1. Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs
By Amanda Tiller
Bachelors Capstone: Kaplan University
3/27/2015
2. Vitamins
• A vitamin is an organic substance ( meaning it contains carbon) that a
body requires to help regulate functions within cells.
• Except for vitamins D and K ,which can be synthesized in other ways
• Thirteen vitamins are needed by the human body
• Vitamins can be categorized as either fat soluble or water soluble
• Most vitamins are sensitive to heat and light
3. Minerals
• Vital to the body
• Minerals are basic elements of Earth crust
• There are more than 60 minerals in the body
• Necessary for activity of enzymes
• Non Organic Matter ( contain no carbon)
4. Should you take supplements ?
• If you eat a healthy diet, your probably don’t need a daily
multivitamin/ mineral supplement. And if you are eating an unhealthy
diet, supplements cannot completely make up for it. For example,
they will not offset the effects of a diet too high in fat or too low in
fiber.
• In certain cases, however ,vitamin and mineral supplements can
enhance a health diet. Even if you can eat the right balance of foods,
you may not obtain the high levels of certain nutrients. Certain groups
of people with special needs may benefit from taking supplements.
5. Vitamin Safety : Avoid Megadoses
• Taking huge doses of most vitamins and minerals are not
recommended.
• Certain A and D are toxic in large doses.
• Best to get vitamins from food consumed
6. Herb : By Definition
• any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food,
medicine, or perfume.
• any seed-bearing plant that does not have a woody stem and dies
down to the ground after flowering.
7. Herbal Medicine : Treatments and Safety
• An herb is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, or therapeutic properties. Herbal medicines are one type of dietary
supplement. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants. People use herbal medicines to
try to maintain or improve their health.
• Herbal medicine has been used to treat or alleviate virtually every possible medical condition. Some of the most popular herbal
remedies and the conditions for which they are used include:
• aloe used topically for minor burns, sunburns, skin irritation or inflammation
• arnica used topically for bruises, sprains, sore muscles and joints
• chamomile tea ingested for upset stomach, heartburn, indigestion and colic
• comfrey, in a topical poultice only, for bedsores, diabetic ulcers, certain spider bites and staph infections contracted on tropical
beaches
• dong quai for women and ginseng for men and women, ingested to improve general health and stamina - in this application, these
are known as tonics. Other tonics include eleuthero and rhodiola.
• echinacea ingested for colds, flu, sore throat
• garlic ingested to possibly reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, treat fungal infections and colds
• ginger ingested for nausea and motion sickness and as an anti-inflammatory
• mullein ingested for chest congestion and dry, bronchial coughs
• passionflower ingested for non-sedating relaxation
• peppermint tea ingested for indigestion, nausea and other digestive problems
• peppermint oil (in enteric-coated capsules) ingested for irritable bowel syndrome and other chronic intestinal ailments
• tea tree oil applied topically for fungal infections such as athlete's foot and fungal infections of the toenails and fingernails
• turmeric ingested to combat inflammation and protect against cancer and Alzheimer's disease
• valerian ingested for sleeping problems.
("Herbal Medicine - Dr. Weil's Wellness Therapies," n.d.)
8. Herbal Medicine : Treatments and Safety
• Many people believe that products labeled "natural" are always safe and good for them. This is
not necessarily true. Herbal medicines do not have to go through the testing that drugs do. Some
herbs, such as comfrey and ephedra, can cause serious harm. Some herbs can interact with
prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
• Be careful about mixing herbs and drugs that have similar actions. For example, it may not be a
good idea to mix anticoagulant drugs with ginkgo, a natural blood thinner; the herb valerian, a
sedative, probably shouldn't be mixed with prescription sleeping pills. Similarly, avoid mixing
herbs and drugs that have opposite actions. Other agents may alter the way a medication is
handled by the body. For example, St. John's wort, a natural remedy for depression, may reduce
the effectiveness of some drugs by causing them to be metabolized too quickly. When in doubt,
check with your pharmacist about herb/drug interactions. In addition, herbs that can thin blood,
such as dong quai, feverfew, supplemental garlic, and ginger could cause problems if taken before
surgery as could herbs such as ginseng and licorice root that affect heart rate and blood pressure.
Sedative herbs like kava and valerian may increase the effects of anesthesia. It is best to stop
taking any of these herbs at least 10-14 days before surgery, and be sure to tell your physician
that you've been taking them. ("Herbal Medicine - Dr. Weil's Wellness Therapies," n.d.)
9. Herbal Medicine : Treatments and Safety
• Pregnancy : It is best to avoid taking any herbs during pregnancy,
especially the first trimester, unless you're under the care of a
knowledgeable practitioner. Exceptions: it's considered safe to take
up to 1,000 mg of ginger in capsule or candied forms for morning
sickness; short-term use of Echinacea also seems safe for pregnant
women who develop colds or flu.
• Nursing: Apart from herbs that can stimulate breast-milk production
(fenugreek, blessed thistle, and alfalfa), women who are
breastfeeding should avoid most medicinal herbs for the first four to
six months of a baby's life.
• Children: Herbal remedies that are safe for adults may not be safe for
children. ("Herbal Medicine - Dr. Weil's Wellness Therapies," n.d.)
10. Conclusion
• In conclusion : Vitamins and minerals are needed for optimum health.
Its best to get both from food sources and not depend on
supplements. Herbs can be used to treat different health issues, they
can be safe to use when research is done on the herb. Its important
to be knowledgeable with the safety of herbs and what can and
cannot be mixed. Balance important for good health.
11. References
• Herbal Medicine - Dr. Weil's Wellness Therapies. (n.d.). Retrieved
from http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00469/Herbal-Botanical-
Medicine-Dr-Weils-Wellness-Therapies.html
• Herbal Medicine: MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/herbalmedicine.html
• Vitamins: MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamins.html
Editor's Notes
A vitamin is an organic substance ( meaning it contains carbon) that your body requires to help regulate functions within cells. For the most part we get vitamins from the food we eat ,except for vitamins D and K which can be synthesized in other ways. Only very small amounts are needed to carry out their functions but these small amounts are essential . Vitamins affect all functions of the human body. Thirteen vitamins are needed in the human body A,C,D,E,K and eight B vitamins to include thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid ,B6 ,B12, folate, biotin .In addition to A vitamin that comes from animal sources. Vitamins are categorized as either fat soluble ( A,D,E and K) or water soluble ( B vitamins and Vitamin C) The distinction is important because the body stores fat soluble vitamins for long periods of time ,water soluble remain in the body for a short period of time and need to be replenished frequently. Most vitamins are sensitive in varying degrees and heat in light ,and there is always some loss of vitamin when food being stored ,handled, and cooked. These losses can be accelerated when food isn’t stored away from light or refrigerated properly. Fat soluble vitamins are more stable during cooking than water soluble.
The minerals that act as nutrients are absolutely essential to a host of vital processes in the body, from bone formation to the functioning of the heart and digestive system . Many are necessary for the activity of enzymes ( proteins that serve as catalysts in the body's chemical reaction). Minerals are basic elements of the earths crust ( In contrast to vitamins they are a non organic matter they contain no carbon ) Carried into the soil ,groundwater, and sea eeosin ,they are taken up by plants and consumed by animals and humans. Heating food doesn’t destroy minerals even if you happen to burn your food, it will retain all its original minerals. However, when food its boiled, some minerals may dissolve into the water and discarded. Minerals can also be processed out of foods ,as when grains are refined to make flour. There are more than 60 minerals in the body( making up about 4 percent of its weight) but only 22 are considered essential. Of these seven calcium, chlorine, magnesium ,phosphorus, potassium ,sodium, and sulfur are called macrominerals because they are present in the body in relatively large quantities. The other essential minerals are termed trace or even ultratrace nutrients because they are present in such minute quanties.
Taking huge doses of most vitamins and minerals are not recommended. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin. The various forms of vitamin A are called retinoids because of their importance to the health of the retina of the eye. Unless you eat a lot of liver or fish oil or take extra supplements it is practically impossible to get too much vitamin A. But large amounts of supplements can be toxic. Vitamin D is unique among vitamins. Although its classified as a nutrient that is ,it comes from food, it is actually a hormone ,and like other hormones it is manufactured in the body. Even small overdoses of vitamin D can be toxic ,leading to kidney stones ,kidney failure, muscle and bone weakness. Its nearly impossible to get too much from food alone and absolute impossible to get too much from sunlight. Danger starts at 2,000 IU a day to be safe don’t consume more than 1,000 IU of vitamin D.
