Minerals

If we speak in nutrition, a mineral is necessary for an organism to person necessary life functions. But here we are not talking about the four major structural elements of a human body; hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and oxygen. The essential mineral supplements are different from the four mentioned.

Dietary Allowance or Adequate Intake is recommended for humans: phosphorus, magnesium, i ron, zinc, manganese, copper, iodine, chromium, molybdenum selenium, and cobalt (the last as a component of vitamin B12). Besides, other minerals are necessary for many plants and animals but may or may not be necessary for humans. To name here are silicon and boron.  Essential and purportedly essential minerals are marketed as dietary supplements, individually and in combination with vitamins and other minerals. And here is what you might need to know about these essential elements or chemicals.

An overview of Vitamin and mineral supplements

Vitamins and minerals are organic compounds that the human body needs in a minimal amount. They play an important role in a variety of metabolic processes. Science recommends that it’s better to get minerals and vitamins from various healthy and unprocessed food items. And if we take a broader spectrum, the mineral and vitamin supplements can also pose certain health risks. While at the same time, they benefit a person on a restricted diet for any reason and lack variety. They can fill up the body needs by taking mineral and vitamin supplements instead of eating a nutritionist’s diet.

Some common mineral and vitamin deficiencies

The human body needs a minimal amount of minerals and vitamins daily. This demand can generally be filled with natural dietary products and food items. However, there are cases when a person may need supplements to correct a specific mineral or vitamin deficiency. The list may include pregnant women, breastfeeding women, or people who drink alcohol above the amount recommended for reducing the risk of disease. It further includes cigarette smokers, harsh and illegal drug users, crash dieters or people on chronic low-calorie diets.

Getting minerals and vitamins from food

According to research, most of the vitamins that we get from natural food are better than those we take as multi-mineral tablets. Even though vitamins in supplements are synthesized to the exact chemical composition of naturally occurring vitamins, they still don’t seem to work as well. Foliate is, however, an exception to this. Food, however, is a complex source of vitamins, phytochemicals, and minerals. But supplements work in isolation. And might not impact the body as a food component which can be due to the presence and role of other chemicals in the food items.

Using vitamin and mineral pills like medicine

it is a common belief that the overdose of certain vitamins can act like medicine to prevent or cure a certain disease. For example, vitamin C is commonly suggested for colds, while vitamin E is a beneficial antioxidant to help prevent heart disease. However, after years of research, none of these claims has been proven true. Large scale studies do show some benefits in taking mega-doses of mineral and vitamin supplements. Also, there is evidence that taking a high dose can cure and prevent major chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease.