Do You Need To Take A Vitamin?
Posted by
Jane N.
Do you get your full serving of fruits a day? How about vegetables? And what about those 6 servings of grains? Most of us don’t eat what we’re supposed to. We’re tempted by doughnuts and cookies; foods that aren’t exactly nutrient dense.
If you do eat nutritiously and consume a variety of fruits and vegetables a day, chances are you really don’t need a multivitamin every day. But since the majority of us can’t say we do this, a vitamin might just be what we need to complete the health puzzle.
Those who should consider taking a multivitamin:
• On severely restricted diets/low calorie
• Not consuming dairy products
• Women in childbearing years
• Strict vegetarians
• Pregnant or lactating women
Vitamins aren’t exactly encouraged because there can be danger to them. Most vitamins are water soluble, meaning they are absorbed directly into the blood. They travel freely throughout the body and are disposed of on a regular basis. Vitamins that are fat soluble, such as vitamins A, D, E and K, are stored in cells related to fat and can reach toxic levels.
It’s much better to get vitamins and minerals through the diet, for numerous reasons. Food offers us better availability and absorption of nutrients; vitamins should always be a secondary source. It’s also important to avoid extremely heavy doses. You’ll get more than need and your body won’t even absorb it all!
For example, Airborne, a popular dietary supplement, contains obscene amounts of vitamins A and C. While C would be harder to reach toxic levels because it’s water soluble, a few daily doses of vitamin A could easily send you over the recommended daily intake. Sometimes more isn’t always better.
If you want to take a vitamin, go ahead! But take it every few days (except if you fit one of the categories above). I take vitamins because my diet isn’t always up to par, and I feel it makes a difference overall.
Posted by Jane N.
Do you get your full serving of fruits a day? How about vegetables? And what about those 6 servings of grains? Most of us don’t eat what we’re supposed to. We’re tempted by doughnuts and cookies; foods that aren’t exactly nutrient dense. If you do eat nutritiously and consume a variety of fruits and vegetables a day, chances are you really don’t need a multivitamin every day. But since the majority of us can’t say we do this, a vitamin might just be what we need to complete the health puzzle.Those who should consider taking a multivitamin:• On severely restricted diets/low calorie• Not consuming dairy products• Women in childbearing years• Strict vegetarians• Pregnant or lactating women Vitamins aren’t exactly encouraged because there can be danger to them. Most vitamins are water soluble, meaning they are absorbed directly into the blood. They travel freely throughout the body and are disposed of on a regular basis. Vitamins that are fat soluble, such as vitamins A, D, E and K, are stored in cells related to fat and can reach toxic levels. It’s much better to get vitamins and minerals through the diet, for numerous reasons. Food offers us better availability and absorption of nutrients; vitamins should always be a secondary source. It’s also important to avoid extremely heavy doses. You’ll get more than need and your body won’t even absorb it all!For example, Airborne, a popular dietary supplement, contains obscene amounts of vitamins A and C. While C would be harder to reach toxic levels because it’s water soluble, a few daily doses of vitamin A could easily send you over the recommended daily intake. Sometimes more isn’t always better.If you want to take a vitamin, go ahead! But take it every few days (except if you fit one of the categories above). I take vitamins because my diet isn’t always up to par, and I feel it makes a difference overall.