We have always been told that taking vitamin supplements helps make us healthier and give us more energy; But the question here is how true this statement is. Are vitamin supplements healthy or not? Most people and doctors agree that we get most of the vitamins we need from the food we eat. Food like bananas and milk contain a large amount of potassium and vitamin D. They are also necessary for healthy bones and teeth. Fruits and vegetables give us other nutrients we need daily. But not everyone gets the recommended dose of vitamins every day from their food and that’s where multivitamins come in.
Vitamin Supplements
But this does not mean that taking multivitamins is always a good idea, as taking them in large quantities can be dangerous and when the body is given too many vitamins, it may get worse.
Dangers of Vitamin Supplements:
The National Institute of Health warned of the excessive intake of multi-vitamins, based on the evidence that proves that consuming a large amount of vitamins may lead to poisoning in the body that may be fatal.
There are two types of vitamins: water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins.
Water-soluble vitamins are usually eliminated in excess through urination.
But the real problem lies in the fat-soluble vitamins, as they accumulate in the body, which may lead to poisoning.
Fat-soluble vitamin supplements are:Vitamin AVitamin EVitamin DWater soluble vitamin supplements are:Vitamin BVitamin C
The vitamins mentioned as fat-soluble vitamins may accumulate in the body until they reach toxic levels; It may lead to insomnia and a feeling of numbness in the extremities and irritability.
Among the vitamins of concern are calcium, vitamin D and folic acid, as they are fat-soluble vitamins and may accumulate to a dangerous stage and lead to many problems such as increased bone calcification and others.
But with regard to water-soluble vitamins, when we take them in large quantities, our body gets rid of them through urine, so you will not notice any side effects.
There are not many regulatory laws that specify for companies what is written on vitamin packages, so the consumer may be easily misled. The consumer believes that these vitamins are beneficial to him, but according to research, they are not.
Also, the Mayo Clinic advises against excessive intake of vitamins, as there are no studies that confirm that taking excessive doses of vitamins may help in excess.
Benefits of Vitamin Supplements:
Just because there are some warnings about vitamins doesn’t mean we can’t take advantage of them. But most doctors and nutritionists recommend getting the necessary vitamins from fresh foods, not medicines. But there is a group of people who may benefit from taking vitamins, such as pregnant women, vegetarians, and those who suffer from certain health conditions such as anemia and others.
pregnant women :
A pregnant woman may benefit from multivitamins. This is because as the pregnancy stage progresses, the mother loses some of the vitamins that she gets from food daily, as some of these vitamins are transmitted to the fetus to help it in its development stage.
Folic acid is a very important vitamin for pregnant women, as it prevents the fetus from developing any defects in the brain or nerves during the growth process, but any vitamin must be taken under the supervision of a gynecologist and obstetrician.
Elderly :
Vitamins also benefit the elderly, as the older they get, the more fragile and weak their bones become and prone to fractures. Also, many elderly people suffer from health problems that prevent them from getting the vitamins they need from food, such as digestive problems, anemia, or low blood sugar. And so on .
Vegetarians:
Vegetarians may benefit from some vitamins as it is difficult for them to get the amount they need from vitamins such as iron and protein through the food they eat.
Although they eat healthier food than the rest, the absence of meat and fish may reduce vitamins in the body.
Vegetarians may benefit from calcium vitamin supplements, as it is difficult to get enough calcium without eating any animal products, in which case calcium, vitamin K, and vitamin D may help.
celiac disease:
The disease of digestive disorders from other diseases related to food, which has become common these days, there are certain types of vitamins and minerals in wheat, corn and barley, which may be beneficial to the body.
But if you suffer from that disease, you cannot eat those foods, so taking a multivitamin may be useful in that case.
People with digestive disorders need a lot of vitamins due to the food they eat. These vitamins include:
zincMagnesiumFolic acidVitamin B12 and B6Vitamin D
Anemia:
Anemia means that there is not enough iron in the blood. And people with this disease need more vitamins and iron in order not to get dizzy and tired.
Taking vitamins rich in iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin C may help in this case.
The reason for taking this specific group of vitamins is that people with anemia suffer from a deficiency in these types of vitamins.
Do you need to take a vitamin supplement:
This depends on whether you suffer from a vitamin deficiency or not. For some, taking vitamin supplements may mean the difference between a good and a difficult life. Of course, there are many people who need to take certain types of vitamins. But the vast majority of people should be able to get the required amount of vitamins through the food they eat. And do not forget the importance of choosing the right vitamins for your body
