Nutritional labels for vitamins list 100% recommended daily value – how was it calculated – do you need more or less to prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies or to promote optimum health?
Your body constantly needs vitamins, minerals, amino acids, & other nutrients from the diet to satisfy metabolic needs. If you don’t consume enough micronutrients, you develop deficiencies that contribute to health problems & disease. Supplementing vitamins and minerals helps nourish the body and prevent deficiency.
Folate, sometimes called Vitamin B9, is a water-soluble vitamin required for DNA synthesis, cell division, and growth. The synthetic form, folic acid, is frequently used in supplements and fortified food products but there is debate it it is better to use the natural methylated form (5-MTHF / methyl folate) instead.
Drug-induced nutrient depletion occurs when prescription medications deplete, block absorption, increase excretion, or increase utilization of nutrients resulting in nutrient deficiency. Most medications have potential to deplete nutrients contributing to side effects, poor tolerability, & sometimes discontinuation.
Daily recommended intake of Vitamin D is based on miscalculations in the original research, contributing to an increase in deficiency and related health issues. Corrections to the calculations indicate the RDA of Vitamin D should be increased to avoid health consequences of inadequate daily intake and deficiency.
Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can often present themselves with symptoms we ignore or assume are just normal parts of life. But things like fatigue, frequent illness, skin problems, changes in hair & fingernails, vision problems, tingling sensations, and dental issues can all be signs of serious dietary deficiency.
Ideally, following a healthy and well-balanced diet should provide your body with all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs for optimum health. However, even with our best efforts there are some key nutrients that most people simply are not getting enough of without incorporating nutritional supplements.