Complete Vitamin Supplements Information
What Are Vitamin Supplements?
Everybody needs vitamins for the body to function properly and to stay healthy, among other things. The foods that we eat are the most common sources of the vitamins that our body absorbs.
Each food contains a particular vitamin and the amount of vitamins we get depends on how much we eat of that particular food. But more often than not, the vitamins that they provide simply aren’t enough. That is why we need to take in vitamin supplements.
As its name suggests, a vitamin supplement adds the necessary vitamins to a person’s diet for the normal function of the body.
More so, these supplements are needed by people who are deficient in a particular vitamin because of a kind of diet that they are taking (as in the case of vegetarians) or their present condition (such as in pregnant women).
Some of the most common vitamins found in supplements are vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6 and C, among others. These vitamins are sold in a variety of forms such as capsules, tablets or gels.
It is said that each form has its set of advantages over the others in terms of effectiveness in delivering the vitamins to the body.
All in all, vitamin supplements can help us become stronger and live healthier lives by providing us with the essential vitamins that we may not be getting from the foods that we eat.
Just a tablet per day can produce great results on our bodies if we take them.
The Benefits of Vitamin Supplements
We are often advised to eat healthy so that we can be free from illnesses and be able to do the things that we like to do. However, it simply isn’t enough to keep us at the peak of our performance day in and day out.
We need vitamin supplements to provide us with that extra boost in performing our daily tasks and in keeping our body functioning properly.
Vitamin supplements supply us with the essential vitamins that our body needs. Aside from that, it compensates for whatever vitamins we may not be getting from the food that we do and do not eat.
But by taking a closer look at the vitamins found in a typical supplement, we will see the particular benefits that each vitamin brings to our body. For one, there is vitamin C.
It is usually the one with the highest dosage in a supplement. While this particular vitamin is known for boosting our immune system, it can also minimize the symptoms that come with illnesses such as colds.
Meanwhile, a healthy dose of vitamin A from the supplement helps keep the eyes healthy. Any deficiency of this vitamin can cause blindness thus its importance in the formulation of the supplement.
In sum, a closer look at the vitamins found in supplements and knowing what their benefits are helps us appreciate more their importance to our daily lives.
Coupled with exercise and proper diet, we will live healthier lives with the aid of vitamin supplements.
Common Contents of Vitamin Supplements
Anyone who takes vitamin supplements and looks at its bottles or boxes is familiar with the vitamins that are contained in each tablet.
But what do those vitamins really do? Do you really need to take them? Below is a list of the most common vitamins found in supplements as well as a description of what they do.
Vitamin A
- commonly found in leafy vegetables and in other products like carrots, broccoli, papaya, eggs and liver, this vitamin helps keep the eyes healthy. A deficiency of this vitamin can cause permanent loss of eyesight.
Vitamin B1
- thiamine is the other name for this vitamin. It keeps the heart and the digestive and nervous systems functioning normally. Aside from that, thiamine is also important in a person’s physical growth and development. Good sources of this vitamin include beef, pork, nuts and legumes, among other foods.
Vitamin B2
- otherwise known as riboflavin, this vitamin is important in metabolizing energy as well as fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Common sources of this vitamin
include milk, cheese and leafy vegetables. A deficiency of this vitamin is signaled by cracked lips, mouth ulcers and sore throat, among other symptoms.
Vitamin C
- also known as ascorbic acid, this vitamin has a lot of benefits attributed to it. Some of them include boosting the immune system and minimizing the symptoms of illnesses. It is also a well-known antioxidant. Lack of this vitamin can cause scurvy that leads to loss of teeth and eventually, death.
Forms of Vitamin Supplements
Although the tablet is the most popular form of vitamin supplement, there are also other forms that are available in the market.
Most, if not all, of these other forms claim to be more effective than others in delivering the vitamins to the body.
Let us take a closer look at each of them and find out how effective they really are.
Tablet - as mentioned earlier, this is the most ubiquitous form of vitamin supplements. And because it is readily available, a lot of people prefer to buy their supplements in this form.
Others however, do not like this option because the body tends to have difficulty in absorbing this.
Thus, a lot of it goes to waste along with the urine which is sometimes jokingly referred to as expensive urine.
Capsule - is very similar to the tablet. The only difference between them is their size since capsules are much smaller than tablets.
Because of it, some people prefer to take their supplements in capsule form.
Softgel - this is much like the tablet although it comes in a softer shell. People prefer it to the tablet because the body easily absorbs it.
Liquid - compared to the three mentioned above, this is considered as the form that is best absorbed by the body.
While only around 40-50% of the tablets and capsules are actually absorbed, liquids claim 90% absorption.
Different Supplements for Different Needs
When you go to your local health and drug store, you will notice that there are a lot of different vitamin supplements on their shelves.
You might wonder what each of them does so here are some helpful information to give you a low down on the most common vitamin supplements in the market.
Multivitamins
- this is arguably the most common form of vitamin supplement in the market.
One tablet gives you the essential vitamins and minerals from - you know what follows next - A to Zinc.
Vitamin B Complex
- is a combination of several B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7 and B12) and is sometimes combined with other vitamins. Its benefits include healthy hair, skin and bones, as well as the reduction of stress.
Vitamin C
- also known as ascorbic acid, this is usually taken to boost a person’s immune system. And while it can’t prevent colds as others believe, this vitamin helps in reducing its symptoms.
Vitamin E
- this vitamin is popular among people who want to reverse or at least slow down the aging process. But more than that, vitamin E has a host of other benefits such as boosting the immune system, reducing the risk of prostate cancer and easing menstrual cramps in women.
So there you go the most common vitamin supplements in the market. We hope that you find the information useful and that you can apply them the next time you visit your favorite health and drug store
Natural Vs. Synthetic Vitamin Supplements
A lot of people today are going crazy over natural products. They say that they are safer and more effective than those formulated in laboratories.
The same debate goes on in the world of vitamin supplements. On one side are the proponents of natural supplements while on the other are the ones for the synthetic variety.
But is there really a difference between the two? Yes and no. Why? Below are the answers.
The most obvious difference between the two is that one is taken from a natural source while the other is formulated in laboratories.
While advocates of natural products claim that theirs is better because natural products are purer, there is no definitive study that they can refer to to prove their claim.
Then there is the price difference. It is no longer news that the so-called natural products are more expensive than their synthetic counterparts.
While the price difference can be justified by the means they are prepared, unless proof is given that one is more effective than the other then there’s no cause for a debate.
But then again, the debate over which is better may never be over since a person will always prefer one thing over the other.
But regardless of the source and the means of producing these supplements, what really is important is the actual amount of vitamins present there.
Some natural ones have additional ingredients which lessen its intended effect while there are synthetic ones that are overstuffed with a lot of vitamins which in effect lessens their effectiveness.
Vitamin Supplements Safety
It is a well-known fact that vitamin supplements have numerous benefits to our body especially when we take them regularly.
Not only do they keep the body functioning properly, they also keep us healthy so that we don’t get sick easily.
However, they can have adverse effects too if we take them incorrectly. Below are some tips to keep us safe when taking supplements.
Only take as indicated
- before taking vitamin supplements, we have to look at the instructions on the box first. It is where information on things like dosage are indicated.
If we do otherwise, we may not be able to maximize the supplement’s effect, or worse, get overdosed. Seek your doctor’s advice
- before taking a supplement, it would be good to seek your doctor’s advice. This is especially the case if you are taking other forms of medication.
Your doctor can warn you if there is a risk of adverse effects if you take them with the supplement. The same goes if you have special needs for a particularvitamin.
The doctor may advise higher doses of it depending on his/her diagnosis.
Make sure it’s genuine
- although there are a good number of reliable supplements, there are still some that are fake, ineffective or both.
Be wary of them because they may cause you more harm than good.
In sum, vitamin supplements can be harmful to you if you take them incorrectly. So be informed and make sure that the one you are taking is safe.
Vitamin Supplements Buying Guide
Today, more and more people are taking vitamin supplements of some form. In the United States alone, more than half of its population do so.
While their primary intention is to be healthy, some things need to be considered first before buying these supplements.
- Do you really need it?
Good health is the rage right now especially since awareness on obesity is quickly spreading. Yes, you need supplements to keep yourself healthy. The only trouble is that a lot of people think that taking supplements is enough.
They should go hand in hand with regular exercise and the proper diet. Without the two, its effect is severely diminished.
- Which one do you choose?
The shelves of health and drug stores are filled with a wide variety of vitamin supplements and it can be quite daunting to choose among them.
To make your decision easier, it would be good to ask a friend who takes supplements about what he/she thinks works. The internet can also be a good source of information.
- Natural or synthetic?
A lot of people can’t get along on this issue. But since there’s no study as of yet that can definitely say that one is better than the other, let yourself be your guide.
Better yet, ask for opinions of friends who use one of the two options. Let them help you make your choice.
We hope that with the help of the list above, you would become a better buyer of vitamin supplements. By being one, you become extra sure that you are making the right choice.
Where to Buy Vitamin Supplements
We need to take vitamin supplements daily in order for us to stay healthy. Because of this, we should have a constant supply of these supplements at home.
While it is crazy to buy them wholesale and stack their boxes in our homes, we should at least have a constant source where we can get them.
It is a good thing that a lot of people buy these supplements since a good demand for a product means that a lot of stores would be willing to sell them.
So it is easy to buy vitamin supplements in our nearby drugstores. Some of them are sold in bottles while others are in boxes which is good for long-time use and convenience.
Vitamin supplements can also be found in health stores. Aside from the usual supplements, these specialty stores can provide customers with a wider variety ofchoices by selling other supplements that aren’t usually found in drug stores.
Then finally, there’s the internet. This source is good for people who are looking for a particular supplement but cannot find it locally.
Usually, there are merchants who sell their products online and you can buy it from them. While this is convenient since you don’t have to go the store anymore, shipping them can take some time and there are risks involved in transacting online.
Some sites are actually scams which are just out to make a quick cash from you.
Those are the usual sources of vitamin supplements. Knowing where to get your supplements gives you no more excuse of forgetting to buy them.