The Truth about Vitamins

The Truth about Vitamins

What Health class didn't teach you..

Each year, more than $15 billion dollars are spent on vitamins and dietary suppliments. With such a huge industry jam-packed with so many people trying to sell their 'miracle' suppliment, many people find themselves wondering:

1. What works
   
2. Will this hurt my body
   
3. Is it really worth the trouble
   

This blog is here to help alleviate some questions you might have regarding vitamins and dietary suppliments.

What is a vitamin?

Vitamins are found in the food we eat, the sun rays we feel, and in the fluids we drink. Vitamins are everywhere and are essential to proper nutrition. In the last few decades, dietary suppliments in the form of vitamins have become increasingly popular. Whether you have an illness that prevents you from absorbing nutrition from foods, or you're simply looking for insurance to staying healthy, dietary suppliments have played an increasingly prevalent role in how we deal with nutrition.

Pro's and Con's of Vitamins (Pills) as a Dietary Suppliment

While it is true that you can get almost all of the needed daily allowance of vitamins from the foods you eat, there are many out there that advocate the use of vitamins as a means to 'fill in the gaps'. Certain foods provide certain vitamins, so in order to get your daily allowance of all your needed vitamins, you need to eat a wide variety of healthy foods. For some this is easy, but for others, this can be challenging task.

I recommend using multi-vitamins as a dietary suppliment if you:

• Eat foods that would not normally provide all the needed nutrition


• Have an illness that prevent them from eating certain nutritious foods (Check with your doctor).


• Battle special needs unique to your body type (pregnancy/menopause/etc).


• Are a child (to help ensure proper growth!).


• Have been through a serious Injury or have a condition which requires them to intake more nutriets than food alone will allow (Check with your doctor).


• Are a vegetarian and do not eat animal products (B12 is found only in food directly from animals!).

I recommend avoiding multi-vitamins as a dietary suppliment if you:

• Can get the needed nutrition from the foods you eat alone.


• Are allergic to any vitamins contained in the multi-vitamin.


• Are unsure the product has beed FDA approved/tested.


• Are more expensive than food, yet yeild the same results.

In a time where food is so readily available, inexpensive, and convenient, I'm amazed why so many people are so eager to shovel down pills instead of eating healthy tasty meals.

Perhaps it is convenience. Rather than taking the time to prepare each meal, or shop at the grocery store, figuring out what they need to meet their nutrition needs, they opt for suppliments. Whatever the reason may be, I will always recommend actual food over dietary suppliments and multi-vitamins, unless it is absolutely certain you cannot get the proper nutriets from food alone.

When enough is enough

While suppliments and multi-vitamins can be an added bonus to achieving your nutrient balance, it is possible to go overboard. Taking too many suppliments and vitamins can actually be quite hazardous to your health.

Below is a list vitamins (and the potential risk) is taken in excess.

• Vitamin A (Retinol) - Liver toxicity, Dry Skin, Hair loss, possible birth defects, and osteoporosis


• Vitamin D (Calciferol) - Hypercalcemia (increased calcium in the blood stream), high blood pressure, nausea, anorexia, vomiting, kidney disease, weakness, polyuria, and more.


• Vitamin E (Tocopheral) - Increased bleeding (thinning of the blood).


• Vitamin K - (K3) - hemolytic anemia and cytotoxicity in liver cells.


• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) - Nerve damage to limbs. Including decreased sensation to temperature, touch, and vibrations.


• Vitamin B3 (Niacin) - Itching, dry skin, rashes, flushing, indigestion, liver toxicity, elevated blood surgars, Hyperuricemia, even blurred vision or blindness if acute reactions set in.

These are just some of the vitamins that can be harmful if taken in excess amounts.

Like most things in life, moderation is key. Over-indulgence in any one thing can often lead to undesirable results. Know the benefits and risks involved with dietary suppliments, and always ask your doctor if you are unsure about anything!