Each person’s vitamin and mineral requirement is entirely dependent upon their own circumstances. We each have outside influences – such as poor diet, alcoholic drinks, smoking and lack of exercise – that have a direct influence on what vitamins and minerals we need to maintain our health.
Surveys have shown that a large proportion of usfail to reach our RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for vitamins and minerals through our diet even without these additional influences.
Unfortunately, some groups are at an even greater risk of an inadequate supply of vitamins and minerals. Vegetarians generally have a diets containing more nutrients than non-vegetarians. however, some vitamins and minerals are more easily absorbed by your body – and are in greater quantities – in animal derived foods.
Vegans, in particular, are at risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies – especially B vitamins, calcium, vitamin D, iron and zinc. Many vegans take a good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement to ensure an adequate supply of these nutrients.
All vegetarians and vegans (particularly women) are at a greater risk of anaemia through low iron intake.
People suffering from stress require additional supplies of the B vitamins due to an increase of metabolism in all the cells – particularly those of the nervous and immune systems. because stress is normally associated with poor eating habits, additional anti-oxidants such as vitamins C and E and minerals associated with the anti-oxidant system (such as zinc, manganese and selenium) will help to fight off infections.
People who smoke and those who drink a lot of alcohol have been shown to have a lower than normal intake of fruit and vegetables. Smokers have a higher level of free radicals that can damage cells throughout the body, and high alcohol consumption depletes vitamin C and the B vitamins at an alarming rate.
Smokers should take additional vitamin C and drinkers need to take vitamin C and a B complex.
These are just a few of the groups of people who require additional vitamins and minerals. Other groups include older people, people suffering from digestive disorders, slimmers, people who have intense exercise regimes and children who are fussy eaters.
If you are in any of these groups, you will have requirements specific to your particular situation and, as in most cases, information is the key to deciding if you should be taking additional vitamin and mineral supplements.
