How To Know If You Need Vitamin Supplements

By Jeff Matson

Taking vitamin and mineral supplements is perhaps one of themost controversial issues regarding healthy living. The lack ofvitamins in your diet can be unhealthy, but too many vitaminscan also put your health in danger. So, how do you know iftaking vitamin and mineral supplements is necessary for you?Ask yourself the following questions in order to determine ifyou may need vitamin supplementation for a healthier lifestyle:
Am I Stressed? If you are constantly stressed-out due to work,relationships, family or any other situation, your adrenalglands may be working overtime. This can potentially causefatigue and headaches.
Treatment: Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin E and Vitamin Csupplements can help with this problem.
Is My Immune System Up to Par? Do you constantly find yourselfcatching colds and the flu more frequently than others? You mayneed to boost your immune system with vitamins and mineralswhich provide the nutrients needed to fight these viruses.
Treatment: Vitamin C supplement, Zinc and Manganese will do thetrick.
Do I smoke? I’m sure you’re aware that this habit is unhealthybut smoking uses up vitamin C and puts you at higher risk ofosteoporosis.
Treatment: Vitamin C supplements and calcium supplements willhelp reduce your chances of osteoporosis and provide you withthe adequate amount of vitamin C.
Am I Pregnant? Pregnant and hormonal women often lack invitamin B-6. If you do not receive enough of this vitamin itcan be harmful to you and your baby.
Treatment: Take a vitamin B-6 supplement, but make sure not totake doses of more than 500mg per day without a Doctor’srecommendation.
Am I on a Diet? If you are on a low-carb, low-fat or any formof diet you are probably not receiving the vitamins necessaryfor healthy living. Individuals on diets very rarely eat foodsfrom all the major food groups and if they do, they usually donot eat the required amounts.
Treatment: Depending on the type of diet and the foods you eat,you may require a multi-vitamin supplement or specificsupplements of Vitamin A, B, C, D, E or K.
Answering yes to any of the questions above does notnecessarily mean that vitamin or mineral supplements arecrucial to healthy living. The situations listed above aremerely a guideline to help individuals who already feel asthough they are lacking the vitamins and minerals in theirdiets. It is important to remember that vitamin supplements aremeant to accompany food and are in no way meant as a replacementfor a healthy diet.
Health-related information changes frequently, and while everyattempt has been made to ensure the content in this article isup to date and accurate, you should always check with a doctoror nutritional expert before undertaking any substantial changein diet or lifestyle.
About the Author: Jeff Matson is an avid health enthusiast whoowned and operated his own natural health food store. Nowretired, Jeff spends his time keeping fit, walking marathonsand writing articles as a contributing editor forhttp://www.vitamin-insight.com
Source: http://www.isnare.com