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Description
We all know that vitamins and minerals are important for good health, but which do we need, what exactly do they do, and what's the best way to make sure we're getting enough?
Part of the Q&A Health Guides series, this book offers a broad introduction to vitamins and minerals-a health topic that is often shrouded in confusion and misinformation. The book profiles the vitamins and minerals we need, explaining what each one does in the body, how much is required for optimal health, and what happens when we don't get enough. Questions also address concerns such as whether it's better to get these key substances from food or supplements, how to gauge the quality of supplements, and whether high doses of certain vitamins can treat a variety of health conditions, from hangovers to cancer. Vitamins and Minerals: Your Questions Answered synthesizes the vast field of nutritional science into a compact and easy-to-digest volume.
Augmenting the main text, a collection of 5 case studies illustrate key concepts and issues through relatable stories and insightful recommendations. The Common Misconceptions section at the beginning of the volume dispels 5 long-standing and potentially dangerous myths about vitamins and minerals, directing readers to additional information in the text. The glossary defines terms that may be unfamiliar to readers, while the directory of resources curates a list of the most useful books, websites, and other materials. Finally, whether they're looking for more information about this subject or any other health-related topic, readers can turn to the Guide to Health Literacy section for practical tools and strategies for finding, evaluating, and using credible sources of health information both on and off the internet.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Guide to Health Literacy
Common Misconceptions about Vitamins and Minerals
1. You don't have to worry about your eating habits too much as long as you take vitamins every day
2. You don't have to worry about overdosing on vitamins and minerals because you excrete in the urine what you don't need
3. Getting more B vitamins will give you more energy
4. Vitamin C prevents you from catching a cold
5. If you're fatigued, getting more iron in your diet is helpful
Questions and Answers
The Basics
1. What are vitamins?
2. What are minerals?
3. How do we know how much of each vitamin and mineral we need? Do these needs change over our lifetime?
4. How can I find out how much of a given vitamin or mineral is in a food?
5. Are there medical conditions that affect how your body absorbs vitamins and minerals?
6. How do I know if I have a vitamin or mineral deficiency? What is the best way to know what my vitamin and mineral intakes are for a given day?
7. How can storage and preparation impact the vitamin and mineral content of food?
8. Understanding all these nutrients is so complicated-can I just take some pills and eat whatever I want?
Vitamins
9. What is vitamin A and why is it important for health?
10. What is vitamin B1 (thiamin) and why is it important for health?
11. What is vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and why is it important for health?
12. What is vitamin B3 (niacin) and why is it important for health?
13. What is vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) and why is it important for health?
14. What is vitamin B6 and why is it important for health?
15. What is vitamin B7 (biotin) and why is it important for health?
16. What is vitamin B9 (folate) and why is it important for health?
17. What is vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and why is it important for health?
18. What is vitamin C and why is it important for health?
19. What is vitamin D and why is it important for health?
20. What is vitamin E and why is it important for health?
21. What is vitamin K and why is it important for health?
22. What are conditional vitamins and why are they important for health?
Minerals
23. What is calcium and why is it important for health?
24. What is chloride and why is it important for health?
25. What is chromium and why is it important for health?
26. What is copper and why is it important for health?
27. What is fluoride and why is it important for health?
28. What is iodine and why is it important for health?
29. What is iron and why is it important for health?
30. What is magnesium and why is it important for health?
31. What is manganese and why is it important for health?
32. What is phosphorus and why is it important for health?
33. What is potassium and why is it important for health?
34. What is selenium and why is it important for health?
35. What is sodium and why is it important for health?
36. What is sulfur and why is it important for health?
37. What is zinc and why is it important for health?
38. What are the ultratrace minerals and why are they important for health?
39. Are there minerals that are toxic or bad for human health?
Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation
40. Why do some foods always have certain vitamins or minerals added to them?
41. What exactly are dietary supplements? How are they regulated?
42. How should I take vitamin and mineral supplements? With food or without? Are there certain vitamins and minerals I shouldn't take together?
43. An influencer I follow is promoting a vitamin/mineral supplement. Should I try it?
44. If vitamins and minerals are important for good health, is taking extra in pill form helpful?
45. How can I find good information on vitamin and mineral dietary supplements?
Case Studies
1. Emma Experiences the Health Consequences of Poor Nutrition
2. Eden is Living With Celiac Disease
3. Maya Struggles with a Vegan Diet
4. James Responds to a Family History of Heart Disease
5. Emily Goes Overboard on Supplemental Vitamins and Minerals
Directory of Resources
Glossary
Index
About the Author
Product details
| Published | 10 Dec 2026 |
|---|---|
| Format | Hardback |
| Edition | 1st |
| Pages | 176 |
| ISBN | 9798765138861 |
| Imprint | Bloomsbury Academic |
| Illustrations | 1 bw illus |
| Dimensions | 235 x 156 mm |
| Series | Q&A Health Guides |
| Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
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