Recommended Vitamins For Women

There are a variety of essential vitamins that the body requires to operate correctly, and it is an easy task to take these in the form of a vitamin supplement. Most people do not have well-balanced eating habits, and they may be short on specific vitamins so that they need a vitamin supplement so that they do not have a deficiency of an essential vitamin.
Vitamin B
A common rumor is that the B complex vitamins, including Folic acid will reduce the risk of heart disease in women who are prone to heart problems. This theory has been tested and is proven to be false. Studies show that women who took B complex vitamins and Folic acid were no less likely to have heart problems than women who did not consume these supplements.
Some say that Vitamin B-1, which is also called thiamine, helps with the growth of hair at the roots. You will even hear that the hair will not grow properly without this vitamin. Some rumors are even passed around that claim Vitamin B-1 assists with the root development of plants as well. This is certainly not the case, as there are no scientific studies to back up such claims. Another version of this rumor is that taking Vitamin B-1 helps to reduce transplant shock for either people who are receiving new organs, or plants that are being moved.
Again, this is not at all the case. Have you been told that Vitamin B-6 is safe for you to consume, even if it is taken above the recommended limit? This is supposedly true, because it is a water-soluble vitamin. However, the myth is also quite false, as excessive B-6 in the human body can lead to neuropathy pain, skin lesions, vomiting, and even more health problems. Vitamin B-6, like any other vitamin, is best taken within the recommended dosages.
Another rumor about vitamin B-6 is that it is an effective treatment for PMS. While double-blind studies were done that initially proved this to be the case, further analysis of those studies have proven them to be inaccurate.
Vitamin B-12 is received by most individuals through the ingestion of meat. Vegans and vegetarians, however do not get this vitamin from eating meat, for obvious reasons!
This fact lends credence to the myth that people need B-12 every day in high dosages. In truth, B-12 is needed in exceptionally small amounts, only about 2 micrograms a day, as the body can store up years worth of B-12 for future use. For this reason, going without this vitamin is not usually problematic as long as it is ingested occasionally in one form or another.
Vitamin C
While Vitamin C is quite good for you, and does help to build the immune system, taking a huge dose of vitamin C will not keep a cold away! Scientists have cured many illnesses, as you know. However, as the old saying goes, there is no cure for the common cold! Vitamin C is no miracle cure for any illness, sadly. There have never been any scientific studies done that would prove otherwise.
Vitamin D
One very interesting myth about Vitamin D is contained in its moniker! You see, Vitamin D is not actually a vitamin. While it is quite essential to the body, and for this reason is referred to as one, Vitamin D is actually a hormone!
As it is commonly known, Vitamin D is made in the body by sun exposure. This is a true fact, however it is a myth to believe that a sufficient amount of vitamin D can be gained in the body simply by normal day-to-day exposure to the sun.
Unless someone spends large amounts of time outdoors, most people do not get enough sunshine in their everyday lives to produce the required amount of vitamin D. Purposely sunning to try and avoid Vitamin D deficiency is definitely not a good idea! In order for your skin to absorb the sun’s rays, you would have to go out in the sun unprotected by sunscreen. Instead of preventing a deficiency, this could very likely cause skin cancer.
The next myth is that the proper level of Vitamin D can be sufficiently gained through diet. This is incorrect, as the body naturally produces Vitamin D-3. Food sold in supermarkets generally contains Vitamin D-2 when the label states that the product has Vitamin D. In fact, in addition to this statement, recent studies show that the amount of Vitamin D listed on the labels of most foods is completely inaccurate more than half of the time!
Another myth regarding Vitamin D is that it should be avoided by pregnant and breastfeeding women. Regardless of whether or not you are pregnant, it is encouraged that all individuals receive 400 IU of Vitamin D on a daily basis. Babies should receive 210 IU of Vitamin D each day. Since Vitamin D crosses over into the breast milk, it is better to make sure the mother receives 4,000 IU of vitamin D instead of supplementing the child’s diet.
Vitamin E
Perhaps the most commonly believed myth about Vitamin E is that it helps to heal wounds, and can also decrease scars on the skin. Studies have shown that Vitamin E has no positive effects on scars or wounds, and in fact can even be bad for the skin. Vitamin E has a tendency to prove rather irritating to the skin, and can even cause an allergic reaction. When used on burn scars, for example, Vitamin E has been shown to cause the scars to become more discolored than they were before!
Little Known Facts About Vitamins
Vitamin A
While most people know that Vitamin A is needed for the body’s good health, they do not realize what happens when the supplement is taken in excess. Too much Vitamin A can actually cause liver damage, damage to the nervous system, yellow skin, hair loss, and bone damage. In pregnant women, excess Vitamin A can cause birth defects to the child.
If you take it in the correct amounts, Vitamin A is not only healthy, but is also known to be essential to most bodily functions. The best way to get enough Vitamin A is through the foods you eat. This important vitamin can be found naturally in eggs, whole milk, liver, and in fruits and vegetables that are brightly colored.
Vitamin A is absolutely essential because when it is not received by the body in adequate proportions, it can lead to immunity problems and infections. Luckily, this is rather uncommon in developed countries, and usually is only problematic with those who are on strict diets or maintain a high alcohol intake.
Vitamin B
Vitamin B is actually a group of four vitamins, vitamin B-1 also called thiamine, vitamin B-2 also called riboflavin, vitamin B-6 also called pyridoxine, and vitamin B-12 also called cobalamin. Together, these four vitamins make the B vitamin group.
Most individuals in developed countries get plenty of B vitamins; however vegetarians sometimes have a deficiency due to their being found primarily in animals. Some medications also affect the way B vitamins are absorbed into the body and can cause a deficiency. A vitamin B deficiency is usually characterized by skin rashes, nerve problems, and anemia.
Although a B vitamin overdose is almost unheard of, when it does occur symptoms include severe burning of any part of the body, itching, or numbness. As with all supplements, it is best to take vitamin B only as recommended.
Vitamin C
Ascorbic Acid, which is another name for Vitamin C, is essential for helping the body absorb iron. When too much Vitamin C is taken, it can cause diarrhea and stomach pain. This is important to keep in mind when someone suggests taking a Vitamin C overload to help cure a cold!
Vitamin C is has been commonly associated with the immune system. What most people do not realize, however, is that there is a whole host of potential problems that can come from a deficiency of Vitamin C. Lesser known problems stemming from a lack of Vitamin C include nosebleeds, general weakness and lassitude, swollen gums, and scurvy.
Vitamin C is found naturally in most fruits and vegetables, and is found in larger portions in raspberries, cantaloupe, broccoli, strawberries, and cabbage. Surprisingly, Vitamin C can also be found in liver. When taken in the form of supplements, Vitamin C is best consumed in liquid form, as the pill form is not always absorbed properly by the body.
Vitamin D
There are actually two different forms of vitamin D. There is one form that is found in vegetables, and another form found in animals. The form of Vitamin D found in vegetables is called ergocalciferol, while the alternative form is called cholecalciferol. This is the form that is metabolized by the body whenever we expose it to sunlight.
Vitamin D is an essential hormone in the body, and deficiencies are usually found in people who have milk allergies, lactose intolerance, or those who are strict vegetarians. When not enough Vitamin D is taken into the body, it can cause rickets and osteomalacia, which are both diseases that affect the bone structure.
When too much Vitamin D is consumed, however, it can cause an over- absorption of calcium. This can result in calcification, urinary stones, and problems with the central nervous system. Problems with the central muscle system can show up as well. Vitamin D should be taken only as recommended by your doctor.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is found in wheat germ, spinach, olives, nuts, seeds, and leafy greens. Eating foods that are rich in Vitamin E can help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and prostate cancer, as well as helping to guard against the UV rays of the sun.
Although it is exceptionally rare for people to develop a Vitamin E deficiency, it’s still important to make sure that the recommended daily dose is taken. A Vitamin E deficiency has been known to cause severe problems with the nervous system.
Too much Vitamin E can cause fatigue, weakness, flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain, internal bleeding, and headaches. These symptoms will increase in severity if the overdose is continued over a period of time.
Vitamins, medications, and health benefits
Vitamins and medications
Vitamins are an important nutritional resource, and for this reason doctors may prescribe certain vitamins specific to one’s own needs. One example of this would be the prescription of folic acid and other prenatal vitamins to pregnant and nursing mothers. In addition to this, there are some medications prescribed for certain ailments that actually deplete the levels of vitamins in the body.
Doctors will prescribe vitamins in conjunction with some medications, but some vitamins actually counteract the affects of medications. That’s why it is important to avoid some vitamins when taking certain medicines. Ask a doctor about your vitamin intake when being given a new prescription.
Possible Interactions With Medications
When taking some medications, certain vitamins should be avoided. Some medications used for treatment of acne and skin problems can interact poorly with Vitamin A. These medications increase the risk of Vitamin A toxicity and for that reason, the vitamin should not be taken. Vitamin B-6 should be avoided when taking prescription Levodopa. However, when Levodopa is taken in conjunction with Carbidopa, the concern of vitamin B-6 interactions is eliminated. For this reason, most doctors now prescribe both medications together.
Warfarin is a medication that is known to have negative side effects when taken simultaneously with vitamin E. Some studies have shown that some people taking both Warfarin and vitamin E have an increased risk of internal bleeding which can lead to serious health complications. Warfarin should also not be taken with Vitamin K, as the vitamin K can decrease the effectiveness of the Warfarin.
Phenytoin is a medication known to interact with folic acid. This is not a common problem, because most over-the-counter folic acid pills are not given in high enough doses to interact with Phenytoin. It is still important, however to check with your doctor when being prescribed Phenytoin before you takefolic acid. Because senior citizens generally take multiple medications, it is always very important to consult a doctor about what medications are safe to take.
Vitamins that boost the effects of medications
Some medications have been found to be more effective when given in conjunction with certain vitamins. One example of this is Vitamin D. Medications that are prescribed to help with bone health are actually given a boost in efficiency by Vitamin D. Vitamin D is also shown to help with medications that help fight osteoporosis. Some studies show that vitamin D along with magnesium helps with the development of bone in teenage girls.
The B complex vitamins have been shown to boost the affects of medications that help with brain development and muscle and body development. Vitamin E is used in conjunction with immune system boosting medications, especially in the elderly.
Health Benefits To Senior Citizens
Seniors have specific needs in order to stay healthy. As people get older, they generally develop greater health needs, have a less efficient immune system, and become more fragile in structure. Due to their specialized needs, it is especially important for senior citizens to maintain an adequate supply of vitamins in their diets.
Calcium And Bone Density
Calcium is a very important part of nutrition, especially in senior citizens. When a person reaches the age of seventy, their bones can become quite brittle. To help combat this, calcium supplements can be taken. Few people realize that an adequate amount of calcium is not in the diet of the average person. In the human body, two percent of the body’s weight is actually made up of calcium, almost all of which is found in the teeth and bones.
A calcium supplement should be a part of the daily routine for the elderly, especially with women who are prone to osteoporosis, a word which literally translates to “porous bones”. Each year, about twenty percent of the body’s calcium is destroyed and replenished through food and supplements. A person stands to lose a good deal of their bone health pretty quickly if they are not sufficiently taking in the calcium they need regularly.
While calcium is necessary and should not be ignored, it is not a good idea to take more of it than recommended. Anything above the required amount of calcium has no additional benefits to the body. When the recommended amount has doubled it actually can have side effects and can cause sickness.
Benefits Of Fiber
Fiber is a form of carbohydrates that are not broken down and digested by the body. Instead, fiber is excreted from the body in the feces. There are two different types of fiber, called soluble and insoluble. When mixed with liquid, soluble fiber forms a gel like substance, and binds with fatty acids. Soluble fiber lowers cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease.
It also helps to regulate blood sugar in individuals with diabetes. Insoluble fiber passes directly through the intestines and helps balance the pH levels of the intestines, which helps prevent colon cancer. Insoluble fiber promotes regular bowel movements and prevents constipation, and removes toxic waste from the colon in less time.
Fiber intake is usually broken down into seventy-five percent insoluble fiber and twenty-five percent soluble fiber. It is recommended that the average person gets twenty-five grams of fiber each day. Fiber can be acquired by eating oats, bran, nuts, seeds, barley, and some vegetables. It’s important to make sure your diet contains enough fiber to keep your body working the way it should. Because the elderly often do not get enough fiber in their diet however, it is a good idea to take a fiber supplement. Fiber supplements come in both pill form and powder form, which is dissolved into a liquid.
Supplements To Boost Memory
Over time, pollutants can build up in the brain and impair memory function. These pollutants can come from habits such as smoking and drinking, or simply being exposed to such things as air and water pollution. The older people get, the more their memory can be impaired by this.
There are many vitamins on the market that will help to prevent this problem, and when you are taking the proper amounts of them, your brain and memory function can be improved.
The B Vitamin groups, especially folic acid, and Vitamins B-6 and B-12 help with brain function. They are especially helpful with information processing, and verbal skills. This is an important group of vitamins for the elderly, whose brain function begins to slow down.
Vitamin B-6 has been proven to help with memory retention, and the other B vitamins have been shown to promote mental clarity. Each different B vitamin helps in a slightly different way, but almost all of them are quite necessary with the development of the brain and brain function. By taking their B vitamins, the elderly are helping to keep their minds and bodies strong for years to come.
Vitamin E has been shown to help improve memory function by neutralizing the chemicals that are collected in the brain over time by cigarette smoke, alcohol, and air pollution. Taking Vitamin E can be especially helpful in trying to help with the memories of those who have led particularly unhealthy lifestyles. Drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol consumption often times help contribute to memory loss down the line, because these pollutants deposit into the brain and cause problems with brain development and functioning, as well as memory functioning.
Vitamin C helps with brain function as well, and aids in the overall lifetime performance of memory and other brain functions. Some studies have even shown that those who receive an adequate supply of vitamin C even have a tendency to live longer lives. Vitamin C is especially important in the elderly who tend to have less adequate immune systems than those whom are younger. Vitamin C helps boost the immune system and keep the elderly healthy as they get older.
Doctor Recommended Vitamins And Supplements
Due to declining bone health in most elderly people, it is important to always take a calcium supplement and maintain an adequate supply of calcium in the body to help prevent brittle bone disease and broken bones due to falls. It is also quite important to take a daily fiber supplement because it is unusual for an elderly person to ingest all of the necessary fiber that is needed to keep one healthy simply from diet alone.
Because the elderly are less likely to be exposed to prolonged sunshine, a Vitamin D supplement is also recommended, especially since it can also help with bone density and bone strength. In fact, the required amount of Vitamin D is greater in an elderly person than a person of a younger age.
Folate and Vitamin B-12 are vitamins that are also greatly recommended for seniors. These will aid in both digestion and proper skin health. Luckily, most multivitamins that are designed for seniors aim their content directly to what most seniors are said to need. Shopping for vitamins based upon who will be taking them is a fairly simple and fool proof method of deciding how much of each vitamin and mineral is needed for that individual person. Of course, consulting a doctor on which multivitamin or single vitamin is best for a particular person can give one a better insight on what is perfectly right for them.
Vitamins and women
Vitamins women need
Like children, senior citizens, and men, women have specialized needs in their vitamin intake. Vitamins should be taken that help them not only to stay healthy, but also to help balance out their natural menstrual cycles. Many people would be amazed to know how greatly vitamins and herbal supplements can help with the female reproductive system, from relieving pre-menstrual symptoms to increasing sex drives, right down to helping with conception.
Extra Amounts Women Need
Women need a lot of the same daily vitamins as their male counterparts. There are four vitamins and two minerals that women need especially. Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and Magnesium are three of the vitamins that are especially needed in women. In addition to these three vitamins, it is important for breastfeeding women to also take zinc each day. Calcium and Iron are two very important minerals that women should remember to consume daily as well.
Women’s Multivitamins
Some women try to take individual vitamins each day, while others prefer to get their daily requirements by taking one simple pill. For these women, specialized women’s vitamins are the way to go. Women can also talk to their doctor to see if any prescription or over-the-counter vitamins are recommended.
For females who are trying to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are nursing, specialized prenatal vitamins are both recommended and encouraged. These are available both with a prescription and over-the-counter. Prescription vitamins often come with the added bonus of being covered by insurance. Prenatal vitamins are an important part of making sure your baby develops in a healthy way. Women carrying babies who are depleted of vitamins have a much higher risks of having babies born with health problems – for instance, Spina Bifida is a devastating life-long disability caused by pregnant mothers not getting enough folic acid.
Do not be fooled into thinking one brand of vitamin is better than another simply because it costs more money, as this is not always the case. Always remember to keep in mind what types of vitamins and minerals your multivitamin should have in it, and compare that to the ingredients listed on the bottle. Pay special attention to the amount of each vitamin and mineral listed on the bottle, and compare that to what is the recommended daily dose.
Women’s Herbal Supplements
There are some herbs that are beneficial to both genders in terms of the health of their reproductive systems. Most are beneficial to both men and women. Herbal supplements that have positive effects on women include ginseng, fo-ti, Damiana, Tongkat Ali, and Maca.
• Ginseng serves as a natural aphrodisiac and in fact, is one of the best selling herbs on the market. This herb is also credited with giving increased brain function and concentration. Ginseng is quite safe and effective, but of course should only be taken within its recommended dosages.
• Fo-ti is a Chinese herb that has been used for centuries to increase a woman’s libido. While this supplement is also used for men, it seems to have more profound effects on women than on their partners.
• Damiana is another herb that is known to be a wonderfully successful aphrodisiac. This plant has been used in Mexico for years for this very purpose, and in more recent years has made its way to other countries for the same reason.
• Tongkat Ali is an herb known for increasing libido in both men and women. This herb comes from Malaysian countries and in its own region is actually more popular than prescription medications!
• Maca dates back to ancient civilization. It is credited to increased physical strength as well as a heightened libido. Maca has been taken for many years as a way of naturally boosting an individual’s sex drive.
Vitamins And Supplements Women Should Avoid
Herbs Women Should Avoid
Some herbs area not healthy for a woman to take, especially if she is nursing, pregnant, or thinks she may become pregnant soon. While herbs are all natural, they are not all healthy, and some of them can be quite harmful. It’s important to thoroughly research any herb or supplement before taking it to insure that it will have only the most positive effects on your health.
Herbs that should be avoided by women at all cost include Black cohosh, blue cohosh, pennyroyal, ginger, dong quai, licorice (yes ladies, this does include the candy!) and fenugreek. These herbal supplements have a variety of side effects that can be devastating to the woman’s body, especially a pregnant woman.
• Black cohosh is occasionally used under the direction of an experienced herbalist, doctor, or midwife, in order to encourage contractions and labor toward the end of a pregnancy. If it is taken any earlier than this in any amount, can cause a miscarriage.
• Blue cohosh, like its brother herb, should also never be taken in an quantity during pregnancy, for fear of causing contractions which could lead to early labor and miscarriage.
• Pennyroyal is an herb that can cause hemorrhaging and death in a pregnant woman. Like Cohosh, it can also cause contractions and in fact, was even given throughout history in large doses to women in order to make them abort.
• Ginger is a great herb to alleviate nausea and flu like symptoms, however during pregnancy can actually case birth defects to the unborn child much like the use of drugs can. Ginger should be avoided both during pregnancy, and during conception.
• Dong quai is yet another herb that can cause premature uterine contractions along with birth defects, and therefore should be avoided prior to conception as well as throughout pregnancy.
• Licorice and its black candy (the red varieties do not contain actual licorice) can be very aggravating for those trying to conceive. Licorice decreases the likelihood of conception and also increases blood pressure.
• Fenugreek is in line with the above mentioned herbs. This herb also causes uterine contraction during pregnancy which can easily lead to miscarriages and should be strictly avoided in pregnant women.
Other Supplements Women Should Avoid
Herbs are not the only supplements that should at times be avoided by women. Some supplements should be avoided at all times by women while other supplements only need to be avoided before and during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Some of the more common supplements that women should avoid include, but are not limited to, vitamin A, vitamin D, and alfalfa.
• Vitamin A is an important part of health, but when more than 10,000 IU of this nutrient is taken daily by a pregnant women, it can severely increase the rate and likelihood of birth defects. Please consult a doctor if you are pregnant or nursing and you think your daily intake of vitamin A is greater than 10,000 IU.
• For the same reason, vitamin D should not fall outside of the guidelines of 400-1,000 IU each day. Anything lower than 400 IU can cause the pregnant mother to be unhealthy, but anything over 1,000 IU a day creates a chance to cause birth defects.
• Women who are presently taking birth control pills, blood thinners, aspirin, Warfarin, Heparin, or potassium should not take alfalfa supplements. The risks and complications with alfalfa combined with any of the above mentioned substances can be quite severe including severe bleeding. Birth control is also much less affective when alfalfa is taken and there is an increased risk of pregnancy.
It is quite important for any woman who is thinking of taking any type of vitamin or other supplement to speak with their doctor before taking it, especially if they are breastfeeding, pregnant, or trying to become pregnant. Precaution certainly outweighs trying to correct whatever problems could be caused by taking the wrong thing.
Supplements Vs. Food
Getting Vitamins Through Food
There is plenty of debate among nutritional experts over whether or not vitamins should be primarily attained through food or through vitamin supplements. Those in favor of food feel that it is a more natural way to get their required daily vitamins. The experts who lean toward supplements feel that they are a more accurate way to ensure good health.
In truth, the answer is probably somewhere in between these two extremes. It is important to eat a healthy and balanced diet, but because preparing a diet that is one hundred percent nutritionally balanced would take nearly as long as a full time job, supplementing through vitamins is great idea as well.
Advantages Of A Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet is quite important, regardless of whether or not a person takes supplements. The body requires more than just vitamins to stay healthy, and the natural balance that fruits, vegetables, proteins, and carbohydrates provide to the body is essential to healthy living.
Those who eat a balanced diet are shown to be in better physical condition, have fewer health problems, feel more energized, have a stronger immune system, and live longer lives than those who are less cautious about what goes on their plates. It’s important to balance ones diet so that the body is supplied with the correct amounts of vitamins, minerals, and proteins, and eating healthy is a great way to begin this process.
Disadvantages Of Vitamins Through Diet
Getting your vitamins and nutrients from your diet is a wonderful way to help keep your body happy and healthy. However, it is nearly impossible to receive all of the necessary essentials simply from eating right. Almost no one eats right all of the time, even when they are making a conscious effort to do so. Even when meals are perfectly balanced, they do not always contain the vitamins and minerals that they are thought to have.
Most people do not realize that cooking foods vastly breaks down their vitamin content, significantly reducing their nutritional value. The process of heating the food breaks down the vitamins structure. When we eat cooked food, it ends up having not even half of the assumed nutritional intake as one would expect. It is for this reason that eating cooked food leaves one at a disadvantage if they are trying to pack all of their daily nutritional needs into their diet alone.
This is also important to keep in mind that when dealing with children. it’s especially difficult to keep a child eating only the healthiest foods and able to receive proper nutrition from their diet alone.
Are All Vitamins Available In Food?
To put it simply; yes. All vitamins are available in food. However, it is often nearly impossible to get the required daily dose of them through food alone. The recommended doses of some vitamins would require vast amounts of foods in order to hit the minimum required amounts, and that is only taking into account one vitamin.
The human body requires many vitamins each day, all with a certain amounts that need to be met throughout the day. It is virtually impossible to develop eating habits that incorporate the entire required vitamin intake for each vitamin, so while yes, the vitamins are theoretically available in food, no, they are not always available in the correct amount.
How Much Of What Should I Eat?
This is the age old question of the food pyramid. It has been taught to children in school health classes for years now, and has become quite popular with the adults as well over more recent years. Though the food pyramid has made mild changes over the years with shifts in opinion of what exactly is needed, the prevailing model states the new recommendations.
The new model recommends that carbohydrates should be consumed in six to eleven servings each day. Fruits should include two to four servings, and vegetables should include three to five servings. Climbing higher up the pyramid, the dairy group as well as the protein group requires two to three servings each. At the top of the pyramid are fats, oils, and sweets, which are suggested to be used sparingly.
Getting Vitamins Through Supplements
First and foremost, it is quite important to understand that taking daily supplements does not replace eating a healthy balanced meal. Just because one takes their vitamins does not mean that they can eat fast food and sweets as their primary food source. As with most things in life, it is important to attain a balance between the different dynamics.
Supplemented vitamins are not all the same across the board.
They should be individually evaluated for both health benefits and efficiency. It’s also a good idea to discuss with your doctor what is recommended for you specifically. Anyone who is taking any medications should also consult their doctor in case of rare but potentially harmful interactions.
What Is The Advantage?
The main advantage to getting your vitamins from a supplement is that your body is able to expect and predict what nutrition it will have every day. The food that people eat each day is varied from meal to meal and therefore provides different nutrients each day, leaving the body in limbo not knowing what to expect. By taking a daily supplement the body is more naturally balanced.
Another great advantage of taking daily vitamins is the knowledge that even if your nutrition slips a little bit one day your body is still nourished with its daily requirements of vitamins and minerals.
What Are The Disadvantages?
There are really no real disadvantages in taking multivitamins when you do so in a smart and sensible way. A possible disadvantage would be consuming and relying on multivitamins that are not nutritionally sound. Another disadvantage would be relying only on supplements without eating a proper diet. However, as discussed earlier, these are all things that need to be maintained in conjunction with vitamin intake.
Are All Required Vitamins Available As Supplements?
Yes! When perusing the shelves of a local nutritional and health store, you will see that there are many manufactured supplements for all of your vitamin, mineral, and herbal needs. These vitamins can be purchased separately to create a blend of exactly what vitamins you feel are necessary in your system, but there is really no need for this. You will find that most multivitamins are actually proven quite effective in developing a nutritionally balanced blend for you.
Multivitamins Or Individual Pills?
It is not recommended to simply blindly pick individual supplements and combine them without the proper research and recommendations from doctors, herbalists, or health specialists. An incorrect blend of supplements can disrupt the natural balance of the body, so when choosing individual vitamins, chose carefully!
In most cases, herbalists and nutritional specialists can be found in your local yellow pages. They would be happy to set up a time with you to discuss your daily activities and nutrition, and then evaluate what supplements would be best for you. A doctor can always be consulted about vitamin needs as well, though it is important to check with your doctor regarding his knowledge of herbal supplements. Not all doctors feel that they know every little detail about modern medicine.
Liquid Or Pill Form?
Newer studies have recently shown that liquid forms of vitamins or gel caps are more effective and more easily digested than the pill form. Allegations have even been made that the pill forms of some vitamins don’t dissolve and digest in the body. No scientific studies have proven this idea, and many supplements are not available in liquid form. At present time, the jury is out on this question. However, some suggest that a liquid or liquid gel form is preferable when available.
A COMPREHENSIVE BREAKDOWN OF VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
In an attempt to understand what each vitamin consists of and how it affects the body, here we outline various vitamins and their benefits on the body.