
Ideally, it is best to get your vitamins and minerals from food, not tablets, however sometimes this isn’t possible. At Vibrant Health and Nutrition we aim to stock the best brands with the best formulations to make sure you are supporting your health with the best supplements and getting the best value for money.
It is important to remember, with any supplement, that more is not always better, and it is always best to seek guidance about your health and how to support it naturally. At Vibrant Health and Nutrition, you can be assured that there will be a professional in store at all times, to help you make the best choice for you.
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