Vitamin Supplements: The Big Fat Lie?
Well, here’s the ‘skinny’ on Vitamins:
Folks, if you are one of those skeptics who say vitamins are over-rated…🤨
Ok…I feel ‘ya!
Or, how ‘bout the educated “nay sayers?” They say vitamins are just a “get-rich-quick” scheme!🤑
Maybe yes, Maybe no…
And then, there are those asking, “who came up with this vitamin idea anyway?”
So, let’s take a look at what we can learn from history:
Christine Eijkman — as early as 1884 — cured polyneuritis or beriberi in fowl by varying their rice diet.
She believed this change neutralized a germ present in one variety of rice.
Conversely, Casmir Funk — in 1911 — said the germ isolated was not a “germ” but a pyrimidine compound that cured the beriberi in pigeons.
Casmir believed the compound was vital to life — and also considered it to be an amino acid.
He coined the name “vitamine.”
Today, we have the vitamin!🤓
Bottom line, folks, we’re talking about nutrition…
Since the 1880s, scientists, home economists, cookery writers — and, even the faddists — were the people Americans relied upon for dietary wisdom.
These people taught about nutrition and the importance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats the body needs for proper health.
In 1911 and 1921, vitamin researchers determined vitamins were necessary for good vision, stamina, and to sustain life.
However, vitamins were not standardized. And, little was known about how much to take.
This left a lot of room for misnomers and hype!
As early as the 1930’s, food companies and one particular pro-health doctor believed that, “every pound lost was health gained.”
So, the real deal is this:
Vitamins are essential to our existence. NO LIE. They were discovered in our food source.
Scientists have discovered there are 13 vitamins the body needs for normal growth.
The known vitamins are A,B ( B vitamins thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxal (B6), cobalamin (B12, biotin, and folate/folic acid ) C, D, E and K.
This begs the real questions: How do we know what vitamins benefit the body? How much do we take? What food source(s) harbor the Vitamins we need to sustain our health or life itself.
Check this out…
5 Incredibly Valuable Dietary Needs For Vitamin A
Vitamin A ( Retinol )
Vitamin A refers to performed retinol and the provitamin carotenoids that are converted to retinol.
The main dietary form of vitamin A is retinol. Retinol functions in the retina of the eye.
As early as 2500 BC, Egyptians suffered with night blindness. At the time, Egyptians did not know that vitamin A or a diet deficient in this nutrient would lead to a decline in the visual pigment rhodopsin which is necessary for proper retina function.
The Egyptians, in an attempt to cure night blindness, squeezed liver juice onto the surface of the eye.
However, the vitamin A from the liver extract was not sufficient to reach the retina of the eye from the eye’s surface.
Scientists now believe if the process was repeated enough, it may have been effective.
Vitamin A deficiency provides insufficient support for normal metabolism in:
- visual health
- growth and development
- maintaining cellular integrity
- immune function
- reproduction
Our Visual Health. As apart of the human metabolic processes, Vitamin A is needed in small amounts for vision and to protect that vision from harmful light.
The main dietary form of Vitamin A is retinol. A valuable nutrient that is carried to ocular tissues and the retina by various cellular activity and proteins.
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found in animal-sourced high-fat foods known as retinoids. Certain carotenoids known as antioxidants are plant-based and known as provitamin A. Vitamin A refers to performed retinol and the carotenoids that are converted to retinol.
A small study found that children with retinitis pigmentosa who were treated with Vitamin A supplementation experienced a slowing of the disease.
Authors writing about a 1993 trial recorded in the Archives of Ophthalmology also showed how Vitamin A supplementation slowed the degenerative process in adults with retinitis pigmentosa.
In cultures where night-blindness is prevalent, vitamin A-related night-blindness rapidly responded to vitamin A supplementation.
Growth and development. 💪🏾
Current understanding is that retinoid-activated genes regulate the synthesis of a sizable quantity of proteins necessary for normal growth.
Children under the age of 3 have a high requirement of vitamin A for rapid growth and transition from breastfeeding to other dietary sources of the vitamin.
Too, adequate amounts of vitamin A reduces the risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in children in this age group.
Pregnant and lactating women require additional Vitamin A to support maternal and fetal tissue growth and lactation losses.
According to the World Health Organization, defining vitamin A deficiency is not an easy task.
They contend that where tissue concentrations of vitamin A are low enough to cause adverse health consequences — such as increased morbidity and mortality — then slowed growth and development are significant in determining vitamin A deficiency.
In undernourished populations, Clinicians noted improved lung function in offspring of mothers given recommended doses of Vitamin A before, during, and after pregnancy.
Maintenance of cellular functions . The growth of epithelial cells are greatly affected by Vitamin A deficiency. Cells responsible for protecting tissue surfaces fail to regenerate due to a deficiency in Vitamin A.
Vitamin A functions in all body tissues and maintain the growth and soundness of cells.
Researchers maintain that the growth, health, and differentiation of epithelial cells in the body depend on Vitamin A. Also cells that protect tissue surfaces fail to regenerate due to a deficiency of vitamin A.
This loss of cellular integrity as well as a decline in protective mucous secretions causes the body to become vulnerable to invasive pathogenic organisms.
Immune function. There are volumes of research suggesting that a diet rich in vitamins protects against the development of disease.
The 2004, the joint WHO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) group report noted in young children who were both sub clinically and clinically deficient in vitamin A increased the severity of some infections like diarrhea and measles and death.
The same report suggest a lack of vitamin A affect the metabolism of iron — when they coexist as deficiencies — in communities that have high infection rates.
Vitamin A deficiency is usually associated with anemia and reduced growth due to impaired mobilization and transport of iron.
VAD is seen in children with measles in developing countries.
Researchers, over the past 35 years — observing vitamin A activity in human tissues — observed how VAD caused weak resistance to infection that increased the severity of infectious diseases and risk of death.
Reproduction
In developing countries, the WHO and Consulting Group Experts note that low blood levels of retinol are determining factors for Vitamin A deficiency.
Women of reproductive age are thought to be vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy and lactation because they often report night blindness.
Pregnant and lactating women require additional vitamin A to support maternal and fetal tissue growth and lactation losses. Breast milk is thought be low in vitamin A.
During pregnancy, women require vitamin A supplementation. This is necessary to sustain fetal growth and limited reserve in the fetal liver.
Women who are pregnant or who might become pregnant should consult their doctor about their recommended daily intake of vitamin A.
Pregnant women who took large quantities of Vitamin A during early pregnancy ( 25,000 IU or greater ) had children born with defects such as craniofacial, central nervous system, cardiac, urinary, vertebral and other skeletal malformations.
Worldwide, in at-risk populations, VAD has seen a decline due to vitamin A supplementation in conjunction with measles immunizations.
SOURCES OF VITAMIN A
Natural sources of the carotenoids ( more than 600 naturally occurring pigments ) are found in yellow, orange, and red plant foods such as carrots
and green leafy vegetables.
These carotenoids are not synthesized by humans. Yellow vegetables: squash, carrots, and pumpkin are also provitamin A carotenoids.
Vitamin A depend exclusively on dietary intake.
Betacarotene and lycopene are major dietary carotenoids and are found in tomatoes and processed tomato products. All carotenoids are antioxidants and have provitamin A activity.
Mangoes, apricots, and papayas ( non-citrus ) fruits are sources of provitamin A carotenoids.
Provitamin A carotenoids are found in green leafy vegetables.
- Collard
- Kale
- Swiss Chard
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Beet Greens
Performed vitamin A is found only in animal products such as organ meats (liver) fish, egg yolk, fish liver oils, fortified milk and other dairy products.
RECOMMENDED DAILY INTAKE:
Category __________________Recommended Micro grams
Children and Adolescents____ 300–600 mcg
Women____________________700 mcg
Men_______________________900 mcg
Pregnant Women____________5,000 IU from diet/ 3,300 from supplements
- Chart comprises daily value for US and Canada.
- Pregnant women should consult their Primary Care Physician for individual prescriptions.
- Large consumptions of vitamin A from liver products can result in toxic symptoms such as liver damage, joint pain, and other adnormalities.
TO SUM THINGS UP A BIT
The ability to isolate an organic compound was done as early as 1928 with ascorbic acid or vitamin C.
Biochemist creating a compound in the laboratory to mimic our natural food is how we got nutritional supplements!
AMAZING!!
Scientists, biochemists, and doctors’ use of supplements — where the food source was limited — was to aid in preventing disease.
Older adults intake of food and beverages decline as a function of aging.
They tend to consume less energy-dense sweets and fast foods.
They eat more energy-dilute grains, fruits, and vegetables.
This low energy intake or low nutrient density of the diet may increase the risk of diet-related illnesses due to inadequate vitamin intake.
Epidemiologists intimate that most people believe that they can ward off many diseases and disability by knowing what foods to eat — what supplements to take — and include daily physical activity.
Millions of people — including yours truly — eat low-fat, high fiber diets.
They take antioxidant supplements, (most) drink alcohol in moderation.
Again, most “work at “ staying slim by participating in some kind of exercise.
Vitamin supplements fills the gap when the daily diet fails to get the proper nutrition.
The Center for Responsible Nutrition advocate that vitamin supplements should not be seen as meal replacements.
I can personally attest to the change in my health status a s a direct result of eating a healthier diet and taking vitamin supplements. 😎
Disclaimer:
Nothing in this article is meant to cure or treat any disease or condition. These statements have not been approved by the FDA. Please consult your Primary Care Physician for medical advice.
