THE BENEFITS OF DAILY VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
In 2006 Americans spent $22.1 billion on dietary
supplements- multivitamins being the number one supplement purchased, and with
good reason. Most of us don't get enough nutrients from food alone, so supplementation
with a multi-vitamin, multi-mineral product becomes the next best thing.
Taking a daily multivitamin does not diminish the
importance of a healthy diet. Food should remain as the primary source of all
vitamins and minerals and cannot be replaced with a supplement. When one
maintains a fairly balanced diet the nutrient gap is narrowed between the
amount of supplements you need and what you actually get from foods. The
smaller the nutrient gap is the more effective your supplement will be in
helping you meet your daily requirement.
So, is there a right or wrong way to take a daily
multivitamin? Many experts would respond to that question with a resounding
yes.
When it comes to vitamins, more is not always better.
High doses of a multivitamin for the purpose of supplementing one's diet are
not helpful. There is no evidence that such mega doses do more for you than the
recommended levels. If anything, they may be harmful to your health. To get the
most out of your supplement, keep your daily intake level within the
recommended dietary allowance (RDA), unless otherwise instructed by your doctor
or other qualified health professional.
It is also important to realize that all multivitamins
are not created equal. There are good and not so good supplements on the
market. Supplements that do not dissolve well in the stomach provide marginal
benefits. The price of a multivitamin is not always a good indicator, and what
works for someone else may not work for you, so may have to experiment to see
which ones do actually work for you. Always buy brand names from companies that
have been in the business for at least five years.
Maximize the benefits you get from your multivitamins
and supplements by taking them at least five days of the week. Although your
systems work much better under stable constant conditions your body may require
a rest. Very few if any foods should be used everyday. Minerals and digestive
enzymes are an exception to this rule. The other would be if you find that you
just donŐt feel well without that particular vitamin or supplement.
TodayŐs mineral poor soil and growing conditions make
supplementation more important today than ever. Many conditions are improved by
the simple use of a multivitamin such as chronic fatigue, poor sleep, digestive
disturbances, memory loss, arthritis and all the infirmities of old age.
If you are at a loss as to where to start, but know
that you need to make some changes. Start with a good multi-vitamin mineral and
see how you do. There are literally endless volumes of material available to
help you. Start one new supplement at a time, see how you feel and go from
there. Till next time, Rebecca
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