Pill Popping Alert: Vitamin Supplement Absorption

You should be more concerned about vitamin supplement absorption over anything else, including what vitamins to take. Here's why.

Around half the American adult population regularly take vitamin supplements, which often contain minerals like iron as well. BUT there is a lack of proof (based on independent clinical research) that these supplements are useful for anything but rare nutrition deficiencies or absorption disorders.

Yet supplement sales in the US have already exceeded $3 billion EVERY YEAR! And that figure still doesn't include the booming herbal supplement market.

A huge chunk of the $3 billion comes from sales to pregnant women, senior citizens, and children.

But if research on its benefits is lacking, how do you explain the huge sales figures?

Vitamin Supplement Absorption - Why It Isn't More of an Issue

There are indeed studies that discuss the effects of vitamins on illnesses and diseases. Since we're in the Information Age, each new finding is publicized within minutes on the Internet, as well as TV, magazines, and newspapers.

And because we live in the Stress Age as well, many people believe that they have to fix the effects of a toxic lifestyle by doing something. Of course we don't really have the time or patience for anything other than the most convenient solution, ergo, we pop meds.

Vitamin supplement absorption, even toxicity levels, may be far from our minds as we continue to “fix” our health the easiest way we know how.

Check out these top reasons why people pop vitamin supplements:

• to prevent cancer/heart disease/arthritis;
• to prevent colds;
• to get more energy;
• to compensate a diet that doesn't have enough of the right foods;
• to compensate for food that is too processed/refined and so not as nutritious;
• to delay aging; and
• for better memory.

Vitamin Supplement Absorption - Why It SHOULD Be an Issue

Some people DO need to take a vitamin supplement. For instance, a doctor may prescribe a supplement for an elderly person who can't properly absorb nutrients in regular food.

But, see, the vitamin supplement is part of a MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS of inadequate absorption. It shouldn't be part of a cure-all, quick-fix, self diagnosis!

Aside from the elderly, check out who else doctors usually prescribe vitamin supplements for:

• pregnant or lactating women
• premature babies
• people whose regular nutrition's altered by illness or medicine
• heavy smokers
• alcoholics
• women who bleed excessively during menstruation
• people on extremely low calorie diets
• vegetarians who lack a sure Vitamin B12 source (B12 supplement is prescribed)

As you can see, these conditions have to do with absorption and deficiency issues that a regular person can't assess without a doctor's help.

Vitamin Supplement Absorption - 5 Quick Facts

1. If you take mega-doses of one or more vitamins, one nutrient may interfere with the absorption/metabolism of another.
2. Mega-doses of Vitamins A and/or E fight Vitamin D absorption and so increase the need for Vitamin K.
3. Vitamin A needs Vitamin E for it to be properly processed and absorbed.
4. A prenatal folate supplement may diminish zinc absorption.
5. Too much iron hinders copper and zinc absorption.