Vitamins, Herbs and Supplements Amanda Tassler

Disclaimer I am not a doctor and I did not go to medical school. You should always consult your primary care doctor before starting a new vitamin, herb or supplement

Definition of Vitamin Any of various organic substances that are essential in minute quantities to the nutrition of most animals and some plants, act especially as coenzymes and precursors of coenzymes in the regulation of metabolic processes but do not provide energy or serve as building units and are a present in natural foodstuffs or sometimes produced by the body This is the medical definition according to Merriam-Webster

Definition of Herb botany : a seed-producing annual, biennial, or perennial that does not develop persistent woody tissue but dies down at the end of a growing season 2 : a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities planted parsley, basil, and rosemary in her herb garden

Definition of Supplements 1 a : something that completes or makes an addition b : dietary supplement 2 : a part added to or issued as a continuation of a book or periodical to correct errors or make additions 3 : an angle or arc that when added to a given angle or arc equals 180°

What do you know about Vitamins, Herbs and supplements? Before I start giving you information, I would like to know what you know so far. What are some questions that you have and would like answered? Are you currently taking any Vitamins, Herbs and or Supplements?

Vitamins If you are eating a healthy diet the chances that are you are getting the vitamins you need already are pretty high. Multivitamins can not take the place of eating a healthy diet Food provides us with vitamins and minerals while vitamins only provide us with vitamins

Kinds Of Vitamins and Minerals There are 14 known vitamins: vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, choline, and the vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folate/folic acid). Fifteen minerals are essential for health: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, iodine, chromium, copper, fluoride, molybdenum, manganese, and selenium. http://nccih.nih.gov/health/vitamins

Things to remember about Vitamins Keep in mind that there is no standard or regulatory definition for MVMs, or any dietary supplement, as to what nutrients they must contain or at what levels. Cheaper is not better when it comes to vitamins Do your research Please always read labels first Too much of a mineral is not a good thing Most Expensive is not always better

Herbs

Herb and Medication Interaction https://nccih.nih.gov/health/know-science/how-medications-supplements-interact The link above is a great slide show to show you how Herbs can interact with medications. It is an important thing to consider before you start taking any kind of herb

Supplements A dietary supplement, as defined by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), is a product that: Is intended to supplement the diet Contains one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals A plant or part of a plant used for its flavor, scent, or potential therapeutic properties. Includes flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, stems, and roots., amino acids, and certain other substances) or their constituents Is intended to be taken by mouth, in forms such as tablet, capsule, powder, softgel, gelcap, or liquid Is labeled as being a dietary supplement.(ncamm)

Things to know The regulations on Dietary supplements are not as strict as those of drug manufacturing In the last couple of months supplements in stores like walmart have been found to have fillers that are not listed on the labels. It is very important to do your research and not just take any sort of supplement you come across. Be very careful of ordering items from overseas, as there regulations are different than ours.

Break Time Take a couple of minutes to stretch and think of any questions you may have that have not been answered so far

Questions Are there any questions that you would like answered?

Essential Oils Definition of essential oil : any of a class of volatile oils that give plants their characteristic odors and are used especially in perfumes and flavorings, and for aromatherapy — compare fixed oil "Essential Oil." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 1 May 2017.

Better brand of Essential oils The question I get asked the most is “What brand of essential oils to I buy? Doterra is one of the of the most popular brands and it is starting to be used in some hospitals Young living is a close second Edens Garden Now Essential oils Doterra is probably one of the most expensive brands while Edens Garden and Now Essential Oils are more on the affordable end.

Where to buy Essential oils Doterra and young living essential oils need to be purchased through one of their representatives. You can find one buy visiting their websites Edens Garden can be purchased though their website or on Amazon The NOW brand can be found on Amazon and in GNC stores

What is the best way to use essential oils I am a big believe in diffusers, you can get a good one for about 25 dollars and diffuse your oils that way. You are adding moisture to the air as well. You can use oils topically but you might have to mix it with a carrier oil such as coconut oil depending on what kind of essential oil it is.

Closing Remember to double check the labels and to always do your research Green is not always the best way to go Always consult your primary care Doctor before starting a new vitamin, herbal supplement etc Be careful when you order something from overseas If you have any questions you can contact me at any time, If I do not have the answer I will help you find it.

References "Essential Oil." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 1 May 2017. "http://nccih.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm http://www.naturallivingideas.com/buying-essential-oils/