More About Vitamin Supplements

Supplements Are Not Food Replacements

When we decide to take Vitamin Supplements, our choice should only be those of high quality and, as far as possible, those that are derived from natural, organic sources.

As our dietary food sources usually, or should, provide our needs, it is important to notethat supplementation is not replacement – of the essential vitamins we get naturally from a balanced and health diet.

Before going to the expense of buying in heaps of vitamins it pays to look at a couple of issues first.

Actions To Take
Really look at your lifestyle and see where it can be adjusted to cater for a regular balanced diet.Then, in the same context, see how you can fit in a regime of regular exercise, such as walking or swimming.

Then, even if you can make those adjustments, and still want to supplement, consider “why” do you want to supplement your vitamin intake.
• Is your diet lacking in good sources of nutrients, including vitamins
• Access to a good supply of fruit and vegetables is poor – e.g. remote areas
• Is it because of hype and ads?
• Is it because your gym trainer says it is good
• Perhaps, you want to strengthen your immune system in flu season
• You need to boost your energy
• You are depressed, stressed or anxious a lot of the time
• It is based on medical advice

From the above you can see that there are reasons, good and bad, for taking vitamin supplements.

Many medical professionals say supplementing with vitamins is not necessary – but this does presume you have a regular and balanced diet……which many just cannot achieve for varying reasons.

So vitamin supplements can assist – but with a caveat that taking supplements is not the same as getting your RDA (recommended daily amount) from food – the latter has other nutrients that work in conjunction with vitamins and assist their performance and absorption.

To some extent, the definitive conclusion, whether vitamin supplements are beneficial or not, is yet to occur. Despite what many say, there is sufficient scientific research going on that points to the benefits of vitamin supplements for certain types of cancer, Alzheimer’s, mood disorders and other ailments we are prone to.

Certainly Vitamin K helps reduce risk of pancreatic cancer – but only through food, not by supplement tablets.

One case that is proving very strong is omega 3 fish oil – for heart strength and reduction of ADD and ADHD effects.

Issues of potency, the correct amount (RDA) and intake schedules are important to know.

Do some due diligence and learn what you should look for on labels of Vitamin Supplements.

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