In hopes to help you better navigate the sea of options we have in Vitamins Plus (a Huge Health Food Store located inside each of our Drug Emporium Stores) we have created “Your Best Life”, a program to help educate and simplify living a healthy lifestyle. Understanding the basics of nutrition is crucial for maintaining good health.
(We’re going back to the basics with this Video, folks!)
Nutrition 101
We’re diving into the basics of Nutrition including Vitamins and Supplements to help you easily understand how to start living your best life or to check-in with yourself to ensure that you’re still covering the basics. Let’s get started on the journey to a healthier you!
Nutrition is the process by which your body takes in and uses food for growth, repair, and energy. Plain and Simple, for our bodies to function properly they need nutrition. It involves six essential nutrients:
- Carbohydrates: Main source of energy. When you eat foods containing carbs your body breaks them down into “glucose” (blood sugar) which your cells use for energy.
- Proteins: Building blocks for muscles, bones, skin, and other tissues. Every cell in the human body contains protein. You need protein in your diet to help your body repair cells and make new ones.
- Fats: Important for energy storage, cell function, hormone production, protects organs, and helps your body absorb nutrients.
- Water: Essential for many bodily functions since human bodies are made up of around 60% water. Water helps your body keep a normal temperature, lubricates joints, protects your spinal cord, helps you get rid of waste, and carries nutrients and oxygen to cells.
- Vitamins: There are 13 commonly known Vitamins that the body needs to function properly and are necessary for various functions of the body from normal growth and development, energy production, immune support, and so much more. Vitamins are classified as either fat-soluble (stored in the liver) or water soluble (quickly excreted from the body and need to be replenished often). Vitamins A, D, K, and E are fat soluble. Vitamins B (there are 8 of them) and Vitamin C are water soluble.
Here’s a brief overview of each of these vital nutrients and their primary roles:
- Vitamin A: Known for its role in vision health, supports immune function, skin health, and cell growth.
- Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Essential for converting carbohydrates into energy, thiamine also plays a role in nerve function and muscle contraction.
- Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Riboflavin is involved in energy production, as well as supporting healthy skin, eyes, and nerve function.
- Vitamin B3 (Niacin): Like other B vitamins, niacin is crucial for energy metabolism. It also supports proper nerve function and helps maintain healthy skin.
- Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): Pantothenic acid is essential for synthesizing fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, making it vital for energy production.
- Vitamin B6: This vitamin is involved in over 100 enzyme reactions in the body, including those related to metabolism, brain function, and hormone production.
- Vitamin B7 (Biotin): Biotin plays a key role in metabolizing fats, carbohydrates, and amino acids. It also supports healthy hair, skin, and nails.
- Vitamin B9 (Folate): Folate is essential for DNA synthesis and cell division, making it particularly important during periods of rapid growth and development.
- Vitamin B12: Critical for nerve function and DNA synthesis, vitamin B12 also helps prevent anemia and supports energy metabolism.
- Vitamin C: Perhaps best known for its immune-boosting properties, vitamin C also supports collagen production, wound healing, and iron absorption.
- Vitamin D: Often called the sunshine vitamin, vitamin D is crucial for bone health, immune function, and mood regulation.
- Vitamin E: As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin E helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. It also supports immune function and skin health.
- Vitamin K: Essential for blood clotting and bone health, vitamin K also plays a role in heart health and may help protect against age-related bone loss.
6. Last but not least, Minerals! Minerals are vital components that fulfill a wide variety of functions such as building materials for our bones, influencing muscle and nerve function, and regulating the body’s water balance. Here a few common minerals you may have heard of: Potassium (used to help the kidneys, heart, muscles and nervous system work properly), Sodium (helps nerves and muscles to function and helps your body regulate fluid levels), Calcium (form bones and teeth), Magnesium (supports muscle and nerve function and is used in energy production), Zinc (helps your immune system and metabolism), Iron (needed to form red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body).
As you can see, each of these nutrients plays an important role in your health and that proper nutrition is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle so we can live healthy and happy lives. As miraculous as our bodies are, they are dependent on us consuming proper nutrition to function.
While it’s best to get your nutrition from wholesome foods, certain factors such as poor dietary choices, dietary restrictions, food allergies and sensitivities, digestive disorders, medications, lifestyle habits, etc. can increase the risk of vitamin deficiencies which cause us to fall short in the nutrition department.
That’s why we may need to use supplements to help fill the gaps and ensure optimal nutrient intake. For example, supplementing with multi-vitamins can help you maintain or improve your overall health, and can also help you meet your daily requirements of essential nutrients. From Vitamin D for Bone Health to Omega 3 Fatty Acids for heart health, there’s a supplement for almost every need.
Choosing wisely! It’s essential to choose high quality supplements. Supplements do not have to go through the testing that Drugs do for effectiveness and safety. The FDA generally does not approve dietary supplement claims or other labeling before use. As with anything you consume and especially when it comes to supplements, quality matters. You will want to look for reputable brands that undergo extended testing to ensure purity and potency of their products.
Why shop at Vitamins Plus? We pride ourselves in carrying Quality, Reputable Brands. ‘Our Prices may be Low but our Standards are Not!”
We have the best selections of Quality Brands at our Everyday Low Prices that you’ll love. Making healthy choices doesn’t have to break the bank with Vitamins Plus!
And of course, along with proper nutrition our bodies need good sleep and exercise. There are many supplements to aid with those important factors as well.
TLDR:
In conclusion, all bodies need a healthy foundation to build from. So, if you’re not feeling your best, make sure your nutritional foundation is optimal. You know the saying, You are what you eat? It’s true! Are you feeling your best from making healthy choices and consuming proper nutrition, or are you feeling like crap because you consume crap?
Make sure you double check the basics:
Am I consuming the proper nutrition my body needs to work it’s best?
Am I getting enough rest?
Am I exercising?
Where might I be falling short in my health?
Once you’ve got the basics covered you might want to add other supplements for different areas you may need help with or want to improve like Sports Nutrition or Stress Relief.
Listen to your body:
Each body is unique, so what works for one person may not work for another. Pay attention to how different foods and supplements make you feel, and adjust your intake accordingly. And remember, small, sustainable changes over time can lead to big improvements in your overall health and well being.
So what are you waiting for? Stop by your Local Vitamins Plus Today and discover the difference quality products can make in our life! Give your body the chance to be it’s best by providing it the best.
“Living your best life with Drug Emporium Vitamins Plus!”
We have 9 locations! Check out store locator here: https://www.drugemporiuminc.com/locations/
Footage in the video is from our stores in Abilene, Longview, and Tyler. The Store set up may be different at your Local Drug Emporium Vitamins Plus but all stores carry Quality Products at Everyday Low Prices. Make your Local Drug Emporium Vitamins Plus your destination to help you live Your Best Life!
For Educational and Informational Purposes Only
The content is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for personal, professional medical care or diagnosis. You are urged to consult your primary care provider regarding any health condition or issue.