Nutrition, a key component to good health, is as important as adequate exercise and quality sleep. Because of that, I have collected sound advice from nutritionists, vitamin experts and books to better advise my patients. Many nutrition experts agree a balanced diet is the foundation of good health and many books emphasize food as a way of healing the body instead of using drugs. However, one must consider the mineral and vitamin content of today’s topsoil. Did you know a serving of spinach in the 1920s equals 70 servings of today’s spinach? Vitamin content of foods are affected by time, sunlight and cooking process. Fresher is better, but do we always eat fresh fruits and vegetables in the recommended amounts of five or more servings per day? Pollution, stress and lifestyle also affect your vitamin and mineral needs. As a general guideline, vitamins and minerals need to be taken in their proper ratios. Taking too much of one can cause a deficiency of another. Prevention Magazine’s book Healing with Vitamins lists key vitamins, amounts needed daily, good food sources and suggestions for specific conditions.