Dietary Supplements

Why do we need supplements?

Now days, most of us are eating junk & fast food which are nutrient deficient. Moreover, certain physiological conditions like pregnancy, lactation, menopause, strenuous exercises, physical activities as well as kids & elderly people require more nutrient to support their accelerated metabolism and need. Study indicates that in about 90% of these people, the normal regular diet is not able to meet the heightened need. Further, one also need healthy balanced diet rich in vitamins & minerals to fight infections, boost immunity and recuperate from illness. Therefore, Dietary supplements are designed to optimize your daily intake of nutrients, including vitamins and minerals.

What are the benefits of taking vitamins?

Vitamins and minerals play important role in body’s metabolism. Metabolism in the body is a very complex process requiring vitamins and minerals as co-factors and as constituents of enzyme system which help in breaking down of the complex food into simpler form like glucose, aminoacids and Acetyl CoA (Breakdown product of Fats). You would be astonished to know that whatever we eat are finally broken down into these three simpler forms. Further, Vitamins and Minerals are constituents of body’s defense mechanism thus protecting us from infections and free radicals induced injury. Therefore, yes! Vitamins and minerals are essential for proper functioning of our body. They are essential for digestion and assimilation of macro-nutrients, they help in providing energy to the body, they help in proper use of the protein thus support body building, muscle endurance & recovery from injury, help in proper functioning of organ system, fight infections, free-radicals and boost immunity.

Is it good to take vitamins daily?

We need to eat a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables in an amount enough to provide all the essential nutrients. Are we taking these?, the question needs to be asked. When we don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, we miss essential nutrients and our body become deficient in these nutrients. The deficiency accumulates over a period of time and effects of which manifest in the form of diseases.According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), adults should consume 1.5-2 cups of fruit and 2-3 cups of vegetables daily. Yet, in a recent CDC study, they found that 77% of adults don’t eat enough fruit and 88% of adults don’t eat enough veggies.

So how to get your nutrients? A multivitamin. A multivitamin is like an insurance policy, a daily guarantee to ensure your body gets the vitamins and minerals it needs. It can make up for the shortfalls that happen when you don’t get what you need through food.

Here are a few more key reasons to take a multivitamin:

1.      Healthy aging: As we age, our nutritional needs increase. At the same time, it gets harder for the body to absorb nutrients. Medications can further deplete our body of nutrients. A multivitamin can offset these deficiencies.

2.      Healthy for heart: Studies show that taking a high-quality multivitamin may reduce cardiovascular disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the U.S. Vitamins B1, B2, B6, K1, Niacin (B3), CoQ10 and magnesium, all play a role in cardiovascular health.

3.      Decreases cancer risk: Vitamin and minerals as free radical scavengers has been associated with a decreased risk of some cancers. A recent study of 14,000 men aged 50 and older found that daily multivitamin supplementation “significantly reduced the risk of total cancer.”

4.      Immunity booster: Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant known for strengthening the immune system. Vitamins D and E along with various minerals like Zinc & Selenium boost immunity, too.

5.      Maintain eye health: Vitamins A, C, E, Niacin (B3), and selenium support eye health. Lutein and Zeaxanthin also protect the eyes from harmful light waves. Study have shown multivitamins containing a combination of vitamins, lutein, and zeaxanthin can reduce the risk of macular degeneration.

6.      Healthy hair and skin: New research says look for Vitamins B3 (Niacin), biotin, and Vitamin C for fuller hair. For healthy skin, look for Vitamins A, C, E, and CoQ10.

7.      Feel better: Multivitamin combination boost in energy levels, optimizes the  feelings of well being, as well as decreases stress and anxiety.

Do vitamins really work?

Yes! Vitamins and minerals are essential for certain groups of people. When your diet is not sufficiently able to provide the nutrients you need, supplements play an important role by making up the deficiency so as to keep you healthy.

What are the best vitamins to take daily?

Which vitamins to take depends upon individual physiological state and requirement. Growing kids and elderly require more of Calcium & Vitamin D. Pregnant and lactating mother should take Iron, Folic acid, DHA, Calcium, Vitamin D along with Iodine. For faster would healing and recovery after surgery and trauma one should include supplements containing Vitamin C, Arginine & Glutamine. Recovering from major illness one should include antioxidants, B-Complex along with branched chain amino acids. Like wise various disease conditions have different combinations of supplements.

Who Should Take A Multivitamin?

There are certain groups of people that may benefit from supplementing their diet with vitamins and minerals.

These include:

                1.     Elderly people:  Vitamin B12 absorption decreases with age, and elderly people may also need higher amounts of Calcium, Vitamin D & Magnesium. Check Calzin-M Forte

2. Vegetarians: These people are at high risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, since this vitamin is only found in animal foods. They may also be lacking in calcium, zinc, iron, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids .
3. Pregnant and Lactating women: Nutritional requirement increases during pregnancy and lactation. Stressing upon a healthy and balanced diet during pregnancy is no exaggeration. Because of the increased metabolic demand and proper development of the growing baby, pregnant and breastfeeding women should take supplements to counter any deficiency which could be deleterious for both the mother and baby. Their diet should be supplemented with a good antenatal vitamin containing DHA, Iodine, Folic acid, Iron, Calcium & Vitamin D3 along with other vitamins and minerals. Check AnteVit-DHA
4. People recovering from illness and surgery: Adequate nutrient rich diet is essential for  faster recovery from illness, trauma and surgery. Faster wound healing and recovery after major trauma and surgery require nutrients rich in Vitamin C, certain aminoacids which help in collagen synthesis. Supplements containing essential vitamins, minerals & aminoacids are required for tissue repair and to fight against infections. Check Oxontra Repair