How Vitamins And Minerals Effect Your The Blood

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are essential to the health and functioning of the body, and are delivered throughout the body by the blood. There are several vitamins and minerals that directly affect the blood and its ability to perform its important tasks within the body. For optimum performance of the blood, as well as the body and mind in general, it is necessary to meet the standard recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients each and every day.

Blood receives its color from the red blood cells, which perform one of the most important tasks that blood has in the body. Red blood cells are responsible for the transportation of oxygen throughout the body, as well as for the removal of waste products. Because the average red blood cell lives for about 120 days, the body needs to continuously produce a new supply. There are several vitamins and minerals that are essential to the creation of these cells and the ability of these cells to perform their important work.

The vitamins that make up the powerful and important Vitamin B complex are a major factor in the production of red blood cells. Vitamin B6, also called pyridoxine, is a necessary part of the metabolism of red blood cells and also is required to make hemoglobin, which is how the red blood cell transports oxygen. Men between the ages of 19 and 50 need 1.3mg daily of Vitamin B6, as do women of the same age group. However, for women during periods of pregnancy, the recommended amount is 1.9mg per day and 2.0mg while breastfeeding. Men older than 50 should have a daily Vitamin B6 intake of 1.7mg and women in that age group should take 1.5mg daily. Children need, depending on age and size, between .6mg to 1.3mg of Vitamin B6 per day.

Other B complex vitamins that have an important role in the production of red blood include Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, Vitamin B9, also called folate in its natural form and folic acid in its pharmaceutical form, and Vitamin B12, which is also called cobalamin, due to its cobalt content.

Iron is one of the minerals that is essential to the quality, health and function of blood. One of the most important tasks iron serves in the blood is in the production of hemoglobin. Approximately 60% of the iron in the body is found in its hemoglobin.

The mineral copper is also involved in the production of red blood cells, and through its enhancement of iron absorption by the body, so too is Vitamin C. Vitamin E also helps in red blood cell production. These, and the numerous other nutrients involved in making the steady supply of red blood cells essential to the body's health and well being, demonstrate clearly the importance of the every day consumption of the standard recommended daily intake levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

Nutritional supplements can offer a reliable and safe means of making sure that your body has all the nutrients necessary each day to ensure that your blood remains healthy and strong. The quality of your blood will influence the quality of your life.