Should you take Vitamin & Mineral Supplements?

Vitamins and minerals are vital nutrients for bodily functions and prevention of disease. There is an archaic argument of "I can get everything I need from food." Are you? In a large 26,000 person study it was concluded that not one person received the nutritional requirements set forth by the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance). 96% of the US population dies of a disease - we are NOT getting proper nutrition.

"Insufficient vitamin intake is apparently a cause of chronic diseases... Most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins by diet alone. Pending strong evidence of effectiveness from randomized trials, it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements."

American Medical Association

Vitamin & mineral supplementation is necessary for the following reasons:

1. Crop nutrient losses - Decades of agriculture have overworked and depleted soils of minerals.
2. Poor digestion - Eating too much or too quickly and stress can cause indigestion. Indigestion reduces absorption of vitamins and minerals.
3. Over-cooking - Can easily destroy valuable food nutrients.
4. Microwave cooking - Studies suggest that microwave cooking alters the nutritional structure of food.
5. Food storage - Length of storage and freezing deplete the nutritional value of most foods.
6. Food selection - Eating a too limited range of different food groups will result in nutrient deficiencies.
7. Food omission - Allergies to foods, crash dieting and poorly designed vegetarian diets omit significant dietary sources of nutrients.
8. Environmental factors - Herbicides and pesticides are used on crops, leaving them with low nutritional value.
9. Antibiotics - Antibiotics interfere with the intake of essential nutrients.
10. Poor lifestyle habits - Smoking, alcohol and caffeine can inhibit the absorption of vitamins and minerals or accelerate the loss of nutrients.
11. Stress - Be it physical or emotional, can increase the body's requirement of vitamins and minerals.
12. Out of balance - The level of each vitamin and mineral in the body has an effect on others} so if one is out of balance (missing), all are adversely effected. With antioxidants, one is not nearly as strong as several combined as each greatly enhances the power of the others.
13. Nutrient variance - There are substantial differences between one fruit or vegetable and another. One tomato can have 10 times more nutritional value than another - which tomato did you eat?