“… The key function of nutrients like vitamins and minerals in the human body is to serve as essential components in enzymes and coenzymes. Enzymes are molecules involved in speeding up chemical reactions necessary for human bodily function. Coenzymes are molecules that help the enzymes in their chemical reactions.”
“Enzymes and coenzymes work to either join molecules together or split them apart by making or breaking the chemical bonds that join molecules together. A key concept in nutritional medicine is learning how to supply the necessary support or nutrients that allow enzymes of a particular tissue to work at their optimum levels.”
“Most enzymes are composed of a protein along with an essential mineral and possibly a vitamin. If an enzyme is lacking the essential mineral or vitamin, it cannot function properly. By providing the necessary mineral through diet or a nutritional formula, the enzyme is then able to perform its vital function. For example, zinc is necessary for the enzyme that activates vitamin A in the visual process. Without zinc in the enzyme, the vitamin A cannot be converted to the active form. This deficiency can result in what is known as night blindness. By supplying the enzyme with zinc, we are performing ‘enzymatic therapy’ and allowing the enzyme to function.”
“Many enzymes require additional support in order to perform their functions. The support is in the form of a coenzyme, a molecule that functions along with the enzyme. Most coenzymes are composed of vitamins and/or minerals. Without the coenzyme the enzyme is powerless. For example, vitamin C functions as a conenzyme to the enzyme proline hydroxylase, which is involved in collagen synthesis. Without vitamin C, there is impaired collagen synthesis, resulting in failure of wounds to heal, bleeding gums, and easy bruising. There may be plenty of proline hydroxylase (the enzyme0, but in order to function it needs vitamin C.”
These are just very basic examples that illustrate why nutritional supplements are so helpful and in many cases actually more helpful than specific medicines, because instead of adding a new molecule alien to the body they only add what the body regularly needs in order to function properly.
Now some people might object and state that most of the ‘recommended daily allowances’ (RDAs) are covered by the food that we eat. This used to be partially true, but is not so any longer. First of all, the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council introduced RDAs in 1941 only in order to prevent severe deficiencies in certain (underprivileged) population groups. RDAs therefore do NOT define the optimal level for many nutrients, only the barest minimum. Furthermore, at the time when the RDAs were introduced the Food and Nutrition Board itself stated very clearly, “Individuals with special nutritional needs are not covered by the RDAs.”
And last but not least, modern agriculture and animal husbandry has tampered so much with our food, which now comes from soils depleted of essential nutrients and minerals and is riddled with toxins, additives and preservatives that in modern households buying produce, dairy and meat from supermarkets, nutritional supplementation is a must in order to keep the body functioning properly.