Comments on: Are Multi Vitamin Supplements Necessary?

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 19 May 2010 22:49:53 +0000

Hey Jason – No I don’t think overdosing does this.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 17 May 2010 23:05:28 +0000

Is it possible that too much multivitamin consumption can interfere with the body’s true defense mechanisms …??

By: Infinite Articles » Blog Archive » 4 Reasons To Avoid Multi Vitamin Supplements

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:25:24 +0000

[...] owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about multi vitamins and get additional information on each of the thirteen vitamins by visiting his [...]

By: 4 Factors that may make Vitamin Supplements Necessary | Supplements

4 Factors that may make Vitamin Supplements Necessary | Supplements — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:39:10 +0000

[...] one of my recent articles I stated that I did not think multi vitamins were necessary. I also said that it was very difficult to overdose on vitamins from food alone and that [...]

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 17:05:45 +0000

Hi Jessica – I agree that it is better to supplement a diet that is very lacking in nutrients with a multi vitamin, rather than continuing to eat this limited diet alone. However, this is only masking the problem. It is far better to look at the limited diet and make some positive changes so that it becomes richer in nutrients.

I do not agree with the example you use of fast food restaurants and rat race employees justifying the use of a multi vitamin. It is just as quick if not quicker to eat a healthy sandwich, a salad or a piece of fruit that you have brought to work than it is to walk to the fast food restaurant, queue, pay and then eat the meal.

I also think that the daily meal plan that incorporates all the vitamins and minerals is is a bit of a misconception. Yes to actually sit down and check of every single vitamin and mineral would be hugely time consuming. However, I really don’t think this is necessary. If you do some reading on the subject you will realise that fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of most vitamins and minerals. If you just make sure your diet contains a variety of fruits and vegetables you should be getting most of your vitamins and minerals from these foods. Fruits are a perfect snack food whilst vegetables are pretty versatile and complement most meals.

Anyway, as you say vitamins are a personal choice. This article is my opinion on them and you have a different opinion. I would advise you to take a look at your diet but if that’s really not an option then multi vitamins are a good fallback.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:39:02 +0000

I respect your research and I’m sure on some grounds you may be correct but I have to argue some points. Although, seeing as I did not research this topic, I am just giving my personal experience.
In my POV, multivitamins may indirectly promote bad eating habits, but in the end, it’s not the vitamin that that should take the blame for this, people should. We all choose what we eat. The multivitamin in my experience helps me to remember to eat healthy. True, it can be crutch for those who don’t wish to eat healthy but most people who chose to eat unhealthy won’t think twice about taking a multivitamin in the first place. Until I decided to take control of my weight problem, I hadn’t even thought of taking any.
When most people do decide to take them, they have decided to go on a diet and unfortunately most diets are “he said, she said” and /or“what worked for me”. Being as most people don’t really know how to eat properly, most diet and weight loss fads are unhealthy and rob the body of nutrients needed for the average day. In my experience, if you’re on a diet you’re not doing it right. Eating right should be a daily tradition, thus making the “diet” obsolete. We all make bad choices everyday. Eating becomes a convenience; ie. what is convenient for the time we have. Fast food restaurants are booming because the average rat race employee. Taking a multivitamin can help us balance the bad intake with the good intake. For those people I believe a multivitamin is a must.
I take Centrum Ultra Woman’s multivitamin. I reviewed the supplement facts chart and I only get 70% of my DV of vitamin A and 100% of my B12. The bottle also states that taking too much vitamin A can cause side effects and that only one dose (one pill) per day is recommended. Obviously the brand I take is aware of the affects certain vitamins can have on the body and, unlike the brand you stated in your blog, has taken the correct route in providing a more reasonable amount of the vitamin. So, it’s not just about taking a multivitamin, it’s about who your supplier is. You should always look at the supplement facts. You shouldn’t be taking anything with 1000% of any vitamin. Plus, we are not taking into account all the minerals we need as well that the pills supply us with. So, a multivitamin is also worth more than just 13 main vitamins, I’m supplied with over 25 vitamins and minerals in one dose.
Now, I don’t know much about what vitamins a male may need daily, besides the fact that after a certain age men shouldn’t take too much calcium, but women need a large amount of calcium. Our bones, breast and teeth are waged upon because we bear children. Calcium is needed to maintain our health before and after we start reproducing. Maybe the calcium statement is true for men, and maybe a calcium supplement may be bad for women who work on a dairy but most women do not get their daily value of calcium to help support their health.
Yes we should be getting our daily value of nutrients with everyday eating. But, I will admit that even I am too lazy to sit and think of a daily meal plan to satisfy my need of all the vitamins and minerals. The reason for that is to get the needed daily value will take precise shopping, cooking, ingredients (cooking most food drains the nutrients unless u steam) and measurements for months of meals if you don’t want a boring repetitive meal plan. Unless you’re a fanatic, I don’t see it happening. People like to plan ahead of time but the harder you make eating healthy the less likely people will make room in their lives for it. It’s just easier to eat something you know is healthy and miss out on a few vitamins here and there and have it supplied by a supplement. It’s better than skipping out on the needed amount altogether.
I honestly don’t know much about how our body is supposed to absorb vitamins. But to me, taking a good brand responsibly and watching what I eat here and their sound better to me that skipping out altogether. But no matter how I see it, vitamins are a personal choice, and that’s the way you choose to see them.
With all due respect.

By: Are Supplements Necessary? | Live Lighter

Are Supplements Necessary? | Live Lighter — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:41:53 +0000

[...] Can encourage overdosing. While our bodies easily secrete water-soluable vitamins, fat-soluable vitamins can build up in our systems and become toxic. For instance, too much vitamin A can weaken your bones and stunt your growth. (source: freefitnesstips.co.uk) [...]

By: Live Lighter » Blog Archive » Are Nutritional Supplements Necessary?

Live Lighter » Blog Archive » Are Nutritional Supplements Necessary? — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:53:34 +0000

By: 5 Top Tips To Consider When Choosing Carbohydrates | Carbohydrates

5 Top Tips To Consider When Choosing Carbohydrates | Carbohydrates — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:48:55 +0000

[...] synthetic forms of these nutrients are usually not as good as the natural form. In most cases your body cannot properly absorb [...]

By: From Vitamin A to Vitamin E: 40+ Vitamin Rich Foods | Vitamins and Minerals

From Vitamin A to Vitamin E: 40+ Vitamin Rich Foods | Vitamins and Minerals — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:21:56 +0000

[...] hope this article has shown you that you do not need to rely on daily multi vitamins to get your recommended daily allowance (RDA) for the various vitamins. By eating a variety of [...]