Book Description

Every year Americans spend more than $4 billion on vitamins, minerals, and other supplements, seeking better health, a longer and more vigorous life, and help in treating health problems. The human body requires 13 different vitamins and at least 10 minerals to stay alive -- and the only way to get them is to eat them. Our understanding of how vitamins, minerals, and supplements work is growing by leaps and bounds -- and this second edition of CIG to Vitamins and Minerals brings readers up-to-date on new findings and information that has become available in the three years since the first edition was published. The book explores: -- The functions, benefits, and risks of each essential vitamin and mineral -- The hottest supplements, including antioxidants, DHEA, and melatonin -- Drugs and foods that may block the body's absorption of important nutrients