Introduction
If you are looking to get healthier, there are things that you can do to help yourself. Most people have heard of the food pyramid, and know that you should have a certain amount of servings everyday to keep you healthy. With people having busy life styles, most people are not taking the time to eat properly and are grabbing more prepared foods. If they are not taking the time to buy prepared foods, they are eating fast food more. One way that you can help your self get healthier is by taking vitamins & herbs. There are many different health benefits from taking vitamins & herbs, but it is best to check with your doctor first. If you are taking other medications, some vitamins can interact with them and they will not work right.
History
Vitamins & herbs have been used for centuries. Native Americans used plants and different berries to help cure the sick. Vitamins and herbal supplements have been around since 3000 BC, and have even been recorded in the Bible. Many of the vitamins & herbs came from foods that people would eat especially vegetables. The first food pyramid showed up in the 40’s and has recently been given a make over.Many people understand that vitamins play a big part in dietary health and that they should be taking a supplement if they do not eat the required amounts.
Features
There are many health benefits from taking different vitamins& herbs. Taking Vitamin C can help to ward off a cold, or if you do get sick it can help you get better faster. Vitamin D, which most people get naturally from the sun can be lacking in the winter time depending on where you live. Vitamin D helps to maintain natural blood levels in our body and to also help strengthen our bones. It can also help protect from high blood pressure and cancer. Vitamin A, which can be found in carrots, can help with eye sight. So yes your mother was right when she said to eat your carrots. Vitamin E can be found in eggs, cereals and green leafy vegetables. You have to be careful taking Vitamin E because it can also cause problems with your blood becoming too thin. Most vitamins can be found in eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, grains and the meat that we eat. Even getting a little bit of fat in your diet is essential.
Tips and comments
Here are some tips to keep in mind :
- Always check with your doctor before you start taking any vitamins & herbs.
- Try not to take more than the daily recommended dose.
- Tell your doctor of all the vitamins and herbs you are taking so he can take blood and check your levels.
- Try to eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Exercise can also help you be healthier and help your body absorb the nutrition that is needed.
- If you are lacking vitamins in your diet, ask your doctor what would be the best ones for you to take. Most people do well with a multi-vitamin.
