A - Z of Vitamins & Supplements

Vitamin E helps maintain healthy skin and eyes, and strengthen the body's natural defence against illness and infection. Good sources of vitamin E include: Vegetable oils, corn oil, soya oil, olive oil, Margarine, Nuts and seeds and Leafy greens. Vitamin E is also found in cereals and cereal products. Most people should be able to get all the Vitamin E needed from their diet and excess Vitamin E is stored in the body for future use.

Zinc: helps with making new cells and enzymes,  processing carbohydrate, fat and protein in food and healing wounds. Sources of Zinc include: Meat; Shellfish; Milk, Cheese, Bread and Cereal Products and Wheatgerm.

Calcium: Sources of Calcium include: Milk, Cheese and other dairy products, Broccoli, Cabbage and Okra, Soya Beans, Tofu and Nuts. Calcium has several important functions, these include: helping build strong bones and teeth, regulating muscle contractions including heartbeats, and making sure blood clots normally.
A lack of calcium could lead to a condition called rickets in children and osteomalacia or osteoporosis in later life. You should be able to get all the calcium you need from your daily diet. Taking high doses of calcium (more than 1,500mg a day) could lead to stomach pain and diarrhoea.

Vitamin E, Zinc and Calcium – Vitamins for Menstrual Cramps:  Vitamins including vitamin E, zinc, and calcium have been known to lessen the pain of menstrual cramps. Take a multi-vitamin every day, especially just before and during your cycle.

• Menstrual Cramps