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Vitamin C, a water soluble vitamin also known as ascorbic acid, is one of the safest and most effective vitamins whose benefits are many.  It is absolutely vital in collagen production – collagen is a simple protein and an essential part of our connective tissue – the very framework of our body.  All of the components that hold our bodies together such as skin, bones, blood vessels, teeth and gums, tendons and cartilage rely upon collagen.  Vitamin C is directly responsible for influencing collagen synthesis and helps to shield us from the symptoms of collagen deletion – most famously scurvy! 

A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C can protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals which are harmful by-products of digestion or foreign substances in the atmosphere.  Inside the body it changes form to a negatively charged compound called ascorbate which helps to protect nerve cells and improves psychological function.  It has been known as the antioxidant’s antioxidant because it functions to protect vitamin E from oxidation too, another vitamin that interacts with free radicals to prevent cell damage.  Vitamin C strongly enhances the absorption of iron - when they are consumed and digested together, vitamin C combines with the iron to form a compound that is more easily absorbed.  Crucial to the overall health of the body in its efforts to fight off infections – both bacterial and viral – white blood cells contain 20 times the amount of vitamin C than other cells and require constant replenishment to keep the immune system working to its optimum capacity, especially during and after intense physical exercise.    Whilst highly concentrated in citrus fruits, other rich sources of vitamin C are acerola cherries, leafy green vegetables, red peppers and potatoes.

Vitamin C contributes to:

·         normal collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels

·         normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones

·         normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage

·         normal collagen formation for the normal function of gums

·         normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin

·         normal collagen formation for the normal function of teeth

·         normal energy-yielding metabolism

·         normal functioning of the nervous system

·         normal psychological function

·         the normal function of the immune system

·         maintain the normal function of the immune system during and after intense physical exercise

·         the protection of cells from oxidative stress

·         the reduction of tiredness and fatigue

·         the regeneration of the reduced form of vitamin E

·         Vitamin C increases iron absorption

Potassium, the third most abundant mineral in the human body, is an essential mineral whose ions are vital for the functioning of all living cells!  Potassium plays a role at both the cellular and electrical level – considered and electrolyte because it carries a tiny electrical charge – it is found in red blood cells, muscles and bones.  Our bodies use potassium ions to conduct electrical impulses along muscle and nerve cells, it helps to boost the efficiency of nerve reflexes that transmit messages from one body part to another, this in turn helps in muscle contraction to perform various activities without tiring quickly. 

Potassium also has vasodilating properties that work to relieve the tension of blood vessels which is one of the main causes of high blood pressure.  It is helpful in reversing the role of sodium in unbalancing normal blood pressure thus acting as a vital component that maintains the normality of blood pressure in the human body.  The importance of potassium should not be underestimated in your dietary plan, most famously found in bananas other rich sources of potassium include spinach, avocados and coconut water.

Potassium contributes to:

·         normal functioning of the nervous system

·         normal muscle function

·         the maintenance of normal blood pressure

Vitamin E is an umbrella term for a group of eight fat soluble compounds (tocopherols) that are found in a wide variety of wholefoods.  These compounds, of which alpha-tocopherol is the most biologically active, have a number of functions in the body. 

Vitamin E is an important antioxidant whose primary role in the body is to scavenge free radicals – these are rogue atoms or atomic groups that have lost at least one electron, forcing them to steal electrons from neighbouring molecules in the hope of stabilizing themselves.  Whilst unsurprisingly this can cause havoc in the body, vitamin E has the ability to neutralize these free radicals thus protecting the cells from oxidative stress.  Vitamin E deficiency is rare due to its ability, whilst working in concert with a number of other compounds (including vitamin C), to restore reduced levels of vitamin E in the body.  The richest source of vitamin E is wheat germ, other foods that contain significant amounts include eggs, nuts, sunflower seeds, cold-pressed vegetable oils and avocados.

Vitamin E contributes to:

·         the protection of cells from oxidative stress

·         the regeneration of the reduced form of Vitamin E

Also known as thiamin, vitamin B1 is one of the eight water soluble vitamins in the vitamin B family.  It is a vital human nutrient playing an important role in how we convert our food into energy – when we consume our food it is broken down into simpler units such as carbohydrates, fats and amino acids, vitamin B1 plays a crucial role in utilising these units to produce energy.  This is especially true for cells in the brain where the energy demand is really high which is why it is also referred to as a “morale vitamin” for its positive effect on the nervous system and a healthy mental attitude! 

Promoting the health of the nervous system, vitamin B1 helps in the proper development of the myelin sheaths around nerves, improving the body’s ability to withstand stress, it is often called the “anti-stress” vitamin and is also reported to improve the memory and powers of concentration.  Thiamin is essential to the body’s cardiac heath, involved in blood formation and helping in the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine which is used to relay messages between the nerves and muscles to ensure proper cardiac function.  Brewer’s yeast and liver are the richest sources of vitamin B1, however, spirulina, linseeds, rye, wheat germ and kidney beans are also important sources of this vitamin.

Vitamin B1 contributes to:

·         normal energy-yielding metabolism

·         the normal functioning of the nervous system

·         normal psychological function

·         the normal function of the heart

Forming 2% of total body weight in adults, calcium’s best known role is in bone and tooth health.  It forms a part of hydroxyapatite, the mineral complex that makes your bones and teeth hard and maintains bone density.  It is especially important that children consume an adequate amount of calcium to maximise their bone mass prior to adult years.  Also an important part of the blood clotting process, calcium works together with vitamin K and a protein called fibrinogen in the clotting cascade, without adequate levels of calcium and vitamin K the blood will take longer to clot.  Calcium helps your muscles contract in response to nerve stimulation, it activates a protein called calmodulin that your muscle cells need to provide the fuel they need to function.  Assisting in the transmission of neural impulses, the calcium in your body also aids other types of cell communication – it acts as a “second messenger” in your cells which means it responds to chemical signals from outside your cells and then triggers a response inside your cell. 

Calcium helps to activate several digestive enzymes and there is considerable evidence that calcium and vitamin D intake are influential in modulating energy metabolism in humans.  Like all minerals, calcium doesn’t work alone but in tandem with other nutrients such as magnesium and vitamin D, for this reason, obtaining our calcium from whole foods – foods whose nutrient profiles have been optimised by nature for superior absorption – is the best way to remain healthy!  Excellent natural calcium sources include; chia seeds, sesame seeds, seaweed (such as kelp and Kombu), dark leafy greens and dairy products (such as yoghurt, cheese and kefir).

Calcium contributes to:

·         normal blood clotting

·         normal energy-yielding metabolism

·         normal muscle function

·         normal neurotransmission

·         the normal function of digestive enzymes

·         Calcium has a role in the process of cell division and specialisation

·         Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones

·         Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal teeth

·         Calcium is needed for normal growth and development of bone in children

The importance of magnesium ions for all life itself, as well as for overall vibrant health, is hard to overstate.  Frequently referred to as the “miracle mineral”, magnesium is required to give the “spark of life” to metabolic functions involving the creation of energy and its transport, the creation and synthesis of proteins and is involved in literally hundreds of enzymatic reactions - it activates the enzymes that make copies of DNA and RNA making it essential in the process of cell division. 

Roughly half of your body’s magnesium is stored in your bones and acts as a cofactor with calcium and vitamin D to maintain and strengthen the bone structure and teeth (your teeth can only form hard enamel from calcium if magnesium is available).  It also works, again in concert with calcium, to regulate electrical impulses in the cells.  Cellular calcium channels allow the mineral to enter the cell only as long as needed to conduct an impulse, it is ushered out immediately by magnesium once its task is fulfilled, operating as a natural calcium channel blocker and responsible for relaxation, magnesium is pivotally important to the functioning of the parasympathetic nervous system.  Both magnesium and calcium are intimately involved with muscle function (magnesium relaxes, calcium contracts) with frequent muscle cramps being a symptom of a deficiency in magnesium.  If magnesium is severely deficient, the brain is particularly affected as magnesium is crucial to the production of neurotransmitters and the integrity of the blood brain barrier and therefore is needed to maintain normal psychological function.  The best food sources of magnesium include; avocados, chia and hemp seeds, sesame seeds, raw cacao and raw chocolate, sprouted nuts/seeds, sea vegetables (such as kelp and nori), raw green vegetables and grass fed dairy products.

Magnesium contributes to:

·         a reduction of tiredness and fatigue

·         electrolyte balance

·         normal energy yielding metabolism

·         normal functioning of the nervous system

·         normal muscle function

·         normal protein synthesis

·         normal psychological function

·         the maintenance of normal bones

·         the maintenance of normal teeth

·         Magnesium has a role in the process of cell division

Iron is needed for a number of highly complex processes that continuously take place in the body on a molecular level and that are indispensable to human life.  Formation of haemoglobin is the chief function of this mineral – this is the primary protein found in red blood cells and represents about two thirds of the body’s iron.  Haemoglobin binds to the oxygen molecules that you breathe in from the air and releases them into your tissues.  The brain receives around 20% of the blood oxygen and a proper flow of blood to the brain can stimulate cognitive activity and help to create new neural pathways, it is especially important that children consume enough iron in their diet – iron deficiency in the first two years of a child’s life is associated with delayed cognitive and psychomotor development.  

Ribonucleic reductase is an iron dependant enzyme that is required for DNA synthesis (cell division), thus iron is required for a number of functions including healing and immune function - red blood cells are necessary for providing oxygen to damaged tissues, organs and cells.  Iron is also involved in food metabolism and is a cofactor and activator for some enzymes which play key roles in energy production and metabolism.  If iron stores are low symptoms can include tiredness, fatigue and dizziness.  Dietary iron has two forms, heme (animal based) and non-heme (plant based), important sources are; grass fed beef, oysters, spinach, lentils and beans.

Iron contributes to:

·         normal cognitive function

·         normal energy-yielding metabolism

·         normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin

·         normal oxygen transport in the body

·         normal function of the immune system

·         the reduction of tiredness and fatigue

·         normal cognitive development of children

·         Iron has a role in the process of cell division