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Author:
Marc

Vitamin supplements – A pill is not always the answer



Vitamins are organic compounds that our bodies use, in very small amounts, for
a variety of metabolic processes. Taking vitamins 'just in case' is not a habit
that anyone should get into and it is always recommended that vitamins are taken
through wholesome and quality food.

There are many different reasons and types of people that may want or need to
take supplements, some of these may include, some vegetarians, people who drink
large amounts of alcohol, drug users, athletic people, pregnant and lactating
women and elderly people.




Are you using Vitamins and Minerals like medicine pills?

There seems to be a trend occurring where it is believed that taking massive
or “mega-doses” of various vitamins will work like medicine to cure
certain conditions. For example, vitamin C has been thought of as a cure for
the common cold for generations and in fact you were probably even told this
by your mother at some stage. Despite extensive research on this it has yet
to be proven



Vitamins from food are best


Research indicates that most of the vitamins you get from the food you eat are
better than those contained in pills. Even though the vitamins in supplements
are synthesized to the exact chemical composition of naturally occurring vitamins,
they still don't seem to work as well. For this reason when selecting a vitamin
supplement it is important that a natural vitamin supplement is selected

Research has shown that a food component that has a particular effect on the
body when present in food may not have the same effect when it is isolated and
taken as a supplement. This could be because the vitamins and minerals in foods
are also influenced by other components of the food, not just the 'active ingredient'.

Food is a complex source of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, which all
work together. Supplements tend to work in isolation. Phytochemicals (plant
chemicals) are an important component of food. They are thought to reduce the
incidence of cancer and heart disease. Supplements do not provide the benefits
of phytochemicals and other components found in food. Taking vitamin supplements
is no substitute for a varied diet

A short term measure



Taking vitamin supplements should be viewed as a short term measure.
The long term use of supplements can lead to symptoms of overdosing or poisoning.
If you feel that you could be lacking in certain vitamins and minerals, it may
be better to look at changing your diet and lifestyle rather than reaching for
supplements.

This being said if you are a highly active person you may need to constantly
supplement your vitamin intake as you will be using your sources much quicker
then the average person.

You should always consult you doctor if you are thinking of starting a vitamin
supplement routine


Specific medical conditions that can benefit from vitamin supplementation



There are specific medical conditions that are known to benefit from
certain vitamin supplementation. In this case it is recommended that you consult
your doctor first and then if you are searching for a vitamin supplement ensure
that you are using a natural well formulated supplement.



Recent scientific studies have outlined some specific areas that can benefit
largely from vitamin supplementation. These are:



• If all women of childbearing age used multivitamins with folic acid,
it should be possible to reduce the current incidence of neural tube birth defects
like spina bifida by as much as 70%.



• The routine use of multivitamins and mineral supplements by the elderly
could improve immune function and thus reduce infectious disease, potentially
cutting in half the total number of days they are sick.



• Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D could reduce the rate of
hip fracture among older people by at least 20%-meaning 40,000 to 50,000 fewer
hip fractures each year in the United States-for an average annual savings of
$1.5 to $2 billion.



• The potential cost savings of a prevention-oriented approach to health
and diet are tremendous. A 1997 analysis predicted that if the occurrence of
cardiovascular disease, stroke and hip fracture were delayed five years, total
U.S. health care cost savings could equal $89 billion annually.



• While the addition of a multivitamin would benefit most people, different
additional supplements should be chosen based on the specific lifestage, gender
or lifestyle of the individual. For example, though calcium is generally important

for all men and women, it is particularly critical for children building bone
mass and elderly people seeking to preserve it.



Things to remember when taking supplements



• Vitamins are organic compounds used by the body in small amounts for
various metabolic processes.



• Vitamin supplements can't replace a healthy diet.



• Those who may need vitamin supplements include pregnant and lactating
women, people who consume alcohol in amounts over those recommended as safe,
drug users and the elderly.



• When taking vitamins try to take a natural brand that follows all of
the FDA guidelines.

Marc Lindsay runs and operates a natural vitamin supplements | herbal supplements information site. http://www.vitamins-herbs-nutrition.com
For information on vitamin and herbal supplementation please visit Vitamin Supplements | Herbal Supplements | Nutritional Supplements

| Article Keywords: Nutrient Basics

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Nutrient Basics... Natural Health And Beauty - The Truth About Vitamin E Whilst skin care products generally won't deliver nutrients deep into the actual living cells beneath the superficial layers of the skin, the vitamin E in many products is actually useful. Scientists have found that by applying antioxidants to the skin, free radical damage that would normally occur through exposure to UV light (say, from the sun), can be prevented or at least minimized. Vitamin E is a popular ingredient in many skin care creams. The scientists found that the protective effects of vitamin E from that period of UV exposure were apparent 2 and 3 days later. The group of people who had vitamin E cream applied to their skin had less signs of inflammation than the group who were given the lotion without vitamin E. Inflammation is a sign of cell damage, and was measured in this study by the amount of blood flow to that area as compared to normal. This was a placebo controlled, double blind study, which means that some people received the lotion with vitamin E, some didn't and neither group knew which it was getting. The conclusions these scientists made were that vitamin E was effective at preventing the visible signs of aging on skin. Whilst vitamin E in creams and lotions will benefit the skin, there is strong doubt on whether it can help in some of the beauty products it is in. For example, when vitamin E is advertised as being of benefit to strengthen or thicken eyelashes, this is something of a misnomer, and is not supported by science. Paula Begoun, the 'cosmetic cop' writes that there isn't a product out there that will strengthen and thicken eyelashes. The best you can do in this instance is to apply an eyelash primer and mascara to make eyelashes appear thicker. Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and the research...