From the Rodale book, New Choices in Natural Healing: Edit id 2029 Getting What You Need Getting What You Need Here's how much you need every day of the most essential vitamins and minerals, along with where to find them and what they do for your body. | Nutrient | RDA for Men | RDA for Women | DV | Benefit | Food Sources | Vitamins | | Vitamin A | 1,000 mcg. RE | 800 mcg. RE | 5,000 IU | Needed for normal vision in dim light; | Carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, | | or 5,000 IU | or 4,000 IU | | maintains normal structure and function | spinach, butternut squash, tuna, | | | (1,300 mcg. RE or | | of mucous membranes; aids growth of | cantaloupe, mangoes, apricots, | | | 6,500 IU if nursing) | | bones, teeth and skin | broccoli, watermelon | B Vitamins | Thiamin | 1.5 mg. | 1.1 mg. | 1.5 mg. | Carbohydrate metabolism; maintains | Pork, wheat germ, pasta, peanuts, | | | (1.5 mg. if pregnant; | | healthy nervous system | legumes, watermelon, oranges, | | | 1.6 mg. if nursing) | | | brown rice, oatmeal, eggs |
| | Riboflavin | 1.7 mg. | 1.3 mg. | 1.7 mg. | Fat, protein and carbohydrate | Milk, cottage cheese, avocados, | | | (1.6 mg. if pregnant; | | metabolism; healthy skin | tangerines, prunes, asparagus, | | | 1.8 mg. if nursing) | | | broccoli, mushrooms, beef, | | | | | | salmon, turkey |
| | Niacin | 19 mg. | 15 mg. | 20 mg. | Fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism; | Meats, poultry, fish, peanut butter, | | | (17 mg. if pregnant; | | nervous system function; needed for | legumes, soybeans, whole-grain | | | 20 mg. if nursing) | | oxygen use by cells | cereals and breads, broccoli, | | | | | | asparagus, baked potatoes |
| | vitamin B6 | 2.0 mg. | 1.6 mg. | 2.0 mg. | Protein metabolism; needed for | Fish, soybeans, avocados, lima | | | (2.2 mg. if pregnant; | | normal growth | beans, chicken, bananas, cauli- | | | 2.1 mg. if nursing) | | | flower, green peppers, potatoes, | | | | | | spinach, raisins |
| | Folate | 200 mcg. | 180 mcg. | 0.4 mg. | Red blood cell development; | Legumes, poultry, tuna, wheat | | (folic acid) | | (400 mcg. if pregnant; | (400 mcg.) | tissue growth and repair | germ, mushrooms, oranges, | | | 280 mcg. if nursing) | | | asparagus, broccoli, spinach, | | | | | | bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe | B Vitamins--Continued | | vitamin B12 | 2.0 mcg. | 2.0 mcg. | 6.0 mcg. | Needed for new tissue growth, | Salmon, eggs, cheese, swordfish, | | | | | (2.2 mcg. if pregnant; | | red blood cells, nervous | tuna, clams, crab, mussels, | | | | | 2.6 mcg. if nursing) | | system and skin | oysters | | | Biotin | 30100 mcg.* | 30100 mcg.* | 0.3 mg. | Fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism | Peanut butter, eggs, oatmeal, | | | | | | (300 mcg.) | | wheat germ, poultry, cauliflower, | | | | | | | | nuts, legumes |
| | | Pantothenic acid | 47 mg.* | 47 mg.* | 10 mg. | Fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism | Fish, whole-grain cereals, | | | | | | | | mushrooms, avocados, broccoli, | | | | | | | | peanuts, cashews, lentils, | | | | | | | | soybeans, eggs |
| | Vitamin C | 60 mg. | 60 mg. | 60 mg. | Builds collagen; maintains healthy gums, | Oranges, grapefruit, bell peppers, | | | | | (70 mg. if pregnant; | | teeth and blood vessels | strawberries, tomatoes, spinach, | | | | | 95 mg. if nursing) | | | cabbage, melons, broccoli, | | | | | | | | kiwifruit, raspberries |
| | Vitamin D | 5 mcg. | 5 mcg. | 400 IU | Calcium absorption; growth of | Sunlight, eggs, milk, butter, tuna, | | | | | (10 mcg. if pregnant | (10 mcg.) | bones and teeth | salmon, cereals, baked goods | | | | | or nursing) | | | (if fortified flour is used) |
| | Vitamin E | 10 mg. alpha-TE | 8 mg. alpha-TE | 30 IU | Protects cells from damage | Nut and vegetable oils, wheat | | | | or 15 IU | or 12 IU (10 mg. | | | germ, mangoes, blackberries, | | | | | alpha-TE or 15 IU | | | apples, broccoli, peanuts, | | | | | if pregnant; 12 mg. | | | spinach, whole-wheat breads | | | | | alpha-TE or 18 IU | | | | | if nursing) |
| | Vitamin K | 80 mcg. | 65 mcg. | None | Blood clotting | Spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, parsley, eggs, dairy products, carrots, avocados, tomatoes | | Minerals | Calcium | 800 mg. | 800 mg. | 1 g. | Strong bones and teeth; muscle and | Milk, cheese, yogurt, salmon and | | | | | (1,200 mg. if | (1,000 mg.) | nerve function; blood clotting | sardines with bones, broccoli, | | | | | pregnant or nursing) | | | green beans, almonds, turnip greens, fortified orange juice |
| | Chloride | 750 mg.Ý | 750 mg.Ý | None | Aids digestion; works with sodium | Foods with salt | | | | | | | to maintain fluid balance |
| | Chromium | 50200 mcg.* | 50200 mcg.* | None | Carbohydrate metabolism | Whole grains, broccoli, grape juice, orange juice, brown sugar, meats, black pepper, brewer's yeast, cheese | |
| | Copper | 1.53.0 mg.* | 1.53.0 mg.* | 2.0 mg. | Blood cell and connective tissue formation | Oysters and other shellfish, nuts, cherries, cocoa, mushrooms, gelatin, whole-grain cereals, eggs, fish, legumes |
| | Fluoride | 1.54.0 mg.* | 1.54.0 mg.* | None | Strengthens tooth enamel | Fluoridated water, fish, tea |
| | Iodine | 150 mcg. | 150 mcg. | 150 mcg. | Maintains proper thyroid function | Spinach, lobster, shrimp, | | | | | (175 mcg. if pregnant; | | | oysters, milk, iodized salt | | | | | 200 mcg. if nursing) |
| | Iron | 10 mg. | 15 mg. | 18 mg. | Carries oxygen in blood; energy metabolism | Clams, asparagus, meats, chicken, | | | | | (30 mg. if pregnant) | | | prunes, raisins, spinach, pumpkin | | | | | | | | seeds, soybeans, tofu |
| | Magnesium | 350 mg. | 280 mg. | 400 mg. | Aids nerve and muscle function; strong bones | Molasses, nuts, spinach, wheat | | | | | (320 mg. if pregnant; | | | germ, pumpkin seeds, seafood, | | | | | 355 mg. if nursing) | | | dairy products, baked potatoes, broccoli, bananas |
| | Manganese | 2.05.0 mg.* | 2.05.0 mg.* | None | Bone and connective tissue formation; | Nuts, whole-grain cereals, | | | | | | | fat and carbohydrate metabolism | legumes, tea, dried fruits, spinach and other green leafy vegetables |
| | Molybdenum | 75250 mcg.* | 75250 mcg.* | None | Nitrogen metabolism | Legumes, meats, whole-grain | | cereals, breads, milk and milk products |
| | Phosphorus | 800 mg. | 800 mg. | 1 g. | Energy metabolism; teams up with | Meats, fish, poultry, eggs, |
| | | | | (1,200 mg. if | (1,000 mg.) | calcium for strong bones and teeth | dairy products, cereals | | | | | pregnant or nursing) |
| | Potassium | 2,000 mg.Ý | 2,000 mg.Ý | 3,500 mg. | Controls acid balance in the body; | Baked potatoes, avocados, dried | | | | | | | works with sodium to maintain fluid balance | fruits, yogurt, cantaloupe, spinach, bananas, mushrooms, milk, tomatoes |
| | Selenium | 70 mcg. | 55 mcg. | None | Helps vitamin E protect cells and body tissue | Meats, whole-grain cereals, | | | | | (65 mcg. if pregnant; | | | dairy products, fish, shellfish, | | | | | 75 mcg. if nursing) | | | mushrooms, Brazil nuts |
| | Sodium | 500 mg.Ý | 500 mg.Ý | 2,400 mg. | Fluid balance; nervous system function | Salt, processed foods, soy sauce, seasonings |
| | Zinc | 15 mg. | 12 mg. (15 mg. | 15 g. | Wound healing; growth; appetite; | Oysters, lean beef, wheat germ, | | | | | if pregnant; | (15,000 mg.) | sperm production | seafood, lima beans, legumes, | | | | | 19 mg. if nursing) | | | nuts, poultry, dairy products |
| | *Value is the Estimated Safe and Adequate Daily Intake. | | ÝValue is the Estimated Minimum Requirement. | | | There is no RDA for this nutrient. | | | There is no RDA for this nutrient. | | | |