Benefits of Vitamins & Supplements

Daily vitamins have been shown to be an inexpensive and effective way to safeguard your health. This was clearly illustrated by a recent research study presented at an influential conference entitled "Multi-Vitamins and Public Health." This study indicated that daily multivitamin supplementation by older adults could lead to more than $1.6 million in Medicare savings over the next 5 years, as well as potential cost savings from reduction in hospitalizations for heart attack, cancer and infection.

Vitamins Can Ensure Daily Nutrition

The normal pressures of the modern world, along with deficiencies of essential daily nutrients, put our bodies under a tremendous amount of pressure. That's why it is so beneficial to take nutritional supplements for daily nutrition. These include vitamin C, crucial for ensuring immunity and overall health, vitamin K, vital for bone health, vitamin E, which boosts immune and cardiovascular function, as well as overall bodily health, and the various nutrients under the vitamin B banner. Essential minerals are another integral factor in any quality supplement, including calcium, which is necessary for muscle function and bone health, magnesium, for nerve and heart health, as well as relaxation, and zinc, which is required for proper immune function, and eye, cardiovascular and prostate health.

A variety of potent and essential antioxidants, shown to effectively defend the body against the dangers of free radicals, should be included in any vitamin or multivitamin. Among the most popular antioxidants are: coenzyme Q10, which is vital for heart and liver health, as well as for the production of cellular energy; selenium, for immune functioning and possibly a reduction in certain degenerative diseases, such as cancer; and lutein, which has been shown to offer amazing visual benefits. Plus, there are countless herbs that possess beneficial medicinal properties, and therefore, should be included in a proper vitamin supplement. These include: garlic, renowned for its cardiovascular, cholesterol and blood pressure support, ginkgo biloba, shown to support circulation to the extremities and the brain, while also enhancing memory and brain function, and ginseng, for natural enhancement of energy and endurance.

Within the vitamin world, you can find a supplement for virtually any health concern, including the eyes, heart, brain or immune system, as well as formulations for specific conditions, including allergies, bones/joints, skin, energy and vitality, and cardiovascular and digestive health. There are even nutrients for effective and stable weight management, and healthy sexual stamina, as well as formulas for overall men's and women's health.

Thanks to modern technology, vitamins are now available in a variety of forms, including tablets, caplets and softgels. There are even liquid vitamins for those who have difficulties with swallowing pills. If you want to bolster your health, but price is an issue, then discount vitamins are the answer! The Internet offers a treasure-trove of top-quality vitamins at discounted prices.

However, it is crucial to read the labels of these supplements. Unfortunately, many popular daily vitamins may be missing key nutrients essential for optimal health, such as calcium and magnesium. And, many of the included nutrients do not go past the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Daily Value recommendations (DV%), which only require the bare minimums. All of these measurements fall under the banner of the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), which covers all reference values used for planning and assessing healthy diets. The most common may be that of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). The RDA is the average daily dietary intake level needed to meet the nutritional requirements of 97-98% of the healthy individuals in each age and gender group.

These levels were originally designed to prevent over-deficiency. But today, we are faced with far more pressing threats, such as aging and its associated diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, heart disease and cancer. The best idea is to choose your multi-vitamin based on these terms:

• Quantity: Each contained nutrient's level, and whether they are at high enough amounts to provide therapeutic benefits.
• Quality: The optimal form of the included nutrients. (Selenium is an excellent example.) You also need a supplement with only the necessary nutrients, and no artificial colors, flavorings, preservatives or fillers.
• Form: How the nutrient is present in the product, as well as how it is packaged and presented to the consumer.

Essential Daily Vitamin & Multivitamin Intakes

As recommended by the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) levels, here are the suggested levels and amounts of those nutrients shown to provide the most vital health benefits in an individual's daily diet.

Reference Values for Nutrition Labeling
(Based on a 2000 Calorie Intake; for Adults and Children 4 or More Years of Age)

• Heart Disease - 40-50%.
• Stroke - 30-50%.
• Type II Diabetes - 30-40%.
• Colon Cancer - 30-50%.
• Breast Cancer - 20-30%.
• Osteoporosis (in women) - 40-50%.
• Premature Death - 30-50%.