FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q Why do I need to take a multivitamin?
A Researchers are finding that some important vitamins and minerals are protective against disease in amounts that may be difficult to obtain through diet alone, no matter how conscientious you are. It’s absolutely crucial that your body gets the right nutrients it needs to function effectively and efficiently. The daily stress of pollution, fatty and processed food, and stress, can deplete your body of nutrients and it’s up to you to replace these nutrients. You can do this through healthy nutrition, or even better, through healthy nutrition and quality nutritional supplements.
Q Why are vitamins and minerals important?
A Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that the human body cannot manufacture and therefore they need to be taken in the diet. Vitamins are essential to life and are responsible for numerous biochemical processes in the body. They are required for normal metabolism, growth and general wellbeing. They also assist in energy release from digested food.
Q Why are antioxidants important?
A Antioxidants are essential for health as they help to protect against the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals have been linked with heart disease and other age-related diseases. As we get older, our body’s ability to defend against free radical damage decreases, which can lead to premature aging and its associated conditions.
Although a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables provides a varied source of important antioxidants, many people do not get an adequate intake of fruit and vegetables, so that supplementing with antioxidants can be essential.
Q Why can’t I get these nutrients by eating a healthy diet?
A Eating the ‘right’ foods from a balanced diet is one way to obtain many of the vitamins and minerals you need. However, very few of us consume a truly balanced diet everyday, and most of us do not obtain 100% of the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) for every basic nutrient.
The way food is processed, stored or cooked can reduce its vitamin and mineral content, in addition to the way it may be grown with chemicals and pesticides. Dietary and lifestyle factors including smoking, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, and health conditions such as chronic degenerative diseases can also influence your individual requirement for essential nutrients.
Q Why are B vitamins essential?
A B-Complex vitamins play many roles in the body. Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) is essential for carbohydrate metabolism, healthy nerves, daily moods and heart function. Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) is necessary for red blood cell formation and for assisting with fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism. B3 (Nicotinamide) helps promote healthy skin and mood and may assist with sleep problems. Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) works to promote a healthy Central Nervous System, energy production and fight chronic fatigue, migraines, allergies and heartburn. Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) is essential for many enzyme functions. It plays a major role in forming red blood cells, proteins and neurotransmitters. It supports the role of the adrenal glands involved in stress responses. Biotin is important for nail and hair health. Folic Acid, vitamins B6 & B12 (Cyanocobalamin) help to stabilise homocysteine levels, a heart disease risk indicator
Q How does vitamin K2 protect my heart and bone health?
A Vitamin K2 is essential for utilising calcium in the body and works with vitamin D3 to deposit calcium into the bones. Clinical studies have shown that vitamin K2 is vital in supporting bone health. It increases the production of a special protein, called osteocalcin, which is necessary to use calcium to build healthy bone tissue. Whilst osteocalcin activates osteoblasts, the cells that build bone, vitamin K2 helps to inhibit osteoclasts, the cells that break down bone.
Vitamin K2 is also essential for maintaining heart health, as it helps to protect against calcification (calcium build-up) in arteries and soft tissues.Natural vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7 (Mk-7) is the most bioavailable, longest lasting and most bioactive form of vitamin K
Q Why is vitamin D3 important?
A In adults, vitamin D3 is essential for maintaining healthy immune function, bone health and muscle strength. Vitamin D3 plays an important role in bone building, allowing the body to absorb calcium, and for maintaining the proper balance of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D3 can be formed in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. However, many people do not produce enough vitamin D3 or get enough from food. Vitamin D3 deficiency can be a problem for older people and those who are homebound or bed-ridden.
Vitamin D3 is essential for bone health, because it helps:
- increase the absorption of calcium and phosphorous from the stomach to regulate the amount of calcium in the blood
- strengthen the skeleton
For New Zealanders, the main source of vitamin D3 is from exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D3 is formed by the action of sunlight (UV light) on the skin. A deficiency of vitamin D3 can contribute to osteoporosis because, without it, calcium will not be fully absorbed by your body. Vitamin D3 is found in small quantities in a few foods (e.g. fatty fish – salmon, herring, mackerel – liver, eggs, fortified foods).
Q What are the benefits of Siberian Ginseng?
A Siberian Ginseng has been used for over 2000 years in traditional Chinese medicine. It supports the body’s natural resistance to stress and low immunity. Siberian Ginseng also protects against mental fatigue.