The best way to get all of the vitamins and minerals your body needs is from whole foods. Eating your vitamins and minerals provides a greater array of healthy substances beyond just vitamins and minerals: fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants. However, in this modern age, the average diet is not as well-rounded or consistent as it should be. Supplements can help you round out your nutrition and ensure you are getting all of the nutrients you need on a daily basis.
Who Needs Vitamins?
While anyone can benefit from taking a vitamin supplement to ensure dietary needs are being met, there are certain groups of people more in need of supplements. Those on a limited diet, either low-calorie, some form of vegetarianism or other restrictions, might benefit from a supplement. Some groups of women should take special supplements as well. Pregnant women, those who are trying to conceive, postmenopausal women, and those with heavy menstrual cycles would all benefit from added vitamins. Finally anyone with a medical condition that limits her food choices or affects her body's ability to absorb nutrients should consider taking a supplement. Check with your doctor to see if a supplement is advisable for you.
Multivitamins
Multivitamins are marketed under many different brand names and prices, ranging from inexpensive to very pricey. Most multivitamins contain an assortment of vitamins and minerals, including the 13 necessary vitamins: A, B -- thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate -- C, D, E and K. However, multivitamins also come in formulas aimed at certain population groups: children, men, women and the elderly. When considering multivitamins, it's important to remember that supplements are not meant to replace good nutrition. Aim to get most of your vitamins and minerals from a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Organic Vitamins
One special category of supplements is organic vitamins. Organic refers to products that are free from synthetic chemicals, pesticides, growth hormones and antibiotics. You may choose an organic version of a multivitamin for many reasons. Manufacturers claim organic vitamins are more quickly absorbed into the body. But possibly the most compelling reason to choose an organic vitamin is the comfort of knowing it does not contain even trace chemicals or toxins that could negatively impact your body.
Cautions
The cautions for supplement usage apply to multivitamins and organic vitamins alike. Avoid supplements that offer more than 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of a vitamin or mineral. Make sure your vitamin conforms to the FDA standards for dietary supplements, especially considering substances the FDA has declared dangerous or is reviewing. Pay attention to expiration dates on your supplement packaging. Toss out old supplements and do not purchase products that do not have an expiration date. Finally treat supplements as a medication. Store them out of reach of children and keep them in a cool dry place.
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