Along with minerals and other nutrients, vitamins act as the raw materials needed for growth, development and other vital functions. While a majority of vitamins are derived from the diet, poor growing conditions and other factors can make it difficult to obtain all the vitamins needed for optimal health. Organic vitamin supplements are made from natural sources and can help replace vitamins missing in the diet. Learning how to identify and use organic vitamins allows you to improve your nutrition for better health.
Uses
Vitamins play many different roles in the body. When a vitamin is continuously missing from the diet, a deficiency develops. When severe, vitamin deficiencies can cause a number of serious health problems, including death. Supplemental vitamins help prevent deficiencies by filling in gaps caused by poor diet and other factors. Though vitamins are essential for life, they're not the only substances needed for proper nutrition. According to MayoClinic.com, vitamin supplements lack healthy substances like phytochemicals that are present in whole foods. For this reason, vitamins should be used to supplement the diet, not replace foods.
Labeling
The labeling requirements for organic products can be somewhat tricky to decipher. While dietary supplements are not closely regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, they must meet specific guidelines in order to be considered organic. The USDA National Organic Program states that products must contain 95 percent organic ingredients in order to display the word "organic" on the label. Those made with 70 percent organic ingredients can be marketed as "made with organic ingredients" and must not be produced using sewage sludge or other excluded processing methods.
Health Benefits
The typical Western diet is rife with nutrient-deficient foods like refined flour and sugar. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, the refining process destroys many vitamins and up to 75 percent of the phytochemicals in wheat. Vitamin supplements can help close these nutritional gaps by supplying vitamins lost through processing, cooking and other preparation methods. MayoClinic.com states that pregnant and postmenopausal women and those who eat a limited variety of foods, such as vegetarians or vegans, may benefit most from taking vitamins. Organic vitamins have the advantage of being free of chemicals like pesticides, genetically modified ingredients and other potentially unhealthy ingredients.
Safety Considerations
When it comes to dietary supplements, an organic label doesn't necessarily guarantee safety. Lack of close FDA regulation increases the risk of contamination and other issues that can compromise safety. To reduce these risks, only use vitamins that bear the U.S. Pharmacopeia seal of approval. Stop taking vitamins if you experience worrisome side effects, and contact the manufacturer if you have questions regarding a product's ingredients.
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