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Is A Multivitamin Really Your Best Choice?

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The Answer To The "MultiVitamin" Dilemma May Surprise You

Many adults take vitamins in an effort to improve their health. But there is much debate as to whether multi vitamins vs. multivitamin alternatives are best.

For many, a multivitamin seems to be the most convenient choice. Why? Because people feel that it takes the guesswork out of getting enough of each vitamin and mineral. Others, however, believe that taking single ingredient vitamins gives them more control over what goes into their bodies.

So which is best? The answer just may surprise you.

Daily Vitamins: Which Ones? How Much? 

O.K. . . Be Honest . . .

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In An Ideal World. . . The Best Way to Get the Vitamins and Minerals Your Body Needs

Getting Your Vitamins from Food

Ideally, all of our vitamins and minerals should come from dietary sources. In other words, from the foods we eat.

Unfortunately, few of us eat a diet that gives us everything we need each day. In fact, it would take very careful planning to get in the recommended daily allowance of every vitamin each day. Add to that the fact that certain health problems lead to an increased importance of specific vitamins, and you can see why taking supplements makes things much easier.

Are Whole Food Supplements The Answer?

Some health food companies have come up with whole food supplements. These are supplements that use foods in their natural state rather than extracting or synthesizing the vitamins in a lab.

Whole food supplements have fewer preservatives and fillers, and they are purported to be more effective than vitamins that are produced in a lab. Yet they provide the vitamins the human body needs in a convenient and easy to use form.

Careful! Did You Know That Your Body Can Only Use But So Much Vitamins Each Day! 

It's Possible to Get Too Much Of A Good Thing!

Get this: Your body can only use so much of each vitamin each day. And some vitamins can produce side effects if we take too much of them. Too much Vitamin C, for example, can cause nosebleeds and other undesirable effects.

So if you keep close tabs on your diet and know how much of each vitamin you're getting, single ingredient supplements might be a more sensible way to make up the difference on those you do not get enough of.

Keeping Tabs on What Your Body Needs

OK, we've established that when we can't or don't get enough of the vitamins we need from food sources, vitamin supplements can help us get the things we need to stay healthy. After all, getting the right amount of each vitamin every day will help our bodies work more efficiently.

But who really has the time or energy to keep tabs on the amounts of vitamins we are getting in our diets so that we can make the best supplement choice?

Nutrients . . . A to Z

Find out what your body needs and how to get it

Nutrient A-Z: A User's Guide to Foods, Herbs, Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements

Nutrient A-Z: A User's Guide to Foods, Herbs, Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements

by: Dr. Michael Sharon

Amazon Price: $21.98 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

Nutrients A-Z is an easy-to-use dictionary of every food, herb, vitamin, mineral, or supplement you might encounter, from bananas and carrots, olive oil and yogurt (the oldest natural medicines), to blueberries, guarana, and St. John's Wort. Each entry gives a definition in plain language: what it is and where it comes from; the form it takes; how to prepare or enjoy it; its medicinal and health benefits; and recommended daily dose.

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  • askhelen Feb 20, 2010 @ 7:29 pm | delete
    Do our bodies have different requirements each day? Like some days we may be exposed to more pollution than other days in which case there would be extra free radicals produced and we would need mpore antioxidants???? And how about when we go through an extremely stressful period when again an over-supply of free radicals are created??? What happens then????
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