Posted by : Carol Kunowski

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins are noncaloric, organic nutrients that are essential for life. Although we need only small amounts of vitamins, the roles they play both independently and synergistically is life giving. They help make possible the processes by which other nutrients are digested, absorbed, and built into our body structures. They are integral helpers in all cell functions. Because they do work together, a deficiency of one vitamin can result in a cascade of problems related to other vitamins.

Some vitamins are found in foods in a pre state and are known as precursors or pro-vitamins, Once inside the body, these substances are changed into vitamin form, the most well known example if thin is beta-carotene, which is transformed into vitamin A by the body

Vitamins act as co enzymes – that is, they help enzymes so their jobs by activation them. B vitamin, in particular plays an important roles as co enzymes.

Vitamins are categorized as fat- soluble or water - enzymes, which defined how they are absorbed and transported within the body, and whether they can be stored or are excreted quickly.

Fat- soluble vitamins must have fat present to be absorbed. They are transported in the bloodstream attached to proteins. Because they need fat, they can be stored in the body’s fatty tissue and liver, Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat soluble.

Water- soluble vitamins are dissolved directly into the blood steam. Where they travel freely, they are not stored in the   tissue, but are excreted rather quickly, because of this we should make sure that we get the water- soluble vitamins we need daily.  The vitamin B complex and vitamins C are water- soluble, plus [ when taking a vitamin B singular example: a B1, you must take a B vitamin complex as the single b will over take all the other B vitamins ]

Minerals are naturally occurring elements that perform structural and catalytic roles in the body. Minerals are not destroyed during cooking, unlike the vitamins. Minerals are further classified as macro [generally called ‘minerals’] and micro] generally called trace minerals].

There have been volumes written on vitamins and minerals, their importance what they do, how to get them and in what amounts.

Most Important

What is perhaps most important in discussing micro nutrients is how we get them. The healthy cell concept state that the best sources of micro-nutrients are foods, this is because the proper balance – the proportion of micronutrients is very important.

When we consume micro-nutrients in the foods we eat, we get natural nutrients in natural amounts, in natural proportions- as they ate found in nature.

Natural Nutrients                                                                                                                  

Natural nutrients are superior to synthetic nutrients because they provide the total package. Although synthetic nutrients as many vitamins and minerals supplements are – do mirror the structure of natural nutrients, they so not provide ever thing a natural source does, Beta- carotene, for example, can be easily isolated, manufactured, and sold in large amounts. However when you take a beta- carotene supplement, you don’t get everything that a food source has to offer. Carrots, is a good natural source of beta- carotene. Also contains water, protein, carbohydrates, iron, calcium, and bioflavonoid [substances proving to have health benefits]. This provides good all- around nutrition

Natural proportions are also important, When we take nutrients as they are created in natures, we do not risk upsetting the delicate balance between them: after all, too much of a specific nutrient can be as harmful as too little.

High in take of isolated vitamins have been shown to cause a depletion of other B vitamins, too much calcium can impair your ability to absorb iron, two much Zinc can hinder copper and calcium absorption, In other words when we take natural proportions, we don’t have to worry about getting too much or too little.

If people ask why the best cell foods are natural foods, not manufactured or processed foods or synthetic supplements, remind them that individual components of foods do not exist isolated in nature – they are always combined. To quote Dr Abram Hoffer, a leader in orthomolecular medicine, [as cited in prescription for nutritional healing]: ‘Components [of food] do not exist free in nature; nature does not lay down pure protein, pure fat, or pure carbohydrates. Their molecules are interlaced in a very complexes three dimensional structure that even now has not been fully described. Intermingled are the essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals, again not free, but combined in complex molecules’.

Additives:

We add substances to foods too lengthen their shelf life, to make them look better, and to make them more marketable to consumers. These substances are known as additives. Some of these, such as sugar, are derived from natural sources, other is synthetic, unfortunately, and we are paying a high price for the convenience of long lasting foods and the appeal of good looking food.

Some additives effect health directly. Monosodium glutamate [MSG] has been linked to severe face swellings and skin disfiguration. Sulphites can result in headaches, severe gastrointestinal distress, and breathing problems.

Although additives are found in  small amounts I foods we eat, some estimates put the amount of additives that U.S consumers ingest in  a year at about five pounds [2.2k] If we consider sugar – the most used additive- this figure jumps to 135 pounds [61k] a year.

The solution is to stay away from manufactured and process foods, this means microwaveable meals, canned foods. [All types, including soups], potato chips actually, just about everything, but natural foods.

Cell food and your lifestyle

We have now finished looking at the cell foods section of the healthy cell concepts. What overall conclusions can we draw?

What have you learned?

• We need a balance proportion of all nutrients, getting too much of the one thing can be as bad as not getting enough.
• We need foods that are mot processed or excessively cooked. This ensures that we get more nutrients [including important enzymes] and no harmful addictives.
• The less cooked and the more natural a food is the better it is for us.

If we eat natural foods, our cells get the elements they need to do their jobs, providing us with a healthy body and a healthy life.

Of course, given today’s fast-paces life, aggressive marketing tactics, our food upbringing, and food likes and dislikes, changing to a ‘healthy cell ‘diet is not easy. Some people are able to make a dramatic dietary change ‘ cold turkey’ for most of us, smaller steps may be the way to go.

What can you do?

• Slowly [or quickly!], cut back on the consumption of soft drinks and sweets. Instead, drink water or natural fruit juice, or eat fruit.
• Try to buy fresh foods – rather than canned foods.
• Cut back on your meal intake. Make one day, or one meal, ‘meet-free’ and work from there. Look in magazines and books for alternative recipes.
• Try to eat some raw fruits and vegetable every day. Make it a point to take a carrot or apple to work. It doesn’t sound like much, but it will get you on the right track.
• Find like-minded people to help you get started.