Healthy Eating – How Vitamins and Minerals Are Important

by | Apr 30, 2011 | Health Habits, Nutrition Support, Uncategorized

Healthy Eating - How Vitamins and Minerals Are ImportantIf you are just coming to the blog for the first time, before you go ahead 1and read about vitamins and minerals, you may want to see the previous blog posts about carbs & proteins and about fat being essential to our body so that you get the whole picture about having a balanced diet.

Vitamins & minerals are important because they act as catalysts enabling us to use our energy and calories.

No nutrient can work in isolation.  For example, to break down and use calcium we require 24 other nutrients. Calcium on its own is of little use. To create fresh blood, our body needs Iron. Iron in turn requires protein, vitamin C and B without which it cannot create hemoglobin. Here’s a quick list:

Vitamin A supports our immune system, maintains eyesight and is a potent antioxidant. We can find it in milk, green leafy vegetables, orange and yellow colored vegetables, and carotenes.

Vitamin D is required to maintain our bones and has anti-carcinogenic properties. We can find it in sun light, egg yolk and fish.

Vitamin E protects the heart and keeps your skin looking young and healthy. Among its sources are polyunsaturated vegetable oils such as corn, sunflower, soy, seeds, nuts and whole grains.

Vitamin K is required to create quick blood clot (otherwise you could bleed to death in an accident or cut). It is also the darling vitamin of women because it helps curb excessive menstrual bleeding. We can find it in green leafy vegetables, green peas, green tea, oats and whole grains.

Vitamin C is crucial in maintaining our immunity and respiratory systems and even children can tell you that it can be found in fruits and vegetables.

Vitamin B metabolizes carbs, aids digestion and maintains our nervous system. It also helps you combat depression. To get more of it, eat fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, eggs, nuts, fish and cheese.

Why do we need minerals?

They are required to maintain our bones, joints, regulate blood pressure, create fresh blood and promote fat burning.  by ensuring insulin sensitivity, minerals help keep diabetes away. Minerals include Calcium, Iron, Selenium, Zinc, Chromium, Magnesium, Manganese and Copper. Good sources of these minerals include dairy products, tofu, green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, meat, fish, eggs and whole grains.

In my next blog I shall write on the importance of water in your diet. In the meantime, check out our veggie section and choose your green leafy veggie – as you see, those have the most nutrients our body needs 😉