by Dr. Frank O. McGehee, CCN
What do we take a multi-vitamin for? Most people would answer to stay healthier, but do not know what their health/disease ratio is. As we look at each other, it is very obvious that there are no two people alike, so why would each of us take the same multi-vitamin tablet? I’m referring to Centrum and Centrum Silver mostly. We purchase these products because marketing and advertisement works. In reality, the amount of vitamins/minerals in these products is so minimal that the public should consider a slightly more expensive brand.
The absence of disease to a nutritionist does not necessarily mean the presence of wellness. Vitamin deficiency diseases from malnutrition are not very common in the United States, but undernutrition from overconsumption is. We eat too much food that has very little nutrient value. That is why we need a multi-vitamin and mineral tablet.
Are there any differences in accordance with each brand? Of course there are. How do we know which is the correct one for us? We don’t, but we feel better by taking any brand versus doing nothing. Another question we may ask ourselves is do we really think that taking a multi-vitamin and mineral will keep us from getting sick? It may, if it is the proper amount, a good quality, and if it is really necessary.
The purpose of this article is to describe what vitamins and minerals really do. So let’s discuss what they do in your body and why you should take them. Our ability to get up and go is based on enzymatic reactions that regulate our energy level. There are several thousand enzymes in our body that are genetically specific for you and no one else. The vitamins and minerals we derive from food or take as a supplement start the enzymatic reaction process. Without the proper level that our body needs, we may or may not have adequate enzymatic reactions on any given day.
Some days may require more of a vitamin or mineral and will always be a different amount from one person to the next. Yet so many people still rely on marketing and reach for highly advertized brands.
What are example of nutritionally related diseases? These are cardiovascular diseases, cancer, blood sugar irregularities, arthritis and degenerative disorders, just to name a few.
Does this mean you can prevent these diseases if you specify nutrition based on body needs? That depends on our genetic history, which can be a guide as to how serious we really need to look at nutrition and lifestyle changes. In other words, we can improve the our chances of developing or avoiding a chronic illness by making such changes.
Here are a few examples of how the proper level of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements work. Vitamin B1 or thiamine helps control blood glucose along with chromium and vanadium, Our control of cholesterol depends not only on what we eat, but also on an adequate level of copper and vitamin C. Heart disease can develop from too much calcium and not enough magnesium. These minerals have to be in balance for optimal results. Both magnesium and manganese are natural calcium channel blockers when the proper amount is taken based on laboratory analysis. This requires a blood test. Magnesium is critical for the function of 80 percent of all the enzymatic reactions in the body. Magnesium depletion can lower both the serum calcium and serum potassium level. This in turn can cause generalized muscle spasms and nocturnal leg cramps.
Trace elements such as selenium, also regulate our body’s enzymes which are responsible for converting T4 (storage thyroid hormone) to T3 (active circulating thyroid hormone). The level of selenium can affect the action of synthyroid in hypothyroid patients. Trace elements can protect us against toxic minerals. Selenium offers protection against mercury (toxic mineral). Zinc offers protection against both cadmium and lead (both toxic). Trace elements can be important in supporting a pregnancy.
For instance zinc levels need to be normal not to cause immune suppression in the fetus. Trace elements are slowly disappearing from the soil and thus from our food, making it necessary to supplement with a multi-vitamin and minerals. There are many examples in print to validate why we should take a certain level of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. The only problem is knowing what level to take. This can only be calculated by blood work and not by guessing and hoping, based on a doctor’s newsletter you have read.
These three nutritional components can be used as treatment for nutritional diseases along with the standard of care and the use of prescription medication. For more information please call (936) 291-3351.