When browsing online for discount vitamins it is important to consider what our body requires and where exactly our diets are lacking. Our bodies use many chemical elements for many different functions and it is important to replace these elements since they gradually wear thin with our daily functioning. Many people follow strict dietary guidelines to ensure optimal health but it is sometimes difficult to do that in today's hectic world. This necessitates the use of dietary supplements to compensate for where our nutrition fails us.

This explains the popularity of providers of discount vitamins. While many of us know of the importance of antioxidant vitamins and herbs we often overlook the importance of minerals and metals in our health.

Minerals ignite the enzymes within our body. Think of them as the key that starts the engine of your car. Minerals and enzymes react together to control our muscle response, the rhythm of our heartbeat, our nervous system, the balance of body fluids, production of hormones, skeletal strength and digestive health. When taken in safe does minerals and metals are extremely beneficial to our health. In this article we will examine several minerals that we commonly see listed in the contents of our discount vitamins but likely know very little about in addition to the more common minerals; calcium, iron, potassium and iron that we may be more familiar with.

Calcium is widely recognized for maintaining strong bones and teeth and its role in controlling muscle growth, the electrical impulses of our brain and the ability of the body to properly digest food for energy. An increase in calcium intake may lower high blood pressure, prevent heart disease and treat arthritis. Calcium deficiencies lead to problems because our body will use the calcium that is stored in our bones resulting in brittle bones, leg cramps, muscle spasms and even a slight increase in the risk of colon cancer.

Iron is critical in keeping our immune system healthy. Iron also plays a role in the digestive process of certain foods we eat and how our body gains energy from those foods. Iron is essential for our blood to work efficiently and carry oxygen. At least five hundred million people suffer from anemia, a very common iron deficiency that prohibits our blood from getting enough oxygen to our bodies for normal functioning.

Potassium is imperative to almost every element in the human body, especially our cells, pretty much the building blocks of our body. We could not survive without potassium. Potassium plays a key role in kidney function, muscle contraction and research has showed an ability to lower blood pressure and heart disease risk. If you complain to your doctor about heart palpitations they will often look closely at your potassium level to determine if there is a deficiency. It is important to not exceed an intake of 99mg daily as too much potassium can irritate the stomach.

Within our catalog of over 17,000+ discount vitamins you will notice that zinc supplements are available in a variety of forms. This is fitting because zinc is one mineral that truly serves a variety of roles.

Your immune system needs to be strong to prevent and fight off infection. Zinc lozenges and zinc spray, made of zinc gluconate, are believed to shorten the duration of a cold. It is best to stick with zinc gluconate when battling a cold since studies using zinc acetate proved to be less effective in fighting off cold symptoms.

Zinc supplements may also be recommended to couples trying to conceive a child. Zinc deficiency is a contributor in male erection difficulties. Oysters, commonly labelled as an enhancer to male libido, are actually loaded with zinc! Zinc is also helpful to men that are trying to reverse a low sperm count. Women trying to become pregnant may be advised to take zinc supplments for ovulation and fertilization. Pregnant women are often encouraged to take zinc throughout pregnancy as the mineral supports normal growth and development. Maternal zinc deficiency is said to slow fetal growth. It is espcially important for women that are breastfeeding to ensure that their diets are rich in good sources of zinc.

It is recommended that you get at least 15mg of zinc daily and this is the amount most commonly found in multivitamins. Vegetarians need at least 50% more zinc in their diet because zinc absorption is greater from a diet high in animal protein than a diet rich in plant proteins. Individuals recovering from gastrointestinal surgery or suffering from stomach disorders are likely lacking zinc. Alcoholics typically suffer from a zinc deficiency as well. When taking larger amounts of zinc be careful to avoid zinc toxicity. You must keep your daily zinc intake below levels of 150 to 450 mg.

Magnesium is required for many metabolic processes in the human body like the absorption of calcium, which plays a very vital role in the strength, and formation of bones and teeth. It has been estimated that nearly 90 percent of Americans lack enough magnesium from traditional dietary means like leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains. Not enough magnesium may lead to irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, insomnia, muscle spasms and even hyperactivity in children.
Magnesium helps stabilize the rhythm of the heart and prevent abnormal blood clotting in the arteries. Magnesium is effective in improving lung function in asthmatics, helping with fatigue and depression. The mineral is also capable of lowering cholesterol by as much as 20 percent while also aiding in maintaining healthy blood pressure.

Magnesium is especially beneficial to women of all ages. Because magnesium is important in building and maintaining strong bones it is often recommended to sufferers of osteoporosis and fibromyalgia. Magnesium has also been proven to relieve symptoms brought on from menopause and premenstrual syndrome (PMS), particularly cramping, migraines, fatigue, hot flashes and bladder control. Magnesium even minimizes the risk of premature labor. Since low levels of magnesium are responsible for coronary heart disease, known as the silent killer of women, many doctors are insistent that women monitor their magnesium intake.

Copper is part of a relatively small group of metallic elements that are essential to our well-being and overall health. It is necessary for our diets to supply us with regular amounts of copper since our body cannot synthesize copper.

There has been research suggesting that copper deficiency increases the risk for developing coronary artery disease. Copper is readily available in foods like cashews, poppy and sunflower seeds, chickpeas, liver, oysters, cereals and meats and fish so the amount of copper in your dietary supplement shouldn't be too high unless you are specifically concerned about changes or restrictions to your diet. Your copper intake should never exceed 12 mg/daily for adult males and 10mg/daily for adult females.

Many people with arthritis have stated that an increase in copper intake has helped alleviate their symptoms. There is ongoing research into anti-ulcer and anti-inflammatory medicines that contain copper. Additionally the use of copper in radiology and the treatment of convulsions and epilepsy are also being researched.

Chromium helps our bodies absorb energy from the foods in our diet and stabilizes our energy level throughout the day. Many bodybuilders will use chromium supplements to help increase muscle mass while reducing fat mass. Chromium is processed much better when sourced from foods such as brown rice, cheese, lean meats and whole grain breads rather than supplements.

Selenium deficiency is often linked with the development of leukemia, arthritis and other diseases. Selenium assists the heart and pancreas in functioning properly and prevents loose skin by keeping tissues elastic. High selenium intake has also been linked with a dramatically lower incidence of heart disease.

Other important minerals and metals include fluorine. Fluorine is necessary so bones don't lose calcium. Germanium has recently proven to help our immune system fight cancer cells and there is research underway to determine if Germanium may be an alternative to the negative side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Silicon is good for growth of hair, skin and fingernails and believed to prevent hardening of the arteries and Alzheimer's disease. Sodium is necessary for our cells to get needed nutrients, proper nervous system function and the prevention of dehydration after an intense sweat and loss of fluids. It is suspected that most of us get twice the amount of sodium needed from salty and frozen food consumption, triggering kidney problems and high blood pressure. There is still a need for more research on the human health effects of tin, nickel and vanadium. There are minerals that are necessary to health, phosphorus for instance, that are so readily available through the foods that we eat that there is no necessity to incorporate them into a supplement plan.

Keep the above information in mind as you search for the discount vitamins most crucial to your particular needs and concerns.