NUTRITION SUPPLEMENTS: WE NEED MORE NUTRIENTS THAN WE ONCE DID
One of the strand of the argument is more contentious and very difficult to test scientifically. It suggests that we need more nutrients than we once did, simply because our bodies have to deal with so many more toxins – pesticide residues in food and water, air pollutants and so on. Although this might seem rather far-fetched, it is not implausible. We protect our bodies against toxins by breaking them down with enzymes. Many vitamins act as coenzymes – substances that are needed by specific enzymes to help them do their work. Minerals such as zinc and magnesium are also important for enzyme function. Faced with an extra burden of toxins to destroy, perhaps we do need more vitamins and minerals than our traditional diet provides.
A related issue here is the Pill, which is said to alter the nutritional balance of some women – perhaps the majority of women who take it on a long-term basis. Zinc, magnesium, manganese and iron may be deficient in Pill-takers, while copper is often very high. Vitamin A seems to be stored in excess, while many of the B vitamins are in short supply. Some of the adverse side-effects of the Pill have been linked to these changes in vitamin and mineral status. Simply stopping the Pill does not seem to put these nutritional disorders right – they may persist for three months or more and cause continuing problems.
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Tags: Allergies