Vitamins and mineral supplements can be a great way to fill in the nutritional gaps in your diet. When you walk down the vitamin aisle in any drugstore, market, or health food store, you’ll see countless ‘natural’ supplements and vitamin complex tablets, each claiming to offer various benefits. Some even promise weight loss without exercise.
Sounds too good to be true? That’s because it is. You need to burn more calories than you consume, and exercise is key to achieving that. But I digress. If you’re thinking about adding supplements to your diet, it’s wise to discuss it with your Functional medicine or Naturopathic doctor to determine if they would be beneficial for you.
Are vitamins necessary for optimum health? For most people who eat a healthy diet, they aren’t. Most vitamins are safe and not harmful. However, if someone doesn’t eat a healthy diet or has a limited diet due to illness, a vitamin supplement could be very helpful. Fruits and vegetables are packed with essential vitamins and shouldn’t be eliminated from your diet unless advised by a doctor. In such cases, supplements might be necessary. Your body needs vitamins to function properly.
Many people mistakenly believe that vitamins are a source of energy. In reality, vitamins help regulate the body’s metabolism and assist in releasing energy from the food we eat. It’s the nutrients from food, once absorbed and broken down, that provide our body with energy. For example, calcium is more easily absorbed when taken with Vitamin D, and most calcium supplements are already fortified with it. There are thirteen essential vitamins for optimum health. Vitamins E and C contain antioxidants, which help neutralize free radicals—high-energy particles that can damage healthy blood cells. Emerging studies suggest that vitamins and supplements may help fight cancer and prevent other chronic diseases, though the research is not yet conclusive.
It’s important to remember that too much of a good thing can be harmful. Excessive amounts of vitamins can cause bleeding and negative interactions with some prescription medications.
Here are a few examples:
Vitamin A: Too much can cause neurological problems.
Vitamin D: Excess can disrupt calcium balance, leading to deposits in soft tissues.
Vitamin C: Overconsumption can reduce the effectiveness of other medications.
Vitamin E: Too much can prevent blood from clotting and cause other bleeding issues.
Vitamins are just one tool among many to help us stay healthy. They won’t do the job alone. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and routine health checkups are essential.
I know firsthand how crucial it is to eat properly and take care of my body. Like many, I sometimes struggle with cravings for junk food. You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete to get some exercise in. I also take vitamins and other supplements to help my body function better.
There are many opinions about vitamins, supplements, and healthy eating. Generally, vitamins are okay unless they are fortified with iron. The effectiveness of vitamins with iron is often debated. Too much iron can cause iron overload, which doesn’t get ‘washed’ out of the blood efficiently. Hemochromatosis, a disease that attacks liver function, can be fatal if not controlled with regular liver function tests. The controversy continues.
You have complete control in this area. Do your research; many websites provide information on supplements and how they work. Sit down with your physician and discuss your options. They may suggest meeting with a nutrition specialist. Get smart and be healthy. A little knowledge is a very good thing, and in the case of vitamins, the more you know about how they work and how they could be harmful, the safer and healthier you will be.
Trust your instincts, know your body, and get help if you need it. Good eating, good exercise, plenty of water, and common sense will help you meet your goal of good health.
ACTION STEP: If you’re curious about how health coaching can revolutionize your life, let’s connect! Schedule a ‘Your Health is Your Wealth’ consultation with me today. Not for you? No problem! Pass this offer on to someone you care about and let’s spread the health together!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I received my training from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I learned about more than one hundred dietary theories and studied a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods. Drawing on this knowledge, I will help you create a completely personalized “roadmap to health” that suits your unique body, lifestyle, preferences, and goals.
Learn more about my training and my unique approach to health coaching.
DISCLAIMER:
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Kryshonda Torres is not a physician and the relationship between Kryshonda and her clients is not of a prescriber and patient, but as Health Coach and client.
It is fully the client's choice whether or not to take advantage of the information Kryshonda presents.
OT&E Inc. and Kryshonda Torres cannot guarantee any specific outcome and your individual results may vary.
Before beginning or adding any named supplement to your health routine or regime, please consult with your Naturopathic or Functional Medicine Doctor.
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