Vitamins and Minerals - where do they come from?

VITAMINS are natural substances found in living things such as plants. Vitamins must be obtained in the body from foods or supplements as they cannot usually be produced by the body.

MINERALS are found in plants. Plants get their minerals from the soil - soil gets minerals from water washing over rocks. For vitamins to do their job, they require minerals. Minerals must also be obtained from food or supplements.

ANTIOXIDANTS are specific vitamins or minerals that protect body cells from the damaging effects of Free Radicals. Free radicals come from or are caused by smoking, sunlight, stress, exercise, etc., and are one of the primary causes of premature aging, sickness and disease.

SUPPLEMENTS are vitamins and minerals that have been extracted from a plant or created in a laboratory and put into a form that can be ingested and used by the body.
There are effective supplements, ineffective supplements and hazardous supplements. Uneducated consumers are at risk from two sides.

1. Consumer knows they should supplement but doesn't know how to select an effective supplement, therefore wastes their money, time and health.
   
2.  Consumer is uninformed (or given bad advice) on the need to supplement and sacrifices their health.