Vitamins and minerals are important for everyone, no matter how young or old. Children benefit from vitamins and minerals because they help with growth, they also help ensure pregnant women have a healthy pregnancy and help ensure the elderly have strong, healthy bones. Most Americans get all the nutrients they need from food, but it is possible to develop vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Growth and Function
Your body needs vitamins to grow and function. Certain nutrients, such as B vitamins and iron, help your body produce hormones that regulate body processes and produce red blood cells. Minerals, such as iron, help your blood carry oxygen throughout your body. Other nutrients, such as vitamin D and calcium, help your body grow during adolescence and continue to benefit your body as you age. Vitamin D and calcium are especially important to those who are elderly as it keeps bones strong, which helps prevent bone breaks and fractures as bones begin to wear down and become thin and weak.
Immune Health
Vitamins are especially important when it comes to protecting and boosting your immune system. Certain vitamins, such as vitamins A and E, have antioxidant-like properties that help protect against free radicals. This helps protect against factors that can damage your skin or organs, such as sun damage to your skin or your lungs when you breathe polluted air. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system, which speeds recovery time when you cut your skin or contract a bacterial or viral infection.
Cancer Benefits
Nutrients such as fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, beta carotene and vitamins C and E can help ward off cancer and speed up cancer recovery, according to BreastCancer.org and HelpGuide.org. BreastCancer.org states that these types of nutrients can improve your immune system and fight off illnesses, which is particularly beneficial to those who are suffering or recovering from cancer. When your body does not possess the ability to fight infections and cancers, it makes it easier for any illness or cancer to attack your body.
Birth Defects
Folic acid is especially important when it comes to preventing birth defects that can affect the brain and spine, according to the American Pregnancy Association. The APA recommends that you take plenty of folic acid before and during your pregnancy for optimum protection against birth defects. When you're pregnant, your body develops an increased demand for other nutrients such as iron and vitamin C. Prenatal vitamins contain a blend of multiple vitamins with additional levels of iron, folic acid and calcium to benefit mom and baby.
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