Vitamins and Minerals

• Vitamins and minerals are compounds that the body needs in different amounts to function properly. The major functions of vitamins and minerals are as coenzymes that help to activate certain chemical reactions in the body. Learn all you can about what vitamins and minerals have which functions in the body and what foods contain them. For example, vitamins B3 (niacin) and B5 (pantothenic acid) can be found in fish like salmon. Vitamin B3 helps the body by widening blood vessels to improve blood flow and it can reduce high blood cholesterol. Vitamin B5 improves the way the body deals with stress and it forms part of the coenzyme A, which is used in the cellular metabolism. Minerals are needed in smaller amounts in the body. One example is zinc, which helps the normal growth of cells and regulates the metabolism of other minerals. Zinc can be found in eggs, nuts and lentils. The best way to learn is to improve your diet by eating and researching about many healthy foods.
  
  

Herbs

• Herbs are the source of most medicines. There are many different herbal systems, including European, Native American, Chinese, Western and Ayurvedic. Herbs are typically used to help the bodies holistically, which means helping the body to function as a whole. Nutritionists use herbs to improve the way the body works. Learn about combinations of herbs that work together to improve particular problems. For example, a combination of passion flower, hops and valerian can help with sleep because each herb attacks the problem from a different angle. Passion flower helps with sleep itself, valerian relaxes tension in your muscles and you can relax the nervous system with hops. Some popular herbs are garlic, aloe and ginseng, which can be used to help with the immune system, healing and energy respectively.
  
  

Homeopathic Remedies

• Homeopathic remedies were a great departure from the intense treatments like bloodletting that ruled the Western world in the 1800s. They are essentially diluted herbs that help to stimulate the nervous system of the human body to counteract ill effects of certain conditions. Different homeopathic remedies target different illnesses and each one targets a specific profile of symptoms. For treating illnesses without harsh medical side effects, learn about homeopathic remedies to keep your health strong. Herbs that cause problems in their pure form will heal these problems in their diluted homeopathic form. For instance, Carbo vegitabilis (charcoal) in its pure form can cause respiratory problems, but in its homeopathic form it can help to improve oxygenation in the tissues of the veins. You can purchase these remedies in many natural food stores and there are many books available on the subject to learn more.