First and foremost. Vitamins and other dietary supplements are not intended to be a food substitute. They cannot replace all of the nutrients and benefits of whole foods. The need to state this clearly is so that any information shared will not be misconstrued or misunderstood to imply that the use of over the counter vitamins and other supplements, can replace a balanced and nutritious eating regimen. Or better said, "They can plug nutrition gaps in your diet, but it is short-sighted to think your vitamin or mineral is the ticket to good health -- the big power is on the plate, not in a pill," explains Roberta Anding, MS, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. It is always better to get your nutrients from food. This statement amongst others, are some of the reasons we began to dig deeper into the use behind over-the-counter vitamins that flood our market. Curiousity began to present more questions, why are there particular types of vitamins for men, women and children? What is the purpose or logic for this? With a business background, is this simply an effective marketing campaign? So cynical, I know.
Ironically, we grew up on "vitamins". If memory serves correct, they were of the Flinstone variety. They thought of them now brings chills and a cringe. It was for all the right reasons based on all the wrong misinformation. Venture to propose, if the meals we are eating provide us with the nutrients necessary remain nourished and healthy, why would there be a need for more. After digging and enjoying the likes of dozens of ear tickling articles discussing and sharing facts surrounding this, there was a common underlying theme. While well-intent, there is no indication that there are measurable effects in overall health, cardiovascular health, life expectancy or weight control. Also, there are no age-defying benefits proven from supplement use. Annals of Internal Medicine at Annals.org suggests that multivitamins provide no health benefit in the long-run, and in fact, “should be avoided.” The authors of the piece, “Enough is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements,” summarize the work of three review studies in the same journal, which together find no effect for vitamins on cardiovascular health, cancer risk, cognitive health, or mortality. The bottom line, at least to the authors, is clear: We should stop wasting our money on multivitamins, since there’s little evidence to their benefit, and some evidence to their detriment. Read enough nutrition news, and you’ll see that not all scientists agree on multivitamins. Some say that there’s not enough proof that multivitamins boost health, so they don’t recommend them.
The strong message was based on a review of the findings from three studies that tracked multivitamins link to cancer protection, heart health, and brain and cognitive measures. “We believe that the case is closed -- supplementing the diet of well-nourished adults with (most) mineral or vitamin supplements has no clear benefit and might even be harmful,” concluded the authors of the summarizing the new research papers, published December 16 of 2013 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. “These vitamins should not be used for chronic disease prevention. Enough is enough", they conclude. Although some studies have linked vitamin use to increased risk of death, these studies have been excluded as flawed with flagrant misrepresentation throughout. This is reflective of the diplomatic approach with which the medical community is addressing these misconceptions. They don't kill, but the don't improve overall life expectancy through improved health.
The amount of each mineral extract in each capsule usually includes some high percentage of a concentrated amount. These intense dosages may effect our nervous system adversely at times with side effects such as frequent urination or an odorous or colorful urine. For instance, too much Vitamin C could lead to problems including hair loss, gastrointestinal upset, fatigue, and mild nerve damage. These are some of the more obvious and tell-tale signs of the immediate reaction our bodies have to these supplements. Iron and calcium are most likely to cause toxicity symptoms, but other vitamins and minerals could cause adverse effects as well in large amounts. Toxicity symptoms include irregular or rapid heartbeat, cloudy urine or more frequent urination, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomach pain, hair loss, dry skin, rash, muscle pain, bone pain, joint pain, confusion, fatigue, convulsions, fainting and irritability. The exact symptoms you experience will depend on which nutrients you are consuming in excessive amounts. Too much of anything is not good for the system.
As stated, naturally occurring vitamins through fresh fruit or vegetables and an otherwise nutritious eating regimen serve as a more effective source of vitamins and minerals. The validity of many of the health benefits and improved function and overall wellness, can be questioned due to the actual statistics gathered reflecting many of the benefits and con factors. We encourage you and others to investigate your own habits and practices, until the purpose and logic of the behavior coincides with the benefits.
CC
