Benefits of Taking Vitamin Supplements

Posted by admin

April 8, 2012

In general, children and adults might benefit from taking one multivitamin per day. A multivitamin helps provide a consistent source of the necessary vitamins and micronutrients. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, “a daily multivitamin, and maybe an extra vitamin D supplement, is a great way to make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you need to be healthy.”

However, the very first consideration is to eat a healthy diet. Even the best supplement is no substitute for good nutrition. In many Western countries, people tend to consume foods that are high in calories, but lack nutrients that are vital for good health.

Some groups of people, because of distinct nutritional needs, benefit most from taking a vitamin and mineral supplement:

Women of childbearing age (need extra calcium and iron)
Pregnant or lactating women
Children and teenagers with irregular eating habits
Seniors
Vegetarians or vegans (may be deficient in key nutrients)
Dieters or people avoiding certain food groups (may be deficient in key nutrients)
People with eating disorders or medical conditions (deficiency diseases, absorption problems, lactose intolerance, etc.)
People who often eat processed and fast food