There are just 13 vitamins and 16 minerals known to be required by the body. In contrast, hundreds of herbs are used for therapeutic purposes. Some herbs have proven benefits, but others have yet to be thoroughly examined by scientists. Use vitamins, minerals and especially herbs only under the supervision of a qualified health-care provider.
Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds required in tiny amounts for normal physiological functioning. Because they cannot be manufactured in the body, it is necessary to obtain vitamins through dietary means. A varied diet with plenty of vegetables, fruits, unrefined grains, nuts and healthy oils is best, but vitamin supplements can serve as an insurance policy that provides nutritional coverage for the times when your vitamin intake is inadequate. Megadoses of vitamins are not necessary. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, a standard multivitamin taken with an extra vitamin D supplement contains enough vitamins to provide health benefits.
Minerals
Minerals, like vitamins, are nutrients necessary in minuscule quantities for the body to function. Some, like the calcium in your bones, are fundamental to the body's structure. Unlike vitamins, dietary minerals consist of inorganic elements that originated in the earth. You obtain dietary minerals by eating plants that have absorbed minerals from soil, by drinking mineral-rich water and by eating animals that, in turn, have consumed minerals. Stand-alone mineral supplements are rarely necessary. A good multivitamin supplement with added minerals typically contains the recommended daily amounts.
Herbs
Plants and plant parts have been used for therapeutic purposes for all of human history. Herbs are similar to other kinds of therapeutic agents in that their value lies in their active chemical components. In fact, pharmaceutical companies continue to use herbs as ingredients in powerful medicines such as taxol, a cancer-fighting agent made with the bark of the Pacific yew tree. Herbs in their natural state tend to be milder and their rate of onset slower than those of pharmaceutical drugs. Before adding an herb to your daily regimen, check with your health-care provider.
Regulation of Vitamins, Minerals & Herbs
In contrast to pharmaceutical companies, dietary supplement manufacturers can market vitamins, minerals and herbs without filing evidence of their safety and efficacy with the Food and Drug Administration, FDA. The FDA is responsible for banning dangerous supplements, but that typically happens only after they have already been offered for sale to the public. Take responsibility for your health by actively researching any vitamins, minerals or herbs you are considering, and asking a qualified health-care professional whether they are appropriate for you.
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