Vitamins and minerals are very important for health - it is just as important to use them correctly • Everything you need to know

(haipo) - The human body is a complex and wonderful machine, whose proper functioning depends on a wide variety of nutritional components. Among the most important components for the body are the vitamins and minerals, which are essential for maintaining its health and optimal functioning.

But what happens when the body suffers from a lack of those critical substances? Or alternatively, an excess of them? Dr. Yulia Bronstein, family medicine specialist and director of the Carmel French Haifa clinic in Klalit Health Services, answers the questions and explains everything you should know.

What are vitamins and minerals?

Vitamins are organic substances that are not produced in our body, while minerals are inorganic substances. Both come to the body from different foods, and our body needs them for normal metabolism in small amounts. Dr. Bronstein explains that there are several vitamins that are produced in the body with the help of bacteria in the intestines, such as vitamin K and B12. Vitamin D, for example, is found in the body in an inactive form and becomes active with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) sunlight.

What problems can be caused by vitamin deficiency? Does a certain vitamin deficiency affect more than the others?

"There is no order of priorities, a lack of one substance may already cause health problems. Each food has different types and different amounts of vitamins and minerals, so it is important to eat a wide variety of foods, to provide the body with the variety of vitamins and minerals. However, it must be taken into account that sometimes There are various factors that affect their absorption in the body.

For example: milk inhibits the absorption of iron and calcium, on the other hand, vitamin C improves the absorption of iron. According to the medical literature, there is no information about a preference for taking a food supplement at certain times of the day, but it is better not to take them with food, to avoid a problem or impact on absorption."

Problems due to vitamin deficiency

"Vitamin deficiency can cause a variety of health problems," explains Dr. Bronstein and lists several examples:
when present Vitamin B1 deficiency, neurological problems may arise (as happened in the Remedia case).
Vitamin D deficiency May cause growth problems in babies and calcium leakage in the third age.
Vitamin B12 deficiency May cause neurological and memory problems in the elderly.
Folic acid deficiency May cause anemia.

Danger of poisoning

"An excess of certain vitamins can cause poisoning," says Dr. Bronstein and explains: "Since the amount required by the body is minimal, an excess of vitamins, especially the fat-soluble ones (such as vitamins A and D), can cause poisoning, such as vitamin D poisoning or vitamin A".

What are the recommendations vitamins correctly?

"In terms of conventional medicine, there are several recommendations for taking supplements to prevent diseases," says Dr. Bronstein and elaborates:
Folic acid Recommended for every woman of childbearing age, to prevent birth defects.
iron Recommended for babies up to 1.5 years of age (with hemoglobin level control).
Vitamin D Recommended for babies up to two years old (400 units), for adults over 65 between 800-1200 units per day.
In patients with chronic diseases - in accordance with the doctor's recommendations for taking the supplements and in accordance with the tests (for example, maintaining sodium and potassium levels in patients who take diuretics).

It is always recommended to consult professionals

"In healthy people, without complaints, without underlying diseases, who do not receive regular drug treatment and whose diet is varied, there is no need to perform laboratory tests regarding the status of vitamins or minerals," explains Dr. Bronstein. "However, there are situations or periods of life in which increased consumption of minerals and vitamins (pregnancy, breastfeeding, taking certain medications, intense sports) that require laboratory monitoring. It is always recommended to consult with professionals, such as a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or dietician. Supplements should be bought from well-known companies, and there are balanced vitamin formulas adapted to age and different needs.

Maintaining balance helps to maintain the proper functioning of the body

In order to maintain the health of the body, Dr. Bernstein emphasizes several points that are always important to observe:
healthy lifestyle which includes regular physical activity, a varied and balanced diet and a good sleep of at least 7 hours a night.
Awareness of nutritional needs which includes maintaining balance and preventing deficiency or excess of vitamins and minerals can help maintain optimal health and proper functioning of the body.