VITAMIN KILLERS　

Your Body Needs Food - but even if you do the right thing and follow the rules and try to eat a nutritious diet rich in vitamins and minerals it may not be enough. There are many things that stop vitamins and minerals being absorbed and doing the job they were meant to do.

You don't get told about the anti nutrients that block or rob you of nutrients. On top of that their are many reasons why your food lacks nutrients. The biggest loss of essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals takes place during food processing and refining. Wheat germ and bran are rich in fibre, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. They are all lost during the production of white flour. Likewise raw sugar is rich in nutrients and again they are lost in processing to produce white sugar.

Whether it is farming methods, food processing and food storage or chemicals, pesticides, toxins, medicines, (yes medicines that are supposed to make you well can also be vitamin robbers), alcohol, tobacco and traffic fumes, there are plenty of things that you need to be aware of and often don't get told.

Even your lifestyle affects nutrient uptake:

Smoking, excessive alcohol and coffee, too much strong tea and lots of colas and fizzy drinks can have a bad influence on your vitamin and mineral levels.

Smoking reduces Vitamin C, B Vitamins and zinc and copper, therefore smokers should be aware of the need for extra vitamins.

Tea and coffee reduces absorption of iron and zinc.

Alcohol uses up vitamins, especially the B vitamins essential for many processes including the nervous system and to help in energy metabolism. Depriving the body of essential nutrients means that there could be a need for extra vitamins.

Exercise - lack of exercise causes loss of calcium, especially in the elderly. Conversely too much exercise depletes your store of nutrients which is why athletes and sportsmen need to have a nutrient rich diet. Is the keen jogger or gym user aware of this fact or advised on diet.

Diet - processed foods, e.g. those foods full of white sugar and white flour have little or no nutrient value. Too much salt as well as affecting blood pressure also caused loss of calcium and potassium. Too much saturated fat depletes magnesium. High protein diets, too much salt and sugar, too much tea, coffee and fizzy drinks, too much alcohol and a lack of vitamin D can all increase the loss of calcium from the bones or reduce the amount which is absorbed from food.

Then there are the medicines - both over the counter and prescription medicines can be bad for nutrition. But does your doctor explain all this - not often. Here are some of the more common drugs. ALWAYS ask your doctor about any medication prescribed and its affect on nutrition.

Aspirin - affects vitamins A B and C as well as calcium and magnesium.

Antacids - interfer with the absorption of vitamins A and B complex vitamins as well as calcium, magnesium, iron and phosphorous. Antacids that contain aluminium interfer with the absorption of Vitamin D.

Antibiotics - Many of us will perhaps know about the need to take a course of probiotics if prescribed antibiotics which as well as killing the infection/bacteria prescribed for also kill the friendly gut flora, which then needs replacing. But this also interfers with vitamins B and K.

Anticonvulsants - Interfer with the absorption of vitamins B6, D and K as well as folic acid. These drugs are normally taken for long periods to treat such things as epilepsy but also used for other problems including migraine. Since all these vitamins are important to health higher doses may be needed.

Anti inflammatories - Widely used both over the counter and on prescription affects many vitamins and minerals including folic acid, iron, vitamins C and B12 and calcium.

Cholesterol medication - can interfer with absorption of iron, betacarotene, vitamins A, D and K and folic acid. Not always necessary either as diet can cure high cholesterol in many cases.

Cortisone - treatments reduce potassium, and vitamins A, C, D and B vitamins.

Diuretics - deprive the body of B vitamins, potassium, magnesium and zinc.

Laxatives - when used regularly, lower calcium levels, iron and Vitamins A, D and E.

The Pill - adversely affects folic acid, vitamins C, E and B complex. The pill also affects the gut flora. Do all the women on the pill get advise on the affects of the pill and nutrition.

Anti depressants, Sleeping pills, Tranquillizers - Sleeping pills affect the uptake of vitamin D which is being reported as more important to our health. Anti depressants interfer with B2 and zinc and magnesium. To show how you need to be aware of the importance of nutrition, people with chronic fatigue (which can be caused by zinc deficiency) are often prescribed anti-depressants which lower zinc levels even more and yet are supposed to help!

So it is all very complicated or so it appears. Interferance with vitamin and mineral absorption, nutrient robbery and lack of nutrients in food mean that vitamin deficiency can creep up without warning. The last thing you need if you are already having to take medication for an existing illness. Make sure you question your doctor - don't get fobbed off. If you are ill it is almost certainly a good idea to take a good multi vitamin in any case as you may not be eating as normal. Even when well you may need to make up your own mind about your nutrient uptake. If in doubt seek advice and get all the information you can. The Nutrition Diet is always a good start and can be adopted gradually and is a diet for life.

If after all this you think you might need a supplement have a look at the additional information on supplements in the Why Supplements  page.