Vitamin supplements are everywhere. They are being hawked on podcasts, social media, TV commercials, and the aisles of grocery stores and pharmacies around the world. From over-the-counter vitamins to little vitamin-rich packets that we can add to our water for a healthy drink, it seems like we can get vitamins everywhere. But do these supplements really do anything? And if they do…what do they do? Let’s talk vitamins because the truth might surprise you.
Vitamins are, of course, very good for you. You can get a majority of your vitamins through vitamin-rich foods, but not everyone has access to everything our bodies need. For example, people in certain regions around the world don’t get vitamin D naturally due to a lack of sunlight. That is where supplements come in to ensure that we can have healthy bodies. Vitamins help boost our immune systems and improve our overall health. They aren’t going to cure ailments, but they can fend off disease and infection.
So, yes, vitamins themselves are healthy, but not all supplements are safe – especially when taken with other medications. Federal regulations for vitamin supplenemts are not nearly as strict as they are for prescription drugs. That means that lost supplements and multivitamins might contain ingredients that are not actually listed on the label. Your Flinstones multivitamin might contain additives that aren’t necessarily regulated or healthy. Yikes! That does not sound like something any of us expect when it comes to taking vitamins.
Supplements can also interact with medications and cancel out some of their effects. You should always cojnsult with a doctor before taking a new supplement if you have other health issues. For example, St. John’s Wort can affect birth control and vitamin A can increase your risk of lung cancer if you are a smoker. Do your research and talk to your doctor.
Taking some vitamins are better than taking zero vitamins. A study showed that women who took a multivitamin daily for more than three years had a lower risk of heart disease. Also people who have restrictive diets and food allergies can benefit from vitamins since they do not get as many necessary nutrients from their diets. In general, vitamin supplements do more good than harm and that’s great news.
As usual, you can’t beat a healthy diet and lifestyle. Supplements seem to work when, well, supplementing a healthy diet. They aren’t going to magically make you healthy if you rarely get nutrients through your food. With that in mind, eat a balanced diet and your multivitamin will do your body good!
