Posts Tagged ‘ iron ’

The Vitamins You Need

Oct 7th, 2008 | By Health Snob | Category: Sustainable Living
Rating 3.00 out of 5

vitamins4 The Vitamins You NeedIf it were a perfect world, you and I would be eating about 9 different fruits and veggies a day, exercise often, and love it.  However, the world is not perfect, and neither are the humans living in it.  Fruit and veggies can be delicious, but sometimes putting the time and effort to prepare or purchase such a variety can be a task few can achieve and maintain.  Here are some vital nutrients we need, where to find them, and the alternative: a multivitamin.

Calcium Every woman is at risk for developing osteoporosis and we need at least 1,000 milligrams a day.  You can find calcium in milk, yogurt, cheese and canned salmon.

Vitamin D This vitamin helps calcium get absorbed into your body to maintain bone strength as well as promoting your immune system.  You need at least 400 International Units a day and can be found in fortified milk, cod liver oil, salmon, and swiss cheese.

Folic Acid You need this especially when you are preparing for a child or are pregnant already.  Studies have shown that a lack of folic acid can be linked to developmental problems for your child.  You need 400 micrograms a day and you can find these in leafy greens and legumes.

Iron Essential to your body for transportation of oxygen throughout your body, muscle maintenance, and prevention of anemia, you need 18 milligrams a day.  Iron is usually found in lean beef, spinach, shrimp and, yummy, liver.

These are only a few vitamins you need.  So unless you eat a lot of fruit, nuts, veggies and drink milk daily, then perhaps an “insurance” plan would be a multivitamin.  You don’t lost much from taking one a day and it will give you all the essential nutrients you need for a healthy life.  However, you still need to eat healthy and exercise, as well as avoid smoking and excessive drinking.  What a multivitamin does is give you the vitamins you may have missed that day, not a day pass to indulge in chocolate all day.  You can find some great multivitamins at your local food store.  Ultimately, it is being aware of what your body needs and making the conscious effort to treat it as your temple.

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