Vitamin and mineral supplements have been associated with good health for over a decade now! Many Americans feel these supplements help them operate in a chaotic environment by lowering their risks of acquiring a cold or flu. It’s no surprise, then, that the supplement industry is growing.
Zinc is said to help prevent colds, while vitamin D strengthens bones and increases immunity, and the B vitamins are said to help with stress management. Confusing, isn’t it?
It might be difficult to tell the difference between science and imagination regarding multi-mineral supplements. But, instead, there is a systematic failure, a lot of ignorance, and a lot of debate. And when you’re trying to keep track of your health, that’s a bitter pill to swallow.
Therefore, before you swallow any more multi-mineral supplements, check out the following eight supplement mythologies:
Notions & Realization Revolving Around Multivitamin Supplement
- Notion: Taking a multivitamin supplement may compensate for a lousy diet and help you stay healthy.
Realization: Researchers are still split on whether or not multivitamins are helpful. According to several studies, multivitamins can help you live longer. Others demonstrate that they are of no use. In any case, putting eating first is the most excellent approach to get the vitamins you need. Nature provides our systems with vitamins and nutrients in ideal proportions, as well as yet-to-be-discovered substances. Nutritional mineral supplements are meant to augment, not substitute, a healthy diet.
- Notion: Since mineral supplements are organic, they all seem to be healthy.
Realization: Something that can be repaired also has the power to threaten. So although minerals come from the environment, they turn unnatural when they are processed into pills. Furthermore, nature does not always imply safety or efficacy. And besides, arsenic is a naturally occurring substance that is also a potent carcinogen (cancer-causing agent), making it dangerous to ingest.
- Notion: Vitamins cannot overdose.
Actuality: You may be abusing it if you take vitamins and nutrients while eating a healthy diet of nutrient-dense foods and sports drinks (which most often include 100% or more of the daily recommended requirement for specific minerals and vitamins). You may end up damaging essential organs in the approach. For example, excessive vitamin A can harm your liver and cause massive problems in your baby; far too much vitamin B6 can damage your nerves, or too much vitamin C can convert the renowned antioxidants into a pro-oxidant.
- Notion: Mineral Supplements are strictly controlled.
Realization: Apart from pharmaceutical or over-the-counter drugs, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not test nutritional supplements for safety and efficacy before being made available to the public. Clients, on the other hand, are at the discretion of the producer. That isn’t to say there aren’t safety precautions.
The FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) review labeled data when a nutritional supplement is on the marketplace to verify that drug representations are not deceptive. Still, they are underfunded, and much harm can be done even before the FDA and FTC can intervene. A small number of monitoring organizations issue seals of authorization to correctly produce items and include the substances specified on the labeling. On the other hand, those companies have no way of knowing whether or not they are successful.
Notion: Supplements are never required.
Vitamin supplements may be advantageous for specific populations and may aid in the management of certain illnesses. Here are several instances:
- Somebody on a low-calorie diet who could profit from a multivitamin and mineral supplement
- One who is lactose intolerant may profit from calcium and vitamin D supplements.
- A vegetarian who may benefit from vitamin B12 supplementation
- Folic acid is beneficial to pregnant women.
Several supplements are still up in the air, but most researchers think they’re only helpful if you’re low in a vitamin or mineral. Ladies who lose a great deal of iron due to excessive monthly flow, for instance, may offer an external iron supplement, whereas females perimenopausal phase may require extensive calcium supplementation.
- Notion: Supplements and drugs don’t combine.
Fact: Vitamin K (which aids blood clotting), zinc (which some individuals experience enhances resistance), and omega-3s (which result in thinning the blood) are all supplements that may interfere with pharmaceutical drugs. So even if you’re using an aspirin every day to prevent heart problems or an antibiotic to treat an infectious disease, the supplements you take may conflict with or improve the effectiveness of your prescriptions. To eliminate these bad reactions, you must always discuss a list of any supplements you’re taking with your doctor and chemist.
- Notion: Vitamins and other supplements should be taken with or without food.
Reality: Numerous vitamins are soluble in water, which means they mix with water and can be absorbed through the skin at any time of day, irrespective of what’s in your stomach. However, fat-soluble micronutrients such as D, E, and K—can only be digested when combined with fat. So if you’re taking a supplement with a fat-soluble nutrient, it’s better to take it with a small amount of fat-containing food. Many people also report feeling queasy after taking a vitamin on an empty belly.
- Notion: Supplements are always compatible.
Realization: Supplements, like colleagues, assist each other out. Vitamin C, for instance, aids in the absorption of iron. Others, on the other hand, work against one another. Calcium, for example, prevents iron absorption, while zinc prevents copper permeability. As a result, taking large amounts of one mineral can lead to a shortage in another.
Take the Necessary Steps
To be cautious, speak to your doctor about any supplements you’re taking, even if you think they’re safe. Several nutrients, minerals, and herbal supplements have adverse effects that range from a rash to gastrointestinal discomfort. They may also interfere with the absorption of medicines and other nutrients.
