Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Are Discount Vitamins For Everyone?

And the news is --- discount vitamins really are for just about
everyone! Young, old, male, female, healthy or not, vitamins can
enhance almost every person's quality of life. This does not
mean that one single vitamin, or one specific mineral is going
to be the answer for everyone. But it does mean that almost all
of us can benefit from the research and knowledge we have at our
finger tips, to select those discount vitamins that are right
for each of us. Throughout the life cycle, as our bodies grow
and change, our needs for various vitamins and supplements also
change.

We might begin to think about a baby before it is born, and how
that baby's mother can benefit from taking a top-quality
discount multivitamin. Whatever nutritional needs a pregnant
woman has that are not met by what she eats can be met by the
judicious addition of a multivitamin each day. Also, we have
learned that folic acid, which is the B9 vitamin, is
particularly essential during pregnancy. Folic acid assists in
the formation of the brain and spinal cord of a fetus. Pregnant
women who do not have enough folic acid are much more likely to
give birth prematurely or to have babies who have a low birth
weight.

Once a baby arrives, parents can provide discount multivitamins
for their children. Children who begin solid foods at the age of
six months are known to benefit from an easy-to-take liquid form
of multivitamins. Infants who have an adequate supply of
vitamins and essential minerals are less susceptible to
viruses, which cause the common cold, as well as secondary
infections. Overall, these infants are healthier, their bodies
are better able to grow and mature, and they are better
equipped to resist disease.

In the age of fast food restaurants and highly processed foods,
parents can relax when they are assured that a child is still
getting the proper vitamins. Our intentions to feed our
children well, on a daily basis, can sometimes be thwarted,
either by choice or by chance. When we look to discount
vitamins, those of top quality as well as economical, to
supplement our children's diets, we are making a wise decision.


As children go through various growing phases, their
nutritional needs, and well as their food preferences, can
change rapidly. How many of us have seen a child who decides to
eat only one or two favorite foods for what seems like months?
Because children's bodies and immune systems are not as
developed as those of adults, the effects of vitamin
deficiencies are sometimes magnified. For instance, babies who
do not get enough vitamin D can suffer from brittle bones,
delayed teething, or bowed or knocked knees.

Teenagers also need specific vitamins and minerals. The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration stresses the importance of
adequate iron and calcium in the teen years. Inadequate iron in
the diet can result in anemia, and negatively affect a youth's
alertness and energy levels. Bone mass increases in these
formative years requires an adequate supply of calcium. For all
teens, the Mayo Clinic offers of the guideline of at least 1,300
milligrams per day of calcium

As adults, we need to be aware of the role of vitamins in
disease prevention. Vitamin A, for instance, contributes to the
healthiness of our skin and mucous membranes, which serve as
barriers to bacteria and viruses. Vitamin E in conjunction with
vitamin C has been shown to improve cholesterol levels and to
slow progression of heart disease.

Women, as they age and have decreasing hormone levels, are
vulnerable to a thinning of the bones and osteoporosis. Calcium
and additional vitamin D can offset and help avoid these
problems. While men do not run as great a risk of osteoporosis
as women, adequate calcium intake and utilization is important
to both men and women to avoid high blood pressure. Colon
cancer has also been linked to long term insufficiency of
calcium.

The Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center, a non-profit
organization, studied men's use of multivitamins and their use
of vitamins A, C, E and calcium, iron and zinc. Men who took
daily doses of vitamins C or E had over a 20 percent lower risk
of prostate cancer. Men who had taken zinc daily decreased their
risk by 45 percent. The Center notes that while the results of
their testing need to be investigated further, the study does
support the idea that some vitamins and minerals may influence
prostate-cancer risk.

More and more people, from children to older adults, are
interested in maintaining a vegetarian or more-nearly
vegetarian diet. While this can lead to healthy decrease in
consumption of saturated fats, it can also make a person more
susceptible to certain vitamin deficiencies. Most plant derived
foods do not contain vitamins A, B6 and B12. These vitamins,
which are essential to the body, are especially needed in times
of rapid growth and physiological stress. Whatever the age of
the vegetarian, supplementing such a diet with discount
vitamins can lead to better overall health and prove economical
as well.

As we age, the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) increases.
With people living longer, AD now presents a major health
problem. Antioxidants, including vitamins E and C, can help to
reduce the incidence of AD in the elderly. While citrus fruits
and fresh vegetables are the best dietary sources of these
vitamins, it appears they do not contain enough to prevent
Alzheimer's. With discount vitamins, which are even more
affordable than ever for those of us on a limited income, we
can take steps to avoid this tragic and late-life disease.

Staying aware of scientific discoveries and research, to assist
us in making wise health choices, is more important than ever in
a complex and changing world. Maintaining our health and the
health of those we love is one of the most important things any
one of us can do. Throughout the life cycle, beginning in the
womb, and continuing through old age, we can all benefit from
discount vitamins and supplements.


About The Author: By a freelance writer for
http://vitanetonline.com/ who sells quality vitamins and herbs
with a wide selection of Discount Vitamins:
http://vitanetonline.com/ that are in stock and ready to ship.
Please link to this site when using article.

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