HEALTHY LIVING Vitamins Are Vital
Our food supply has become deficient as modern farming strips critical nutrients from soil. :: BY DAVID ALLIOT
I
t’s an urgent statistic: one out of every three people is at risk of vitamin defi ciency, according to the journal
Nutrients. Even if you think you have the
perfect diet, odds are you’re missing something. That’s because eating a healthy diet
doesn’t mean what it once did. But it’s not your diet’s fault. As societies grow, so does the need for extensive use of chemicals for growing crops.
DIRT POOR A landmark study by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry (published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition) shows why. They analyzed Department of Agriculture nutritional data from 1950 and 1999 for 43 diff erent vegetables and fruits. They found substantial declines in the amount of vitamin C, iron, ribofl avin (vitamin B2), protein, calcium, and phosphorus. The culprit? Soil today is dirt poor.
Modern intensive agricultural methods have stripped away critical nutrients from the soil as demand has increased. Dr. David
Brownstein agrees: “Unfortunately, our food supply has become defi cient in
many vitamins and minerals.”
Brownstein is one of the leading
holistic medicine practitioners in the country and author of the Dr. David Brownstein’s Natural Way to Health newsletter. But, he tells Newsmax, “defi ciencies can be rectifi ed with supplementation.”
IMPORTANCE OF VITAMINS Vitamins and minerals are essential for all body functions. They’re important for all cell reproduction and growth. Ignoring defi ciencies over time can
lead to symptoms that can hold you back from living your life to the fullest and feeling your best: Fatigue, low motivation Impaired brain function Muscle cramps Frequent illness
Consider a high-quality multivitamin as an insurance policy. Choose wisely — the most common defi ciencies are with vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and iodine. You’ll want to be sure it contains all of these.
KEY INGREDIENTS Vitamin D: This important vitamin helps boost immunity, and it prevents bone and hair loss. Defi ciency is common, aff ecting about 42% of the U.S. population, according to the National Institutes of Health. Choose vitamin D3 — or cholecalciferol. This is the natural form that your body makes from sunlight.
Vitamin B12: This vitamin is essential to promote healthy nerves and blood cells. It helps support energy levels, too. “B12 is one of the most important
nutrients for a fatigued individual,” says Brownstein, adding, “B12 defi ciency is common.” For superior absorption, choose a multivitamin that contains B12 as methylcobalamin. Vitamin A: This is another critical
component for the health of your immune system. Those who are defi cient in vitamin A are more susceptible to infectious diseases, including viruses. In the eyes, defi ciency leads to
poor night vision. Iodine: This element is essential for
proper thyroid function. Your body cannot produce iodine, so you must get it from your diet. Iodine defi ciency is one of the most common and preventable world health problems and leads to goiter and thyroid disorders. “Iodine defi ciency is occurring
at epidemic rates,” says Brownstein. “The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey showed that iodine levels have fallen nearly 60% over the last 40 years.”
NOT ALL CREATED EQUAL Not all multivitamins are created equal. Stand-out superstars include potassium, folate, niacin, selenium, and zinc. Look for vitamins C and E and copper for added antioxidant power.
“Antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, help to lower infl ammation,” Brownstein says.
Optimal energy, mental clarity, improved mood, better sleep, and strengthened immunity — that’s a vitamin insurance policy you can count on.
94 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | FEBRUARY 2024
SIBERIAN ART/SHUTTERSTOCK
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