Assessing
multivitamin requirements
Before heading down to your local health store or supermarket to stockpile a
stash of vitamins it is important to assess if you really need them. If you are
already in good health and have
a generally healthy lifestyle where you eat a cross-section of nutritious foods
they may not actually provide any further benefits, or you may not be taking
the right ones for your specific needs:
However, there are clear cases where they can be beneficial, for instance if
you are trying to get pregnant; if you have a shortage of key vitamins such as
vitamin D; if you are very rundown, or when you have certain ailments that make
the absorption of nutrients difficult to name a few examples. In the latter
cases, those trying to get pregnant are recommended to take 400 micrograms of
folic acid and some illnesses such as Chhorn’s disease or cystic fibrosis may
lead to malabsorption where vitamins from food are not absorbed effectively:
1. Understand the dosage
Although multivitamins can be beneficial to health it is important to remember
the limitations and follow the dosage, as too much could cause damage. For
instance, excess vitamin C or zinc could potentially cause hair loss or nausea,
and although it would take a lot to cause this kind of effect always remember
to keep within the recommended doses to get the maximum benefit from vitamins.
2. Vitamins can’t compensate for a poor diet
Unfortunately some people think that if they pop a few pills it will compensate
for serious nutritional deficiencies in their diet. It won’t! However, taken
alongside a healthy and nutritious diet such as one with a good balance of
vegetables, fruit, protein and carbohydrates, multivitamins can enhance the
benefits to health and proactively complement a healthy lifestyle.
3. Multivitamins aren’t regulated
A common misconception is that multivitamins are regulated in the way that
drugs or foods are – but this is not the case. They don’t have to go through
product tests and aren’t necessarily supported by efficacy or safety
assessments. Most vitamins are nevertheless safe but it is wise to use a
reputable supplier for your multivitamin supplies
to ensure you purchase a good quality brand.
4. Always read the label
Check that the vitamins have the specific nutrients you want to supplement and
at the right dosage. For example, one brand may have vitamin C but another may
leave it out in favour of another vitamin, therefore check there is a balance
of the ones that you are looking for to supplement your diet. With the right
selection of multivitamins along with other healthy life choices you may start
to see the benefits in your general wellbeing.
5. Multivitamins can’t cure a major disease
Although it is important to maintain good overall health and consider vitamins if
you are undergoing a major illness or treatment, multivitamins cannot cure this
but may help you to feel better and recover your health alongside standard
medicine, treatments and a healthy lifestyle. However, in this scenario always
check with your physician before you begin multivitamin supplements to ensure
there is no conflict with any other medications.