In an ideal world we would get all the nutrients we need from our food and drink. Unfortunately this is not always possible. There are a number of reasons for this including 1) the poor quality of the soil in which our food is grown, due to over-farming, the use of artificial fertilisers, etc. 2) Crop breeding programmes leading to a loss of certain nutrients e.g. the reduced essential fatty acid content of our modern grains and cereals 3) Lack of suffient physical activity to enable efficient absorption of food (sedentary office jobs and the over-use of motorised transport being mainly to blame). 4) Poor food choices involving processed, pre-packaged foods that have had many of their nutrients destroyed. 5) Increased demand for particular, scarce nutrients at certain times in our lives e.g. after illness or an operation, during pregnancy etc.
For these and other reasons it may be essential under certain circumstances to take supplemental vitamins, minerals, digestive aids etc.
The B-Complex vitamins are essential for healthy nervous system function, skin, and hair, formation of red blood cells and for basic metabolism.
Vitamin C is required for healthy immune fuction and tissue repair, for healthy skin, gums, and blood vessels, and for iron absorption. it is also a poweful anti-oxidant and seems to have an anti-histamine action useful in the treatment of allergies.
Vitamin E is a powerful anti-oxidant protecting skin, membranes and the linings of blood vessels from free-radical damage and promoting scar-free healing. Often incorporated in skin products Vitamin E helps slow the ageing process and reduce the incidence of skin cancer.
