Health food store shelves are loaded down with a vast assortment
of vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements all proclaiming their
worth to us. If we followed the advertisements on all these pills,
liquids, and gel capsules we wouldn't have room for food because of all
the supplements filling up our stomach. Many are unnecessary or even
harmful if taken in the wrong combination. So what is best and how much
is actually needed to keep us healthy?
Macronutrients are the basics of the human body
Defined in differing ways, macronutrients consist of the very basics of life including carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and oxygen. These are vital to our health and we mostly get them from water we drink, oxygen from the air we breathe, and proteins, fats, and carbohydrates we consume when eating. Although water and oxygen are not actually considered to be nutrients or food they are necessary for life. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and salt (both sodium and chloride forms) can be added to a micronutrient list because they are necessary in larger quantities than other minerals and vitamins. They are often called macro minerals. Fats and carbohydrates are where we get our energy. This comes from the sugar that is a basic element of our body. It sounds complicated but think of the body as an incinerator that needs fuel to run and our foods simply provide that fuel.
Phytonutrients or phytochemicals are natural but not necessary
Many of the chemical compounds that make up the vitamins supplements as well as chemicals we know as phytochemicals come from natural plants such as fruits and vegetables. They have not been established as proven essential nutrients for being healthy but they do have an effect on our good health in general. Beta-carotene,(found in carrots), Apiole (from parsley), carnosol (from rosemary), carvacrol (from oregano and thyme), rosemarinol (from rosemary) are among many chemical compounds found valuable in our diet yet no established facts support the necessity of them.
Vitamins are what we are made of
The human body requires supplementary nutritional supplements, vitamins and minerals, as well as some supplements to maintain health and energy. Because we seldom get enough of these vital ingredients in our daily intake of food, we benefit from adding vitamin supplements to our daily diet.
Macronutrients are the basics of the human body
Defined in differing ways, macronutrients consist of the very basics of life including carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, and oxygen. These are vital to our health and we mostly get them from water we drink, oxygen from the air we breathe, and proteins, fats, and carbohydrates we consume when eating. Although water and oxygen are not actually considered to be nutrients or food they are necessary for life. Calcium, magnesium, potassium, and salt (both sodium and chloride forms) can be added to a micronutrient list because they are necessary in larger quantities than other minerals and vitamins. They are often called macro minerals. Fats and carbohydrates are where we get our energy. This comes from the sugar that is a basic element of our body. It sounds complicated but think of the body as an incinerator that needs fuel to run and our foods simply provide that fuel.
Phytonutrients or phytochemicals are natural but not necessary
Many of the chemical compounds that make up the vitamins supplements as well as chemicals we know as phytochemicals come from natural plants such as fruits and vegetables. They have not been established as proven essential nutrients for being healthy but they do have an effect on our good health in general. Beta-carotene,(found in carrots), Apiole (from parsley), carnosol (from rosemary), carvacrol (from oregano and thyme), rosemarinol (from rosemary) are among many chemical compounds found valuable in our diet yet no established facts support the necessity of them.
Vitamins are what we are made of
The human body requires supplementary nutritional supplements, vitamins and minerals, as well as some supplements to maintain health and energy. Because we seldom get enough of these vital ingredients in our daily intake of food, we benefit from adding vitamin supplements to our daily diet.
Nutritional Supplements can aid our health for sure. Evidence has proved this over the years and indeed, continues to do so.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Hemmings