Focus on the Foods and Forgo the Supplements

So many individuals take vitamin supplements these days, if you don’t you may feel you’re in the minority. At the first sign of a cold or other sickness, family members and friends are quick to ask, “Do you take vitamins?” Studies indicate as many as half of all adults consume a vitamin supplement regularly. Are we reaping the benefits of better health, or wasting our money on gimmicks?

It’s difficult to determine how significant a role a vitamin supplement plays in supporting overall health. A great deal of factors influence our absorption of essential nutrients, including our age, the environment, our health status, medications we take, and of course, our diet. What is beneficial for one individual may not be helpful at all for another. How can we decide what is best for ourselves, given so many factors?

Common Sense and Medical Guidelines

Although science may not be able to prove it, many individuals swear they feel better and enjoy better health while taking vitamins. Provided you are not consuming mega-doses of any one particular nutrient that could be causing toxicity or drug interactions, a vitamin supplement is probably safe. If you think it benefits you to take a multi-vitamin, perhaps you should trust your own judgment. Certainly, it is likely to do no harm and if it contributes to your overall sense of well-being, it makes sense to continue your regimen.

Be wary of the “miracle cure” thinking that vitamin and herbal supplement marketing campaigns sometimes encourage. Unless you suffer from a specific medical condition or pursue a lifestyle that jeopardizes your dietary intake of vital nutrients, you need not fear deficiency. Nearly everyone can consume adequate vitamins and minerals from a well balanced diet without the benefit of a special vitamin supplement.

Focus on Variety for Dietary Nutrition

Nutritious eating is undoubtedly the best source of the vitamins and minerals we need. Concerns about the true nutritional value of our foods due to compromised agricultural practices and conditions are currently being raised. Yet is seems doubtful all of our foods are dangerously low in nutrients. Eating a variety of foods is one way to ensure you get the most benefits from as many sources as possible. In addition, we have the option of consuming organic foods if we believe farming methods are jeopardizing our nutritional intake.

A vitamin supplement should never be considered a substitute for healthy eating. Likewise, under normal circumstances vitamins are not cures for diseases or treatments for illnesses. The practical approach is to consider a supplement as a complimentary source of nutrients, not an alternative one. Taking a vitamin supplement is a choice individuals can make on their own. By contrast, eating a balanced, healthy diet is essential to good health.