The Best Vitamines Available
What Vitamins are Worth Taking, and Which Ones are a Waste of Money?
With the great variety of vitamins out there, all vying for our attention, what vitamins are actually worth taking, and which are a waste of money?
This array of choices is especially confusing in light of the new studies that seem to come out every week. One says that we should take a supplement, whether to avoid breast cancer or heart attack, and the next saying that it could cause increased risk of stroke.
The one thing the doctors do seem to agree upon is that a multivitamin is a great supplement to a healthy diet, to ensure that we’re getting everything that our body needs on a daily basis. As for the rest, this is what we found out.
The first thing you should do is to ensure that your vitamins dissolve properly. You can test this by leaving your vitamin in water and seeing how easily it dissolves. If your body doesn’t absorb the vitamins, they definitely won’t be doing you any good.
Take your vitamins with food. Otherwise, your body is less likely to absorb them. It is also best to space them throughout the day, to keep levels constant.
Avoid super doses — the daily recommended percentages were selected for a reason. A normal multivitamin should be fine for the basics.
Vitamin D seems to be a wise choice for both sexes, as in the US, we are commonly deficient. Many doctors take this supplement. It is recommended that you ensure you take D3, in specific.
Many doctors also warn against the use of iron, unless it is prescribed, for both men and postmenopausal women. It is possible to overdose on iron, and on other vitamins as well and they can be toxic if too much is taken. That's why it is important to be careful not to overload on vitamins.
Remember, food is often supplemented with extra vitamins as well. So keep an eye on everything that you ingest.
While men don’t need extra calcium, and it may in fact cause an increased risk of some kind of cancer for them, women could probably benefit from additional calcium supplementation.
Men and women may both benefit from Omega-3s, also found in fish oil, which are believed to be great for heart health. Many doctors also recommend Coenzyme Q10 which is supposed to help with immune system function.
However, beyond that, any specific choices regarding vitamin supplementation really depend upon the individual, their lifestyle, and their needs. For example, a vegetarian will have different supplementation needs than a meat-eater, and a pregnant woman has different needs (such as increased folic acid) than a non-pregnant woman.
It is important to remember that vitamin supplements are no replacement for a healthy lifestyle. Also, most vitamins are best used in combination with other vitamins, so our body may not be able to make the best use of any given supplement if we are deficient in other vitamins.
For more interesting articles about supplements and much more please visit the Drugs & Supplements section on GKHealth.
