What Is A Multivitamin?

. In order to remain healthy and function at its optimum, your body needs various vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

Instead of taking several single vitamin supplements, it makes sense to combine the daily requirements of essential nutrients into one complete multi vitamin.

The most important vitamins – for growth, immune protection, and converting food into energy according to Bonnie Liebman Nutritional Director Centre for Science – Washington, are Vitamin A, B, C, and D. Most important Minerals are Copper, Zinc, Iron, Magnesium and Calcium.

Vitamins can cure stomach disorders, by reducing the production of acids, breaking down food, and deliver the nutrients and enzymes that your digestive system needs. They help balance cholesterol, and slow oxidation of cells, which in turn slows down aging and lowers blood pressure. Vitamins contain enzymes similar to the brain, to control the cognitive process. They also contain anti inflammatory properties, to help fight colds, arthritis, etc., and give you optimum health, and energy.

There are two types of vitamins:

Fat soluble like A, D, E, K, and can be stored in the body. Then there are the Water soluble, like B and C. They need to be first dissolved in water, and the body cannot store them, and they are expelled through the urine, and thus must be replaced daily.

Vitamins are organic, and come from plants or animals, whereas minerals are inorganic, and come from the ground, or water. Some minerals are required in larger quantities, like Calcium, to strengthen the bones. Others, are only required daily in small amounts, and are thus called Trace Elements-like Chromium, Copper, Iron and Zinc.

Eating and drinking correctly:

In order to keep healthy, we really need to feed our bodies the right kind of food. Especially children, whose bodies are developing, need a variety that include, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins and fats, found in fruit and vegetables, and whole grains, lean meats, fish, and poultry.

How to take your vitamins:

Most vitamins should be taken with food, spaced out during the day. Calcium, which is also a muscle relaxant, is best taken before going to bed, when the bones can relax.

Can taking multivitamins help the aging process?

A Telomere is a portion of one’s DNA that protects chromosomes from damage and destruction. As cells age, the Telomeres become shorter in length. Thus the Telomere length is a marker for cellular age. Research has been done that shows that regular use of multivitamins actually increases the length of the Telomere by as much as 5%. (2009 American Society of Nutrition)
Obviously, eating healthy foods will also increase their length.

So taking Multivitamins daily, should help to keep your body healthier, and younger, and give you all the energy you need.