Supplements are sometimes needed to maintain proper health. Most vitamins and minerals are obtained by eating a healthy diet, but due to illness or other life changes, it may become necessary to obtain them through dietary supplement capsules, liquid or powder. Consult your doctor before using supplements.
Multivitamins
A multivitamin is a supplement that contains a mixture of essential vitamins and minerals for proper health and maintenance. They are mainly used to make up for nutrients not obtained by eating a proper diet. At some point, people who eat a balanced diet may still be required to take a multivitamin due to illness, medical treatments or pregnancy. Multivitamins come in capsule, liquid and powder forms. A prenatal vitamin, which is prescribed to women who are pregnant, is also a form of multivitamin. Drugs.com recommends that you never take more than the recommended dosage since these vitamins may cause toxicity, which in some cases can be life-threatening.
Iron
Iron is a mineral that is needed in the body to transport oxygen throughout the body. The majority of iron in the body is found within red blood cells. There are two forms of iron: heme and nonheme. Heme iron is obtained through meat sources such as chicken, red meat, liver, clams and turkey. Non-heme iron is obtained through non-meat items such as beans, lentils, molasses, spinach and tofu. Adult women are recommended to consume at least 18mg of iron per day, whereas men are to consume 8mg per day. If you are taking an iron supplement, it is best to take one that is formulated either for men or women.
B-Complex Vitamins
B-complex vitamins are needed to maintain the health and functioning of cells, nerves, tissues, muscles and the heart. They are also needed to maintain digestive health and to convert food into energy. Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9 and B12 all make up the B-complex family. All of the B vitamins do different jobs within the body, but they are all necessary to have since they all work in conjunction with each other. Each vitamin has its own recommended daily allowance; however, you may take a B-complex supplement to obtain them all at once. Each supplement has its own dosage requirements -- read the label for proper dosing.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that is used to protect the body from free radicals that may influence the development of cancer over time. In addition, vitamin E also plays a role in the formation of red blood cells and preventing heart disease, dementia, liver disease and stroke. Natural food sources of vitamin E are wheat germ, corn, seeds, olives, spinach and vegetable oils. Vitamin E is available as a oil capsule supplement that can be purchased at most grocery stores or health food stores. The daily recommended allowance of vitamin E is 15mg per day.
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