The Complete Guide to Vitamins and Minerals

While supplements can plug any gaps in your vitamin profile, researchers have found that getting vitamins & minerals from food over pills can help increase longevity. Deficiencies in vitamins or minerals can have a range of negative impacts on your health.

In instances of food allergies or intolerances, it may not always be easy, or even possible, to get your vitamins or minerals from food. This is where supplements can help. To discover your food sensitivities, you can take an intolerance test. Here we look at vital vitamins and minerals, how they contribute to your health and the best foods to hit your daily requirements.

Health Benefits

Eyesight

Has been shown to help prevent night blindness and age-related degradation.

Supports Immune System

Involved in the production of white blood cells and maintenance of mucous barriers in your eyes, lungs and gut. Vitamin A deficiency can increase your susceptibility to infections.

Acne

Acne is, physically, harmless. However, it can cause low self-esteem leading to mental health issues, including depression. Vitamin A deficiency leads to an overproduction of keratin in hair follicles that makes it harder for dead skin cells to be removed, leading to blockages.

Some of the above foods may not agree with you, find out which with a food intolerance test.

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Health Benefits

There are several B Vitamins, all with different health benefits:

When considering foods that will improve your vitamin B levels, it is essential to find whether certain foods may cause you other problems. A food sensitivity can be identified using an intolerance test.

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Health Benefits

Colds
There is evidence that vitamin C can help reduce the risk of a cold developing into more severe conditions such as pneumonia. It has also been shown to reduce the duration and recovery time by 8% in adults and 14% in children.

Skin Aging
Studies have shown that Vit C can also contribute to the maintenance of a youthful complexion.

Strokes
Research is still conflicting, but some have shown an association with a 42% lower stroke risk for those with a high blood vitamin C levels.

Some of the above foods may not agree with you, find out which with a food intolerance test.

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Health Benefits

Bone Health
Calcium and phosphorus are pivotal in maintaining healthy bones. Vitamin D contributes to the intestine’s ability to absorb calcium which helps maintain bone strength.

Cancer
Evidence is showing that the further north you go, there is in an increase in certain types of cancer. This correlates with decreased vitamin D intake due to the lack of sunlight. One study found a 22% lower risk compared with people with low Vit D levels.

Weight Loss
Placebo based studies have shown that, when combined with calcium supplementation, vitamin D has an appetite suppression effect. For overweight people, it has been shown to improve heart disease risk markers.

Before introducing new foods to your diet to boost your vitamin D levels, you should take an intolerance test to ensure you’re not eating something that may cause other problems.

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Health Benefits

Moisturising – Vitamin E, when applied to the skin, has been shown to have moisturising properties that can help combat dry, flaky skin.

Eczema – One study found that a vitamin E supplement can have significant positive effects on the symptoms of eczema. It has also been shown to enhance the effects of topical moisturisers.

Nail Health – Putting vitamin E on your nails overnight has been shown to prevent peeling, cracked and yellowing nails; associated with yellow nail syndrome. They can also prevent cracked cuticles.

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Health Benefits

Cognitive Function – Particularly in older adults, Vitamin K has been shown to lead to an improvement in memory.

Blood pressure – By preventing the build-up of minerals in the arteries, Vitamin K has been linked with the ability to reduce blood pressure. It is also linked with a reduced risk of stroke as a result.

Bone Health – There is a link between low vitamin K and osteoporosis. Several studies suggest improved bone density for those with a high vitamin K intake.

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Health Benefits

Bones & Teeth – Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth. 99% of calcium in the body is stored in bones and teeth. Failure to consumer enough calcium will lead your body to meet its requirements by drawing from reserves in your bones. Long term, a lack of calcium can lead to osteoporosis.

Muscle Function – Muscle contraction and relaxation is a result of increasing and decreasing levels of calcium inside muscular cells. Contraction occurs as a result of an influx of calcium into the muscle causing a chain reaction that causes the myofilaments to change shape and tighten. Once the muscle is instructed to contract, calcium supply is stopped and and calcium levels reduce leading to muscle contraction. Low calcium levels can lead to cramping and muscle irritability, whereas a high blood calcium level will cause weakness.

Blood Clotting- Calcium is also vital to the blood clotting process. Calcium combines with a substance called fibrinogen in the clotting cascade (the process which leads to blood clotting). This process could not occur without the presence of the appropriate levels of calcium in the blood and could potentially lead you to bleed to death from a small wound.

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Health Benefits

Thyroid Health – Your thyroid gland is responsible for hormone production. To make hormones, your thyroid requires iodine. Without appropriate levels of iodine in your system to draw on, your thyroid will produce less hormones which can have a number of negative outcomes. An underactive thyroid gland can lead to hypothyroidism.

Cognitive Function In Children – Iodine deficiency in utero can cause irreversible mental impairment. The treatment of iodine deficiency in young children can also lead to improved intellectual ability.

Goiter – Goiter is where your thyroid becomes enlarged. This can be due to several reasons but the most common cause is a lack of dietary iodine.

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Health Benefits

Energy – Low iron levels are strongly correlated with fatigue and low energy levels. Iron supplementation may help contribute to an increase in energy levels.

Increase athletic performance – Athletes are more likely to be deficient in iron than the general population. Supplementing or increasing dietary intake of fiber can increase the body’s ability to transport oxygen around the body.

Sleep – Research has found a correlation between increased levels of blood iron and a marked improvement in quality sleep.

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Health Benefits

Calcium absorption – As discussed above, calcium is vital to good health. However, without magnesium, a high intake of calcium can lead to increased risk of arterial calcification, cardiovascular disease or kidney stones.

Diabetes – Magnesium is vital in the process of carbohydrate and glucose metabolization which has an impact on the risk of diabetes. Low magnesium levels have been linked to lower insulin sensitivity.

Heart Health – Optimum magnesium levels have been linked to a lower risk of fatty buildup in the arteries as well and also could help combat high blood pressure.

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Health Benefits

Blood Pressure – Low potassium levels have been linked with high blood pressure. One study found that those with good blood potassium levels had a 49% lower risk of death from heart disease compared with people with a four times lower intake.

Muscle Mass – Potassium rich foods help the body to avoid a state of acidosis. Acidosis can lead to muscle wasting. Maintaining a high potassium intake can help the body to maintain an alkaline state and retain more muscle mass.

Nervous System – Your body’s messaging system is dependent on nerve impulses transmitting between your brain and your body. Nerve impulses are a result of sodium ions replacing potassium ions in the cells. Low potassium can affect your bodies ability to generate a nerve impulse.

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Health Benefits

Immune System – Zinc supplements stimulate immune cells which is vital for immune function. They also reduce oxidative stress, keeping a balance between anti-oxidants and free radicals.

Aging – Zinc could potentially reduce your exposure to the risk of diseases such as pneumonia and age-related macular degeneration. One study founds that older adults supplementing zinc experienced boosted mental performance.

Inflammation – Oxidative stress causes chronic inflammation which can lead to several different diseases including heart disease, mental decline and cancer.

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Health Benefits

Exercise Recovery – A study found that athletes using phosphates experienced lowered lactic acid levels and increased anaerobic endurance capacity.

Energy production – Phosphorus works in conjunction with B Vitamins to convert food into energy the body needs for fueld.

Bones and teeth – Phosphate binds with calcium to form the hard structure of your bones and teeth.

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Health Benefits

Hydration – Sodium helps regulate fluid balance. As the major electrolyte it helps maintain the balance of fluid within the cells of the body.

Blood pressure – If you have low blood pressure, salt can help as it raises blood pressure by increasing the amount of water in the blood.

Sleep – Sodium helps maintain an optimum level of hydration. Overhydration can cause late night bathroom trips which interrupt your sleep.

Maintaining your vitamin levels are vital to leading a healthy lifestyle, as is being aware of the foods that may cause other symptoms of adverse health. You can find foods that may cause you problems with an intolerance test.

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We hope our guide has helped you to get to grips with the essential vitamins and minerals that are part of a healthy and balanced diet.

Remember, when you’re looking to correct nutritional imbalances and improve your diet by adding in new foods, it’s essential to consider food intolerance testing. It could help you avoid exposing yourself to a range of typical intolerance symptoms, including bloating, fatigue, and nausea. With a food intolerance test, you could find out which foods you’re intolerant to within days. Or, if you suspect you’re having a poor reaction but aren’t quite sure why, check out our handy quiz to find out which type of test could benefit you.