Multivitamins
Vitamins are not something the EVERYONE needs to take. However, certain folks are best using a multivitamin or a series of vitamins to supplement their diet if they are unable to get adequate nutrition through what they eat. Those who are particularly good candidates for taking multivitamins include, but are not limited to: pregnant women, strict vegetarians and vegans, those who have gastrointestinal disorders, and those who have restricted diets. Some people over 50 might also benefit from taking supplements. However, if you eat a balanced amount of fruits, vegetables, lean meat, and low-fat dairy products, then you are probably getting all the nutrients you already need.
One of the biggest misconceptions about multivitamins is that a very cheap brand will work the same as a dependable and well-known brand. That is simply not the case. Pricier brands cost more because they have shown to perform better-- dissolving more completely so that they can be fully absorbed by the body and the actually label the type and quantity of nutrients in the supplements more accurately.
Another problem related to buying multivitamins is that people are quick to be convinced by the hype. Many exotic sounding ingredients get included in expensive multivitamins in order to make people think that they will produce superior results than standard vitamins. The same goes for formulas that claim to have better effects because of larger doses. The truth is that many ingredients have unsubstantiated claims that are not verified by the FDA or they are included in such trace amounts that they have minimal to no effect. Furthermore, larger doses don't equal more effectiveness. You should note that multivitamins are much like other over-the-counter medications. Dosage and directions are important to follow since improper and/or over dosage can be harmful and counter productive.
Things to Know When Shopping- Quality vitamin brands on sale are always a good bargain as long as you can finish the bottle by the expiration date.
- Vitamins generally last for about a year before going bad.
- Read the labels. Basic vitamins and minerals are what you want-- 18 in all.
- Watch out for dosage limits and never exceed the recommended amounts unless otherwise directed by a doctor or physician.
- Plenty of brands offer gender specific and age specific vitamins.
- Certain people will need some more specific types of vitamins than others, like women who need additional calcium or iron supplements due to heavy blood loss from menstruation or when they are postmenstrual.
- If you don't know that you have a specific need, you are best going for the basics.
- Chewables and liquids are easier to take than tablets. There are even gummy vitamins that taste more like candy than pills, which can sometimes be useful if you need to give vitamins to children.
Quality Brands
External Links- Heart Spring: A, C, D? Information about types of vitamins, their uses, choosing multivitamins and more.
- Consumer Lab: Reviews and important information about multivitamins.
- FDA: This is the "Overview" page for the FDA's information about dietary supplements.
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