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The three main functions of minerals are: components of the skeleton, helping to create the framework of the body, as soluble salts which help control the makeup of body fluids, and as essential supports to the action of many enzymes and other proteins. Minerals are the inorganic substance that occurs naturally in rocks and in the ground and has its own characteristic appearance and chemical composition. There are many different types of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium, and zinc.

Calcium
Calcium is a major mineral essential for healthy and strong bones and teeth. It is also ensures the proper functioning of muscles and nerves and even helps your blood clot. It is of very much importance for the growing children.

The sources of calcium are milk, cheese, eggs, dairy products, fruits, green vegetables, almonds, seaweeds (such as kelp, wakame and hijiki), nuts, beans and pulses, breads and fish.

The deficiency of calcium can affect bone and teeth formation, while its excess can lead to kidney stones.

Magnesium
Magnesium is an important mineral that helps the body to maintain muscles, nerves, and bones. It is also used in heart rhythm, energy metabolism and protein synthesis.

The major sources of magnesium are spinach, nuts, seeds, whole grains, water, fruits and vegetables.

The deficiency of magnesium can cause sensitiveness to noise, nervousness, irritability, mental depression, confusion, twitching, trembling, apprehension, insomnia, muscle weakness and cramps in the toes, feet, legs, or fingers.

Potassium
Potassium is a mineral that serves as an electrolyte and is involved in the balance of fluid within the body. It is important in controlling the activity of the heart, muscles, nervous system and just about every cell in the body. It regulates the water balance and acid-base balance in the blood and tissues. Our bodies contain more than twice as much potassium as sodium (typically nine ounces versus four ounces).

The major sources of potassium are bananas and orange juice. Some other sources include breads, cereals and other grain products.

The deficiency of potassium can cause your muscles not to work properly and you will feel weak. The excess of potassium can cause an irregular heart beat.

Selenium
Selenium is an essential mineral that functions largely in the form of proteins, called seleno-proteins, which act as enzymes and help prevent damage to cells in the body by oxidants in the environment or those produced by normal metabolism.

The sources of selenium are seafood, some meats (such as kidney and liver), and some grains and seeds.

The deficiency of selenium causes “Keshan” disease, a fatal form of cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease). While its excess can cause reversible balding and brittle nails, give a garlic odor to the breath, and cause intestinal distress, weakness and slowed mental functioning.

Zinc
Zinc is an essential mineral which is involved in the manufacture of protein and in cell division. It is also a constituent of insulin, and is concerned with the sense of smell.

The sources of zinc are eggs, cereal grains, meat, liver, seafood and nuts.

The deficiency of zinc can cause short stature, anemia, increased pigmentation of skin, enlarged liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly), impaired gonadal function, impaired wound healing, and immune deficiency. The excess of zinc can cause gastrointestinal irritation (upset stomach) and cause copper deficiency.

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Vitamins (combination of two words: Vital Amines) are the complex organic substance essential in small quantities to the metabolism (nutrition) in most animals. These are found in minute quantities in food, in some cases are produced by the body, and are also produced synthetically. The human body needs them to work properly, so that we can grow and develop just like we should. Their deficiency results in many serious disorders.

Vitamins are divided into two major groups: the ‘fat-soluble vitamins’ designated as vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K, and the ‘water-soluble vitamins’ which include vitamin C and the group of molecules referred to as the vitamin B complex. Each of them has its own special role in the development of human body.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin, plays a really big part in eyesight and helps us to see in dim light and also at night. Vitamin A is also involved in the formation and maintenance of healthy skin, hair, and mucous membranes. In addition, it is necessary for proper bone growth, tooth development, reproduction and for the development of epithelial cells (that line any opening to the body e.g.; nose, throat, lungs, mouth, stomach, intestines and urinary tract).

Vitamin A can be found in eggs, milk, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, fish oil, liver (pork, lamb, chicken, turkey or beef), butter, broccoli, apricots, nectarines, cantaloupe, and orange or yellow vegetables or fruits.

The deficiency of vitamin A can cause two major disorders like: night blindness and drying of skin.

Vitamin B

Vitamin B itself is a complex of different vitamins like: B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, folic acid, biotin and pantothenic acid. These B vitamins are very important in metabolic activity and in facilitating the red blood cell (which carry oxygen throughout your body). They also help your body make protein and energy.

The sources of vitamin B are leafy green vegetables seafood, beans, peas, citrus fruits, whole grains (such as wheat and oats), poultry, meats, eggs and dairy products (like milk and yogurt). Some bacteria in our large intestine also prepare some type of B-vitamins.

The deficiency of vitamin B can cause the disease “Beri Beri”, cracked lips, weak muscles, malformation of red blood cells, affects normal growth and disturbs the nervous system.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is a water-soluble, antioxidant vitamin that is vital to the production of collagen, a protein that gives structure to bones, cartilage, muscle, and blood vessels. It is important for keeping body tissues, such as gums and muscles in good shape and it helps in quick healing of wounds. In addition, it helps protecting the fat-soluble vitamins A and E as well as fatty acids from oxidation.

The vitamin C can be found in citrus fruits (like lemon & orange), cantaloupe, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage and in other fresh fruits and vegetables.
The deficiency of vitamin C affects the healthy skin; poor wound healing and can lead to a disease called “Scurvy” which causes bleeding in gums, easy bruising, bumps of coiled hair on the arms and legs, pain in the joints, muscle wasting, and many other problems.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that regulates the formation of bone and the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestine. It helps to control the movement of calcium between bone and blood, and vice versa. It is this vitamin you need for strong bones and teeth. In addition it helps your body absorb the amount of calcium it needs.

Vitamin D can be found in fish liver oil, egg yolks, milk and other dairy products fortified with vitamin D. It is also produced in our body in the presence of ultra violet light and sunlight.

The deficiency of vitamin D can cause weak bones and bowed legs (in children). And its excess can cause loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, headache, depression and deposits of calcium in the kidneys.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E, a fat-soluble vitamin, is essential for the inhibition of oxidation in body tissues, formation of red blood cells, and also prevents breakdown of body tissues. It maintains the body tissues and protects the lungs from becoming damaged by polluted air.

This vitamin can be found in whole grains (such as wheat and oat), wheat germ, leafy green vegetables, sardines, egg yolks, nuts, bread, cereals and seeds.

The deficiency of this vitamin can cause many diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

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Listen as Dr. Mark quickly explains the Ultra Vitality format options.

Caplet Vitamins
Powder Vitamins
Liquid Vitamins

Folic acid is required for energy production in your body and is also considered brain food. Folic acid helps to strengthen your body’s immune system, and can help reduce and support normal mood. Folic acid works best when combined with vitamin C and vitamin B12. A good way to get folic acid in the diet is in a complete multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.

Folic acid is very important during pregnancy. Because it assists in the regulation of the formation of nerve cells in the fetus; studies show that folic acid can help prevent spina bifida and anencephaly, which are neural tube defects. Folic acid may also help prevent premature births. It is best to start taking folic acid before becoming pregnant to realize the maximum benefit and is recommended for all women of child-bearing age.

Recent research showed folic acid can reduce the amount of the amino acid homocysteine in the blood. Some studies have indicated the lowering of homocysteine levels is associated with healthy heart and circulation. High levels of blood homocysteine are present in an estimated 20 million Americans, or more than 1 out of every 3 people.

Other functions include:

• DNA/RNA synthesis

• Normal cell division

• Aids of red blood cell production

• Metabolism of protein

Increasing folic acid levels immediately “would potentially prevent 50,000 deaths from vascular causes per year.” – Dr. Manuel Rene Malinow

“There is strong evidence that increased consumption of folic acid will prevent cardiovascular disease.” – Godfrey P. Oakley, Jr., M.D., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

“I have always stressed the importance of a balanced diet but, pragmatically speaking, people don’t normally achieve a balanced diet. Considering this, adding a daily multivitamin containing folic acid can be an important step in disease prevention.” – Dr. Lance Levy

“It will be prudent to ensure adequate dietary intake of folic acid because the weight of the evidence is substantial.” – Dr. Meier J. Stampfer of the Harvard School of Public Health

This article is from symmetrydirect.com

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Vitamin A was identified as a necessary growth factor in 1915 and was the first vitamin to be discovered. It is obtained from food in a combination of two different forms: as pre-formed vitamin A and as pro-vitamin A, which the body can convert to vitamin A as necessary. Pre-formed vitamin A, often in the form of retinal or retinol, is found in foods of animal origin; pro-vitamin A, of which beta-carotene is the best known form, is found in orange, yellow and dark green vegetables and fruits. Both forms are fat soluble.

What does it do for your body?

Eyes – Vitamin A is essential for eyes to function effectively. It is involved in the growth and repair of the eye and in the production of a chemical called visual purple, which helps in night vision.

Epithelial Cells – Vitamin A is involved in the growth and repair of epithelial cells. These cells cover the internal and external surfaces of the body and are found in the skin, lungs, developing teeth, inner ear, cornea of the eye, sex organs, glands and their ducts, gums, nose, cervix and other areas. This growth and maintenance role is vital for many bodily functions. For example, the good health of the digestive tract lining is important in protecting against ulcers and maintenance of the lining of the vagina and uterus is important in fertility.

Pregnancy – Vitamin A is necessary in pregnancy for the development of the embryo.

Nerves – Vitamin A is involved in the production of membranes and myelin, which coats the nerves.

Glands and Hormones – Vitamin A plays a role in the maintenance of the adrenal gland and synthesis of certain hormones such as thyroid hormone.

The Immune System – Vitamin A is known as “the anti-infective vitamin” as it is vital for the development of the body’s natural defenses. It stimulates and enhances many immune functions. This immune enhancing function promotes healing of tissues and increases resistance to infection.

Adequate vitamin A intake, either from diet or supplements, is very important, especially for children. Many studies have found that vitamin A supplementation reduces the risk of infectious diseases in areas where vitamin A deficiency is widespread. A recent research review of several studies found that adequate vitamin A intake in children resulted in many health benefits. Children in developing countries are often at high risk of vitamin A deficiency. In developed countries, ensuring adequate vitamin A intake is particularly important for immune support.

Growth and Bone Formation – Vitamin A is necessary for growth and the formation of bones and teeth, collagen synthesis, cartilage synthesis and wound healing.

Antiviral Activity – Laboratory experiments have shown vitamin A to have antiviral activity.

Absorption

The presence of fat and bile in the intestines is necessary for vitamin A absorption. Around 80 to 90 % of vitamin A in the diet is absorbed although this is reduced in older people and those who have trouble absorbing fat, such as those who suffer from pancreatitis, celiac disease and cystic fibrosis, who may run the risk of vitamin A deficiency.

Vitamin A is joined to fatty acids in the intestinal lining, combined with other substances and transported to the liver, which stores 90% of the body’s vitamin A.

Deficiency

Vitamin A deficiency is relatively rare in developed countries and is usually limited to those who have absorption difficulties, liver disease or who drink a lot of alcohol. Vitamin A deficiency is common in alcoholics and contributes to some of the disorders of alcoholism, such as night blindness, skin problems, cirrhosis of the liver and susceptibility to infections.

Vitamin A deficiency symptoms:

Eyes – One of the first symptoms of deficiency is night blindness due to lack of visual purple. Prolonged deficiency leads to xerophthalmia, a condition in which eyes become dry, ulcers appear on the cornea, the eyelids become swollen and sticky and which eventually leads to blindness. Vitamin A deficiency is the leading preventable cause of blindness in developing countries.

Skin – Prolonged deficiency leads to thickened dry skin which is prone to infections. Small hardened bumps of a protein known as keratin may develop around the hair follicles.

Growth – Deficiency causes growth retardation, weight loss, diarrhea, thickening of bone shafts, congenital malformations, impaired hearing, taste and smell, wasting of testicles and reduced sperm count. Inadequate vitamin A intake may lead to improper tooth formation in children and to gum disease.

Immune System – Epithelial surfaces are adversely affected by vitamin A deficiency, causing increased susceptibility to skin and respiratory infections. Immune cells and antibody functions are also affected which may lead to an increase in pre-cancerous cells in the epithelial tissues of the mouth, throat and lungs.

Thyroid Gland – A deficiency of vitamin A can contribute to lower levels of active thyroid hormone with symptoms of low body temperature, depression, difficulty in losing weight, headaches and lethargy.

Therapeutic uses

Vitamin A supplements are used in developing countries to prevent or treat deficiency and to protect immune system function.

Skin Disorders – The vitamin A derivatives etretinate and isotretinoin are used topically to treat psoriasis. These compounds inhibit the formation of some of the toxic compounds which may be responsible for the high rate of cell division causing the scaly build up on the skin.

Other Uses

Vitamin A eye drops have been used to treat dry eyes.

Creams containing vitamin A have been used to heal wounds in patients taking corticosteroid drugs.

Interactions

Vitamin E and zinc are necessary for vitamin A metabolism, including absorption, transport and release from the liver. Vitamin E may protect against some of the effects of excess vitamin A.

Vitamin A is necessary for calcium metabolism in the formation of healthy bones and teeth.

Vitamin A absorption is reduced by mineral oil laxatives, which bind it. Antacids, the anti-gout drug colchicine, and the cholesterol reducing drug cholestyramine inhibit vitamin A absorption.

Alcohol irritates the digestive tract and inhibits the absorption of vitamin A while also depleting the body’s tissue stores.

Cautions

Pre-formed vitamin A supplements in doses of more than 3000 mg RE should not be taken by women who may become pregnant. Pro-vitamin A or beta-carotene are safe for pregnant women.

Vitamin A supplements should not be taken with isotretinoin or etretinate for skin disease or in cases of impaired liver or kidney function. If vitamin A supplements are taken with large amounts of alcohol, liver damage may occur.

Broad spectrum antibiotics should not be taken with high doses of vitamin A.

The previous article is from the Symmetry Direct website.

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For thirteen years now I have used Symmetry Direct products. I have found them to be beneficial to my health and know many people who can agree. Over the course of this time I have used both the Ultra Vitality Caplets and Crystals (powder) . I tend to have some of each on hand most all the time.

Personal experience has taught me to take the caplets with food. Many times over the years I’ve taken the caplets on an empty stomach, and have found that for me, once my empty stomach starts to digest them, I feel a little sick for a for a few brief moments. Not everyone may experience this, but since I know I do, I’ve learned not to take them on an empty stomach.

Recently I did some fasting for one to three days a week over the course of about three weeks. Why I was fasting is not the point of this post, but that I did not have to skip taking my vitamins because I was fasting is.

The great option I had available to me was to use the powder format. It mixes in about 8oz of water for a great tasting drink. I was able to get my nutrition each day even though I was not eating, and I did not have any negative side effects, no matter how momentary.

I guess that flexibility along with the quality is one reason why I’ve continued to use them all these years.

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Vitamin D is a fat soluble family of compounds known as vitamins D1, D2 and D3. It is obtained from some foods such as fatty fish, fortified milk, liver and egg yolks, and, unlike other vitamins, it can be created in the skin through the action of sunlight.

The most important role of vitamin D is to regulate the absorption and use of calcium and phosphorus, vital for normal growth and development of bones and teeth. Vitamin D stimulates intestinal absorption and reabsorption in the kidneys as well as maintaining blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. It enables bones and teeth to harden by increasing the deposition of calcium and may also assist in the movement of calcium across body cell membranes.

Vitamin D plays a role in the secretion of insulin by the pancreas thus aiding in the regulation of blood sugar. It also affects the parathyroid gland and a hormone that it produces due to its calcium regulating role.

Potential benefits of vitamin D are that it fights osteoporosis, osteomalacia, breast, prostate and colon cancer, some deafness, diabetes and acne. High amounts may have been found to be anti-cancer.
The production of vitamin D in the body is blocked by anything which blocks ultraviolet light including skin pigment, smog, fog, sunscreen, windows and hats.

In cases of vitamin D deficiency the body increases production of a hormone that removes calcium from the bones. In children, this results in rickets where the bones are so soft that they become curved from supporting the weight of the body. The equivalent in adults is osteomalacia with bone pain and tenderness and muscle weakness.

Other signs of deficiency include hearing loss (due to a softening of the bones in the inner ear), senile osteoporosis (where the bones become lighter and less dense) and severe tooth decay.

People at risk of developing a vitamin D deficiency include people with limited sun exposure such as homebound individuals, people living in northern latitudes, anyone wearing long robes and head coverings for religious reasons, and people with occupations that prevent sun exposure.

Additional categories of people at risk are older adults (50 and over), people with greater amounts of melanin resulting in darker skin, people with fat malabsorption associated with a variety of medical conditions including pancreatic enzyme deficiency, Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, surgical removal of part of the stomach or intestines, and some forms of liver disease, and people who are obese (BMI ?30).

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I travel a lot and much of it is by driving. For anyone who has done a lot of traveling this way you know it can be tiring. It’s amazing how you can basically just sit for hours at a time not doing a whole lot physically, and it can wear you out.

I’ve found it very convenient to throw a few packages of Ultra Vitality in my bag when I go because it’s very easy to open a packet, add it to a bottle of water, shake it up good and go. It’s nice to be able to take my vitamins this way as opposed to trying to locate or bring some juice so I can take my caplet version of Ultra Vitality (Nutrapack).

I don’t always have the time or ability when I travel to get breakfast and I prefer not to take the caplets on an empty stomach, so having a powder format has proven to be an advantage and allows me to still get my necessary supplements. It also ensures that I will have the energy I need to not get drowsy when I drive.

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Charlotte is a friend of mine that had gastric bypass surgery a few years back. She is short, about five feet four inches I think, and she was a very big girl. She had at least 200 pounds to lose if not a little more. The doctors made her lose 80 pounds before they would do the surgery on her. She lost that weight by reducing her carb intake.

It took about a year for her to lose the weight and reach a point where the doctors would start doing the cosmetic surgery of skin removal. During the time she was losing the weight Charlotte basically starved herself of vitamins, nutrients and minerals because she wasn’t eating, and she refused to supplement her diet. She would basically have a protein shake a day and not much else.

The doctors tried to warn her to take better care of herself, but she had a history of self neglect. Beside having put on all her weight, she was on many medications. Some for type two diabetes, others for depression and some other personality related medication because you could always tell when she went off of it, and she went off of her meds a lot.

It was no wonder then when she refused to supplement her diet. Her continued self neglect showed up in various ways once the weight was gone. She now had to undergo surgery for skin removal and each time the doctors told her she was on the border of being non-operable due to her health, yet they would operate anyway. Every time she had some complication either during surgery or afterward.

Her body was very slow to heal because it was deficient in many things. What should have taken her two weeks to recover from would take her five. She had all kinds of complications other than the ones related to her skin removal surgeries. It has been two years now since she lost the weight and began her surgeries.

All the excess skin is gone, but she looks really bad. Her skin is sallow, her hair and nails are brittle, and she still ends up in the hospital, for days at a time. She is only 51, but she looks a lot older.

The irony is, as long as she continues to neglect her health, she will not feel good, nor will she feel good about herself, so why did she lose the weight? She would have a happier outlook on life if she just felt better.

The moral of this story is for people to choose not to be like Charlotte. If you’re going to have or have had any kind of weight reduction surgery, get some powder vitamins, don’t be a Charlotte! Everyone needs to supplement their diet.

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