The Great Multivitamin Debate Is It Better to Take Vitamins or Not?

Okay, so it might not be a great debate to some, but there is a divide out there concerning whether or not taking multivitamins is a good idea. While the two sides may not be as split as, say, the American left and right, there actually is much controversy surrounding the issue.

One camp argues that taking multivitamins on a daily basis can lead to mineral build-ups that can harm your body, while the other side says that the vitamin deficiency that can develop as a result of not taking daily vitamins is a far greater danger.

The truth is, in todays society, most of us do not get anywhere near the amount of vitamins we should be getting. This is due to the fact that more and more people are eating out, and not only that, but fast food consumption is on the rise. So people are eating two to three times the portions they should be, yet their food contains more fat and sugar than recommended and less vitamins and nutrients.

And that is not the only problem. These days, many people are always busy and suffering from stress as a result, which is bad for the body. Another problem with being on-the-go all the time is that it leads to meal skipping.

Couple poor diet with the stress factor, and lets not even talk about the lack of exercise people get these days, and its no wonder that people are lacking in the nutrition department. For this reason, people need daily vitamins more than ever. Even respected the respected Dr. Weil, who advocates natural preventative habits along with modern medical cures, encourages a good combination of nutritional supplements.

If your life sounds very much like the scenario above, then you could probably benefit from a daily multivitamin supplement. If you do have concerns about taking one, check with your doctor first to see if it is right for you. He or she might also be able to tell you if you need more or less of a certain vitamin, too. For instance, many middle-aged women are advised to add a good amount of calcium to their diets.

Vitamins B and C are water-soluble, so the body uses what it needs of these and then gets rid of the rest through urine. For this reason, the over-use of these vitamins need not be a concern.

Vitamins A and D are fat-soluble vitamins, so extra amounts are stored in the body, for this reason, one should not go over the recommended daily amount of these. Though going slightly over is not dangerous, typically.

If you are concerned about over-consumption of vitamins, then take a look at the foods you eat regularly. Are they already fortified with certain vitamins and minerals? If so, you may want to take that into account when shopping for your multivitamin. It may even be a good idea to let your doctor know about the kinds of foods you are eating and ask for his or her advice on the issue.

The only step now is to shop around, read the labels, look over all of the different brands that are available today, and find the multivitamin that is best for you, and start adding them to your daily regimen.

Related Links:

What are vitamins?

an organic substance that acts as a coenzyme and/or regulator of metabolic processes. There are 13 known vitamins, most of which are present in foods or supplements; some are produced within the body. Vitamins are crucial for many bodily functions including a healthy immune response.
An essential low molecular weight organic compound required in trace amounts for normal growth and metabolic processes. They usually serve as components of coenzyme systems. For humans, vitamin A, the B series, C, D1 and D2, E and K are required. Deficiencies of one or more vitamins in the nutrient supply result in deficiency diseases.