This year marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of vitamins. Over the past century, we have seen remarkable advancements in our understanding of vitamins and their vital role in health and wellness.
Three things to know about vitamins:
- Vitamins are essential for good health in every stage of the human lifecycle: from pregnancy through infancy and childhood and into adulthood and old age.
- The majority of vitamins cannot be directly produced by the body and must therefore be obtained through dietary means (exceptions: niacin and vitamin D).
- Despite all our knowledge, vitamin deficiencies still exist. In developing countries, many people do not have access to vitamin-rich foods, which can lead to high mortality rates and serious health problems. Even here in the U.S., inadequate vitamin intakes are surprisingly common. According to a paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, only 1 percent of the population meets minimum standards of a balanced diet.
For more information about the 100th anniversary of vitamins, visit: http://www.100yearsofvitamins.com/
Health Update 