The best way to stay healthy is to exercise regularly and eat a balanced
diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. But
if you find yourself occasionally craving pizza, candy, and other junk
food, multi vitamins can help you fill in the gaps between the foods
you eat and the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy.
Many people fall into the trap of thinking that if a little bit of something
is good for you, more is even better. However, this isn't true with multi
vitamins. Taking large doses of specific vitamins and minerals won't
make you smarter, healthier, or more energetic. In fact, high doses of
certain nutrients can be harmful to your health. Fatigue, diarrhea, hair
loss, kidney stones, or liver damage can result from exceeding the recommended
dosage of these nutrients.
While standard multi vitamins are appropriate for most people, individuals
with specific dietary needs may need a special formula to promote good
health. Multi vitamins come in many different varieties; your physician
can help you choose which multi vitamins are right for you.
• If you are following a diet plan to lose weight, you may need an extra
strength multi vitamin. People who are on a reduced calorie diet often
don't get enough of the nutrients they need through the foods they eat.
• Vegetarians frequently need multi vitamins to compensate for their restrictive
diets. Many vegetarians do not get enough calcium, zinc, iron, and vitamin B-12.
• People who are lactose-intolerant may need to take multi vitamins with additional
calcium supplements.
• Women have special dietary needs when they are pregnant or breastfeeding. Multi
vitamins for these women often include increased amounts of calcium, iron, and
folic acid.
• Women with excessive menstrual bleeding may benefit from an iron supplement.
• People with liver, gallbladder, or digestive problems may need extra strength
multi vitamins to compensate for their body's reduced ability to process necessary
nutrients. |
