By Toni Vang


The essential nutrients that the body needs are available in the food that people eat. However, sometimes there is a deficiency of these nutrients in their diet. Alternatively, they may want to emphasize the effect that a particular nutrient has on their bodies. At these times, they use supplements to provide the extra quantity of the nutrient that they desire, and military grade supplements are an especially good source.

The lifestyle of a soldier is physically not easy. Soldiers undergo the most rigorous physical training of any occupation. They need to be able to endure potentially any environment, sometimes in extreme conditions or harsh circumstances. Typical and basic military training involves marching 25 miles in one day carrying a backpack weighing 50lb. Their arms, such as assault rifles, weigh more than 10lb too.

This makes the supplements that they use of interest to people in other life situations too. Retail pharmacies only supply ordinary commercial supplements, and these do not necessarily have the same intensity of nutrient presence in them. Their commercial packaging is also expensive and adds to their price.

Selecting the right supplement out of the massive range available should be based on two considerations - the purpose of the supplement usage, and what nutrient or nutrients are being targeted in this usage. You should also remember basic common sense in using a supplement, in addition to identifying the right one for your situation.

One of the most commonly targeted vitamins is Vitamin C. There are supplements that only supply this one nutrient, and no other. Scientifically, it's known as ascorbic acid, but this name is never used in its marketing material. There are two reasons why it is used in supplements. The first is the most marketed one, which is its immune function. It defends the body against pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. But it's also a component of tissue structures, where it provides strength.

People whose immune systems are under strain can use Vitamin C to assist their recovery or general functioning. Sickness is the obvious example, but where the diet has been compromised or their living conditions are hostile, they can use this supplement too.

Another use of Vitamin C is to accelerate the healing of skin and soft tissue injuries. Since ascorbic acid is involved in the generation and repair of these tissues, using a supplement can cause them to heal faster and better. Vitamin A (retinol) is also useful for this purpose. Using a Vitamin A supplement might cause the skin to become noticeably healthier. Incidentally, Vitamin A is present in the eye's retina (the part at the back that is sensitive to light) and in the liver. It's toxic in large doses.

Using a supplement should be just that - supplementary. They should not be relied on as a staple part of the diet. Some nutrients can potentially be taken in overdose amounts, while others start to alter the metabolism over time. Taken for too long, they can cause negative symptoms when they are stopped. The user should never develop dependency on a supplement. They should rather be taken for specific purposes for relatively shorter periods of time.




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