Everywhere you look vitamins are
for sale. Many of different types,
names, brands, etc. and at sometimes it can be overwhelming. Often I have clients ask me if they
need to take vitamins. My answer
to this would be yes. Of course
you want to try and get most of your vitamins and minerals from a food source,
remember “food first, supplement second”. However most of us don’t eat a perfect balanced diet
everyday, so a standard Multivitamin (MVI) daily is a good idea. However, taking a MVI doesn’t take the
place of eating a sound diet. Foods
contain many important components that supplements do not including
phytochemicals that help prevent numerous diseases including cancer and heart
disease, as well as fiber which is extremely important for our digestive
systems.
Which brand is best? A standard
multivitamin is considered safe for the general population. Brands found at your local store such
as Centrum, One A Day, or a generic form will ensure you are getting the
recommended levels. When
choosing a brand, read the label.
You want to pick a brand that gives you 100% or LESS of the recommended
Daily Values. Some Vitamins are
fat soluble, including A, D, E, and K and can be very dangerous in extremely large
doses. Other vitamins are water soluble
and are excreted by the body once maximum levels are met. Currently there is not enough evidence
that taking mega doses of vitamins, such as A, E, or C, is healthy or
necessary. Until more is known on
this topic, mega dosing should be avoided. Taking additional supplements such as Calcium or Iron may be
necessary depending on your current health conditions but this should be
assessed and recommended by your physician.
Estelle L. Benoit, RD, LDN
Source: rd411.com