Vitamin and supplement sales are one of the most profitable areas in the health industry.
These vitamins and supplements claim to close nutritional gaps, boost energy, promote weight loss, improve sleep, improve skin, improve hair, the list goes on! But do they actually follow through when it comes to these claims?
Doctors advise that while vitamins and supplements can be beneficial when it comes to meeting minor nutrient deficiencies or gaps, they shouldn’t take the place of real, whole food in a healthy diet.
A simple blood test will tell you what nutrients you may be lacking in. Many individuals have below the recommended amount of calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 in their systems. Good natural sources of these vitamins are milk, green veggies, fruit, beans, fish, eggs, meat, and poultry. If you find you’re still low in a specific nutrient, vitamins may help you reach your goal.
Experts recommend taking a vitamin for exactly the nutrient you need as opposed to a broad spectrum multivitamin. Over the years, research has shown that multivitamins are less effective than their specific vitamin counterparts. This may be because of the concentrated amounts of nutrients within them. A multivitamin has low doses of many vitamins, while a specific vitamin, like b12 for example, has mostly, if not all b12 in it. This concentrated vitamin allows your body to absorb more of the nutrient you need.
If you’re looking towards vitamins and supplements to help you reach a certain goal, such as weight loss, hair growth, or improved sleep, remember that the best approach to health and wellness is a comprehensive one. A healthy diet and good habits, such as exercise, will help you in reaching your goals. If you find that behavior changes and supplementation aren’t cutting it, you may need to try another approach. Prescription medications are much stronger and more effective that vitamins and supplements. Regardless, vitamins and supplements are a great place to start in helping you reach your goals, especially if you aren’t quire ready for the prescription route. You should meet with your doctor to discuss all of your options.