The optimum daily intake on vitamins sounds kind of boring doesn’t it? It does to me. Facts, numbers and more facts, boring right? Well let’s take a look and see.

So, what does happen when our body doesn’t get the proper nutrition or supplements? What do we know about vitamins and minerals?

• Vitamin A prevents night blindness
• Vitamin C prevents scurvy
• Thiamin prevents scurvy

When we do not have the proper nutrition, we have a depletion of the vitamins stored in the body. Then our enzymes become depleted. Prolonged depletion then causes cellular changes which cause chronic fatigue, skin problems, lingering infections, hormonal problems, depression, and anxiety. Not a pretty sight is it?

Nutrients and the Immune System

The immune system is complex and made up of blood cells and special proteins working together to defend us from illness. By keeping our immune system strong, our body has the ability to encapsulate and kill bacteria and viruses. It also, has the ability to repair or destroy damaged cells before they become cancerous.

We already know that inadequate nutrition has been shown to weaken one or more of the components of our defense system. Insufficient protein, not enough fiber and too much fat have all been shown to impaired immunity. On the flip side an enhanced immune system will have a profound effect on our health.

Nutrients and Oxidative Stress

Most of us have a working understanding of free radicals. Free radicals are formed by exposure to toxic chemicals in our food, water and air; by radiation and excessive sunlight.

Oxidative stress has been associated with the signs of aging and with diseases such as; arthritis, hardening of the arteries, heart, and kidney diseases.

Vitamin E is known as a scavenger of free radicals formed by the oxidation of fats. Vitamin E works in synergistically with selenium and in doing so, protects vitamin C from oxidation. When this happens, the potency of of vitamin C is the preservation of another antioxidant.

So, more is better, right? Not in some cases.

Many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong biological effects in the body. This could make them unsafe in some situations and hurt or complicate your health. For example, the following actions could lead to harmful – even life-threatening – consequences.

• Combining supplements
• Using supplements with medicines (whether prescription or over-the-counter)
• Substituting supplements for prescription medicines
• Taking too much of some supplements, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, or iron
  Some supplements can also have unwanted effects before, during, and after surgery. So, be sure to inform your healthcare provider, including your pharmacist about any supplements you are taking.

Overall, taking supplements are safe. Just do your homework first. Taking a multivitamin for your age group is usually safe. Just remember to talk with your pharmacist about drug interactions with your supplements. An example, you do not want to take vitamin E if you are taking an anticoagulant.  Vitamin E thins the blood to an extent. If you are taking an anticoagulant you would not want to take vitamin K because it would counteract the purpose of the anticoagulant. Vitamin C should not be taken with an antibiotic because vitamin C will counteract the antibiotic.

In the next posting we will take a look at designing our own personal nutritional supplement program.