Vitamin supplements boost immunity, prevent certain diseases, and improve mental well-being effectively. If you are not getting the necessary vitamins from your diet or are deficient in essential nutrients, nutritional supplements rich in vitamins will help your body function properly.
Vitamins are essential nutrients that our bodies require for proper functioning.
They provide energy, promote growth, repair cells, keep us healthy, and act as cofactors to certain enzymes and minerals, thus improving their functions.
If you eat a balanced diet, you will get enough vitamins through food. However, many people do not eat well-balanced diets. Some have underlying factors that make them deficient in one or more nutrients.
Depending on the deficiency, they may experience fatigue, poor skin tone, eyesight, weak bones, etc.
Vitamin supplements are often prescribed for those who don't get enough vitamins from food or those who are deficient.
This blog piece gives insight into what vitamin supplements are, who should take them, their benefits, and more.
Let's get started!
What are vitamin supplements?
Vitamin supplements are organic compounds (tablets, capsules, liquids, or powder) used to supplement a diet with additional vitamins in order to provide your body with the recommended daily amount (RDA) of a specific vitamin or mineral.
People require trace amounts of these organic substances because our body either does not make them or generates very little. Therefore the majority of our vitamins must come from our diet.
However, depending on some factors, you may need to supplement your diet with vitamin supplements.
How do you know you need vitamin supplements?
If you are deficient or experience any of the symptoms listed below, you might need supplements. However, to be sure, you may need to do a blood test to know your nutrient level. Once you know your nutrient level, your doctor can make recommendations.
Depending on the type of deficiencies you have, you may experience the following:
- severe hair loss
- joint or bone ache
- severe fatigue
- abnormal heartbeat
- Vision changes
- slow healing wounds
- dry mouth
- poor vision
- Frequent illnesses
- Brittle nails
- Reduced mental clarity, etc.
Need to supplement your diet? Check out our list of healthy natural supplements right here.
Who should take vitamin supplements?
Although most healthy people don't need to take vitamin or mineral supplements, some may need to, especially if they are elderly, pregnant, take certain medications, or do not have access to healthy food because of where they live or their income level.
According to the CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), 7 people out of 10 are deficient in calcium. Half of America's population is also deficient in vitamin A, vitamin C, and minerals such as magnesium.
Despite being a rich country, why are there such considerable nutrient deficiencies?
The answer is simple. Most Americans are overfed but undernourished.
Even if you eat a "perfect" diet, there's still a good chance that something is lacking. Hence, the need for supplements.
Pregnant women
Pregnant women should take vitamin supplements because they are prone to be deficient in certain nutrients due to the mother and child's increased demand for these vitamins.
The vitamins and minerals that are most important for pregnant women are folic acids, iron, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin D.
The benefits of taking these supplements include a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby.
Get these vitamin supplements, they are great for pregnant women.
People aged 50 and above
Vitamin supplements are essential for people aged 50 and above. This is because, at this age, you are more prone to deficiencies such as vitamins D and B12.
Check out these vitamin supplements. They are suitable for those aged 50 and above to prevent the occurence of such deficiences.
Vegans
If you follow strict vegan diets, you need vitamin supplements because your daily need for vitamin B12 is not produced by plants or found in most vegan foods.
Children aged 6 months to 5 years
Children aged six months to 5 years may need help getting their daily dose of iron, vitamins A, C, and D. Hence the need for supplements.
Find vitamin supplements best for children right here.
What is the purpose of taking vitamin supplements?
Taking vitamin supplements is meant to help supplement your diet with vitamins and minerals that you may need to get more of. We get most of our vitamins from the foods we eat. However, not all vitamins can be synthesized by our body or can be found in food.
For example, we get most of our Vitamin D from sunlight, which then enables us to synthesize the D vitamin. tHIS helps our body absorb the calcium essential for bone health.
Children, vegans, pregnant women, and older people may need help with vitamin supplements as they are prone to deficiencies in one or more vitamins.
For instance, if you are a vegetarian, you are most likely deficient in Vitamin B12 since plants don't produce them and are absent in most vegan diets.
This lack of vitamin B12 can lead to several health issues, such as fatigue, anemia, and nerve damage. For this reason, vegans should take supplements to stay healthy.
If you a vegan, grab some of these supplements.
Do vitamin supplements make you healthier?
Taking vitamin supplements and consuming healthy foods can play a significant role in helping maintain and improve your health and prevent diseases that may occur due to vitamin deficiencies.
The following common supplements may be beneficial to your health:
- Vitamin B12 aids in DNA synthesis, guards against anemia, and maintains the health of blood and nerve cells.
- Vitamin D helps your bones grow stronger.
- Folic acid supplementation can help prevent birth defects
- Calcium can help keep bones healthy.
- Fish oil helps to promote cardiovascular health.
- Vitamin A can prevent vision loss by slowing down age-related macular degeneration.
- Vitamin E can slow cell aging.
Although supplements can improve your general well-being, most scientific evidence results are unclear.
They suggest that multivitamins won't make you live longer, prevent cognitive decline, or reduce your risk of developing diseases like heart disease, cancer, or diabetes.
With that said, whatever your aim is when taking vitamin supplements, keep in mind that they are not a replacement for a nutrient-dense, healthy diet.
Benefits of vitamin supplements
Vitamin supplements can help prevent deficiencies in diets and the diseases that result if taken in the correct amount. Conditions such as beriberi, scurvy, and pellagra can be prevented or treated by taking the recommended daily amount of certain nutrients.
With that said, below are some of the health benefits of taking vitamins:
Enhance healthy aging
Aging affects everyone, no matter how much you wish you could stay young forever. And as you age, the body's ability to absorb essential nutrients decreases.
In addition, some drugs may even cause nutrient depletion. Hence, the need to take better care of your physical health using vitamin supplements.
If you are 50 years and older, several vitamin supplements are available to help restore your nutrient levels.
Boosts immunity
A healthy immune system is a vital factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Vitamin supplements well known for enhancing immune systems, can help to improve and strengthen it.
Also, you can take supplements consisting of vitamins D and E to maintain your health.
Keeps Your Bones healthy
Taking Vitamin supplements can help keep your bones strong and healthy and prevent bone-related conditions such as osteoporosis. Some of the best supplements for bone health include calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D.
The skin can produce vitamin D, which helps calcium absorption after sunlight exposure. However, poor skin absorption, weak winter sunlight, and the use of sunscreen may inhibit the creation of this crucial nutrient.
Vitamin D can be obtained from food sources like dairy products; however, most people don't consume dairy products frequently.
Taking the recommended daily portion of these nutrients can also help prevent bone-related conditions such as osteoporosis.
Improves Eyesight
Vitamin supplements are a great way to improve your eyesight, as they provide the necessary vitamins and minerals, such as Vitamins E, C, A, and selenium which are known to support your eye health.
Aids Brain Function
Vitamin supplements such as B6, B9, and B12 can help boost your brain function and health. They can help you with concentration, memory, mood, and energy.
Maintains healthy skin and hair
Maintaining healthier hair and skin is one advantage of vitamin supplements.
There are specific vitamins, typically vitamins E, A, and C, that aid in minimizing skin issues such as eczema, dry skin, or acne. Taking them could also help prevent them as well.
If you have split ends or thinning hair, B3 and C are the recommended vitamins to take to make it fuller.
Takeaway: Improve your health with vitamin supplements!
Vitamins are present in minute amounts in natural foods. They are essential for your body to function correctly, but some people may not get enough of them from food or may be deficient.
Hence, the need for supplements. A vitamin supplement can help compensate for a deficiency and prevent diseases if taken in the right amount.
We stated that most healthy people do not need to take supplements. Nevertheless, as we have established, taking supplements is crucial for the proper functioning of your body, preventing deficiencies, and maintaining good health.
Regardless of the type of diet you consume, if you have a deficiency, it is best to consult your doctor and check your nutrient level.
Get your Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, Zinc, and more at At whynotnatural.com. We have approved high-quality vitamin supplements. Our supplements are what dietary supplements should be: 100% natural and available in liquid form.
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