The answer to the question "what vitamins should I take daily?" may vary from day to day. Certainly, the answer to that question varies greatly over a person's lifetime.
Because new advice about vitamin supplements seems to appear as regularly as the six o'clock news, it's easy to become confused or even skeptical about the benefits of taking vitamins, but there are some important things the "average" person needs to know.
Eat for Good Health
Most nutritionists acknowledge there is such a volume of information about the many different vitamins and minerals that no one can know it all. Furthermore, medical research probably hasn't yet discovered all there is to know about vitamin and mineral interactions in the body. The good news is that it isn't all that complicated to answer the question, "what vitamins should I take?"
The stereotypical motherly advice most of us heard growing up really is good advice: the key to good health is eating a healthy, balanced diet. Following recommended daily allowances of the basic food groups goes a long way to helping a person maintain a state of good health.
But...
But how many people do you know who eat a perfectly balanced diet? Every day? Right. For that reason, most medical professionals -- including nutritionists -- say it's a good idea to take a regular multivitamin product according to package directions. In fact, many doctors themselves take a daily multivitamin.
Common Sense
While taking a common-sense approach to diet can rule out the need for many supplements, talking to your doctor to identify your specific needs is a smart move. For example, many people don't get enough calcium from their diet. Think about your dietary sources of calcium. Do you drink milk and/or eat cheese, yogurt, or broccoli every day? If you and your doctor can reasonably identify a shortage in your diet, taking a daily supplement with calcium is probably a good idea. Your doctor probably has other recommendations, as well.
Similarly, anytime your doctor prescribes a medication or surgical treatment, you should ask about potential interactions with any vitamins you are taking, or ask whether taking an extra supplement might be a good idea for the short term.
Time for a Change?
As changes occur during a person's lifetime, certain vitamins take on greater importance.
For example, most older people (50s, 60s, and above) can benefit from taking a B12 supplement, because as our bodies age, they tend to be less efficient at using B12.
Pregnancy creates many additional demands on a body -- that's why pregnant women are told to take extra Folate (Folic Acid).
Whenever you have a change in your overall health, consider the implications it may have regarding your diet and nutritional needs.
Warnings
It's important to remember that vitamins aren't drugs. Although "vitamin C cures colds" is often-heard advice, scientific evidence to prove the point is lacking. Any time you are taking more than the recommended daily dose of any vitamin or mineral, you should consult your medical care provider for guidance and suggestions.
Also important to know: vitamins are supplements, not medications, so they are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or approved by any other government regulatory agency. Most product recalls occur only after a problem surfaces -- for example, several diet 'wonder pills' have been recalled after serious illnesses and even deaths have occurred.
Get the Facts
Taking a daily multivitamin probably will help keep your health in balance, but taking too much of any vitamin or mineral supplement can be very unhealthy. Seek reliable diet and nutrition information from your doctor, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and/or the National Institutes of Health (find links in the References section). Remember, companies trying to sell vitamins and other supplements are more interested in their sales than they are in your education.
Tags: your doctor, good idea, vitamin mineral, about vitamin, answer question, , balanced diet