Vitamins, a waste of time and money?

Written by naturalalternative.net

Is taking vitamins a waste of your time and money? It is thought that the majority of people do not get anywhere near the recommended amounts of iron per day in our modern world. Our daily intake of zinc, folic acid, magnesium, copper, calcium, iodine, vitamin A and vitamin B6 is also thought to be way under requirements.

It should be the case that we can all get these vitamins and minerals from our normal food consumption, but some think that life in our polluted environment is preventing this.

Modern farming techniques have left the soil bereft of vital minerals. At the same time pesticides and fertilizers, antibiotics and additives in food wear down our immune systems.

The only way to carry on eating a normal diet without supplements is to eat only organic food, which is expensive and not always available.

People are so concerned about their vitamin and mineral intake that the industry is worth billions of dollars; nearly half the people in the Western world spend money on vitamin and mineral tablets and other health supplements. It seems that doctors and experts appear in the media every other week telling us too much of one type of supplement is bad, or too little of another may leave us deficient; or that taking them has no effect at all.

Most scientific tests on vitamins are conducted in test tubes which, experts say, is completely different to the human body where substances react in a totally different manner.

So with so much conflicting information, what should you do?

It seems the best way to go about it would be to go with your own feelings and instincts; if you feel like you’re lacking in some mineral or vitamin, try taking supplements for a few months and see if there is any improvement to your health and well-being – if not then just stop taking them.

All our bodies are subtly different; some are more efficient at gleaning certain minerals and vitamins than others. What works for your friend may not have the same effect on you.

Here is an overview of some vitamins and minerals that some people are unsure about, to give you an idea of what you may or may not need.

Vitamin B3 (niacin)

Helps to keep up mental stability and memory, reduces cholesterol and lessens the effects of headaches. Tests have shown that people blush for up to 20 minutes after taking niacin, but this isn’t thought to be a negative side-effect. It is often given to mental patients to encourage stability, which is regularly seen to drop when the dosage falls below 500mg per day.

Vitamin B6

This vitamin is taken by millions of people to reduce stress and depression; it also has the ability to reduce the risk of heart disease; plus it's said to greatly reduce the effects of PMS in women when taken in 100mg per day dosages. It was though that a high dosage of this could cause nerve damage, but a test with 555 people at the Institute of Optimum Nutrition showed there were no ill effects, yet many positive ones, when the amounts were increased to 230mg for 3 months.

Vitamin C

Boosts the immune system, helps fight infections and colds; gives relief to allergies and is vital for healthy skin – very high levels of vitamin C are taken by cancer patients and others who are seriously ill. Can also help asthma attacks and arthritis. There has been speculation that very high dosages of vitamin C could cause kidney stones; but extensive medical research has shown that levels as high as 4000mg had no effect whatsoever on the formation of kidney stones.

Calcium

Imperative for healthy teeth and bones, helps to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, plus it encourages a healthy heart and nervous system. There are no known ill effects for calcium, proven or otherwise.

Manganese

Is said to help neutralise free radicals (thought to cause cancer); it makes fat, sex hormones and breast milk, plus it helps the body absorb other vitamins and minerals. Some believe that 4mg per day should be the upper limit taken, but in reality only 5% of a single dosage is actually absorbed by the body so others believe that 20mg per day is a more realistic amount to take, especially for those with low levels that need to restore them.

Chromium picolinate

Balances blood sugar levels and also lessens your cravings for sugar. A deficiency in Chromium picolinate will show itself through feeling dizzy, tired and thirsty, and being overly irritated when hungry. Picolinate is a form of chromium that the body can absorb very easily, which becomes more useful as we get older and absorb less chromium. Some believe that it can be harmful, with negative effects on DNA and possibly causing cancer, though these beliefs are based entirely on a single study.

Vitamin A

Healthy eyes are reliant on vitamin A, which fights cell damaging free radicals and boosts the immune system. Some believe that taking 1500mcg per day is enough where others believe this level is too low; it is thought that too high a dosage can cause osteoporosis, but meat eaters consume levels of vitamin A higher than the upper recommended limit of 3000mcg per day, our ancestors were taking in 10,000mcg per day.

Panic attacks may also be reduced by a healthy intake of vitamins and minerals; after suffering a bereavement or going through stressful times your body’s immune system can operate at well below optimum levels which may cause panic signals in your brain.

If you are going through a phase in your life at the moment that is interrupted regularly by panic attacks it could be well worth your time consulting a qualified nutritionist who will likely suggest a course of supplements such as 1000mg of vitamin C per day to boost your immune system, and assist in the absorption of B vitamins.

Vitamin B complex can be prescribed to counteract tension and depression with magnesium, which also combats depression and nervousness – with a possible addition of multivitamins, some who experience panic attacks have reported feeling much better after a couple of months taking these supplements, with a noticeable rise in stress if they stop taking them.