Nutrition

Vitamin B
Consists of eight water-soluble vitamins described below (these cannot be stored in the body)

Vitamin C
Functions:
- Needed for growth and repair of tissue
- Supports the immune system
- Antioxidant
Sources: potatoes, orange juice, kiwi, watermelon

Vitamin D
Functions:
- Needed for proper calcium absorption
- Suppresses parathyroid hormone
- Improved immune system modulation
Sources: sunlight, eggs (depending on quality of eggs), oysters, shrimp, beef liver

Vitamin E
Functions:
- Antioxidant
- Opposes estrogen
- Promotes progesterone
- Protects cells from damage caused by iron excess
- Protects cells from damage caused by PUFA excess
Sources: kiwi, eggs, shrimp

Vitamin K
Functions:
- Proper calcium absorption
- Proper blood clotting
Sources: aged hard cheeses, kiwi, eggs, beef liver, beef kidney

Calcium
Functions:
- Needed for bone and teeth formation
- Needed for nerve function and muscular contraction
- Suppresses parathyroid hormone
- Supports glucose metabolism
- Protects against excitotoxic damage of cells
- Needed for heartbeat regulation
- Lowers blood pressure
Sources: milk, cheese, yoghurt, powdered egg shells

Magnesium
Functions:
- Important for the efficient utilisation of ATP in cells
- Supports thyroid hormone
- Improves management of calcium in the body
- Inhibits stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol)
Sources: potatoes, coffee, orange juice, oysters

Potassium
Functions:
- Important for cellular stability
- Supports carbohydrate utilisation
- Opposes calcification of soft tissues
- Improves CO2 retention
Sources: potatoes, milk, yoghurt, orange juice, kiwi, watermelon, beef liver, beef kidney

Sodium
Functions:
- Suppresses stress hormones (aldosterone, adrenaline, cortisol)
- Required for cellular energy production
- Spares magnesium from being lost in urine
- Pro-thyroid
- Protects brain and nerve cells from excitotoxic damage
- Supports restful sleep
- Key component of stomach acid and bile
- Supports the thermogenic effect of food (helping the body convert calories into heat rather than storing them as fat)
Sources: salt, cheese, shrimp, oysters

Zinc
Functions:
- Opposing heavy metal toxicity
- Essential for proper thyroid function (conversion of T4 into T3)
- Important for maintaining androgen levels
- Suppresses aromatase (aromatase converts testosterone into estrogen)
- Indispensable to protein synthesis and wound healing
- Helps maintain the integrity of the intestinal lining
- Supports immune system regulation
- Improves CO2 management in the body
Sources: oysters, beef, beef liver, beef kidney, shrimp, cheese, yoghurt, eggs

Copper
Functions:
- Key to iron regulation
- Key to production of ATP (the key unit of energy required by every cell in the body)
- Helps prevent 'age spots' forming on skin
- Key to maintaining the structure of tissues (required for the cross-linking of collagen and elastin)
Sources: potatoes, oysters, shrimp, beef liver, beef kidney

Selenium
Functions:
- Essential for proper thyroid function (conversion of T4 into T3)
- Protects against PUFA toxicity
- Neutralises the toxic effects of heavy metals in the body
Sources: oysters, shrimp, beef liver, beef kidney, beef, eggs

Iron
Functions:
- Essential for cellular energy production
Sources: beef liver, beef kidney, oysters, beef, shrimp

Vitamin A
Functions:
- Supports proper differentiated growth and development of the body
- Supports immune function
- Supports storage of glycogen in the liver
- Healthy skin
- Vision
- Cholesterol conversion into pregnenolone
Sources: milk, cheese, eggs, beef liver, beef kidney