Please use the entire article including references and
Author information at the end. If you need to shorten
it up... let me know. If you use the article in anyway
send a quick email to renee@napuda.com
Are Vitamin Supplements Really Necessary?
by Renee Kennedy
It is a fact that vitamins are important to a healthy diet.
Without certain vitamins, your body could be at risk for
disease. There are some studies on how specific vitamins
can help specific illnesses. Some of those studies are
mentioned below and references are listed at the end of
the article.
However, most of the medical community seems to agree
that getting your vitamins from whole foods is much better
than taking supplements.
There are exceptions to this. For example, if you're
pregnant, a folic acid supplement may be prescribed by
your doctor. Another example is taking doctor
recommended vitamin supplements for a specific illness.
Do not take vitamin supplements without consulting your
health care provider, especially if you are on any medications
or you have any illness or special health conditions
(like pregnancy, anemia, heart condition, etc.).
Here are the most important vitamins:
Vitamin A
--Affects: skin, tissue growth and regeneration, eyes, white
blood cells, bone and teeth growth and mucus membranes
in mouth, nose, throat, lungs.
--Daily Recommended Dosage: 5,000 IU for men and
4,000 IU for women
--Whole Foods: whole milk, fat-free milk fortified with
vitamin A, whole eggs, liver, beef, chicken, dark green leafy
vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, broccoli,
cantaloupe, mangos, apricots, tomato juice.
--Deficiency Symptoms: teeth and gum problems, fatigue,
loss of appetite, dry, scaly skin, increase susceptibility to
infection, night blindness. (Vitamin A deficiency would be
rare in the United States, it occurs mainly in developing
countries where people are malnourished.)
--Warnings: High doses of Vitamin A from supplements can
cause birth defects, liver problems and reduction in bone
density.
--Research: A recent study found that beta carotene along
with other antioxidants and zinc may slow down macular
degeneration. Your doctor will prescribe the proper vitamins
if you have macular degeneration.
Vitamin B6
--Affects: brain and metabolism
--Daily Recommended Dosage: 1.3 to 1.7 milligrams
--Whole Foods: Poultry, fish, pork, eggs, soybeans, oats,
whole-grain foods, nuts, seeds and bananas.
--Deficiency Symptoms: skin problems, anemia in adults,
convulsions in infants
--Warnings: High doses of B6 may cause nerve damage.
Vitamin B9: Folic Acid
--Affects: developing fetus, red blood cell formation, protein
metabolism, growth and cell division
--Daily Recommended Dosage: 400 micrograms
--Whole Foods: Citrus juices and fruits, beans, nuts, seeds,
liver, dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, beet greens) and
fortified grain products (rice, bread, cereal, pasta).
--Warnings: High doses over 1500 mcg/day should be avoided
as it can cause a variety of symptoms like nausea and loss of
appetite.
--Research: A Folic acid supplement can reduce the risk of
neural tube defects in the developing fetus when taken by the
mother before and during pregnancy.
Vitamin B12
--Affects: red blood cells, metabolism and nerves
7 Vitamins Every Arthritis Sufferer Should Know About
A deficiency of vitamins can lead to a variety of health problems, including some forms of arthritis. These organic nutrients are normal sourced through our intake of fresh fruit and vegetables. Due to the following factors, it is not always...
--Daily Recommended Dosage: 6 micrograms
--Whole Foods: Meat, fish, shellfish, poultry, eggs and dairy
products.
--Deficiency Symptoms: memory loss, disorientation,
hallucinations, and tingling in the arms and legs
Vitamin C
--Affects: skin, immunity to illness, healing of wounds
--Daily Recommended Dosage: 90 mg for men and
75 mg for women (and an extra 35 mg for smokers)
--Whole Foods: Citrus juice and fruit, berries, tomatoes,
potatoes, green and red peppers, broccoli and spinach.
--Deficiency Symptoms: weakness, irritability, weight loss,
bleeding gums, infection, gangrene, hemorrhaging, wounds
that won't heal.
--Warnings: Excess vitamin C may cause mild diarrhea
--Research: A recent study found that vitamin C along with
other antioxidants and zinc may slow down macular
degeneration. Your doctor will prescribe the proper vitamins
if you have macular degeneration.
Vitamin D
--Affects: bone, teeth and absorption of calcium
--Daily Recommended Dosage:
up to age 50: 5 micrograms
51 - 70: 10 micrograms
after 70: 15 micrograms
--Whole Foods: Vitamin D-fortified milk, vitamin D-fortified
cereal, liver, egg yolks, fish and fish liver oils. And Sunlight!
--Deficiency Symptoms: bone softening
--Warnings: Prolonged use of excess Vitamin D is not
recommended. Can cause kidney damage, high blood pressure,
headaches, and other problems.
--Research: Vitamin D combined with calcium may slow bone
loss and reduce fractures.
Vitamin E
--Affects: red blood cells, reproduction, aging
--Daily Recommended Dosage: 15 milligrams from food
OR 22 IU from natural-source vitamin E OR 33 IU from the
synthetic form
--Whole Foods: Vegetable oils, wheat germ, whole-grain
products, avocados, nuts and peanut butter.
--Warnings: In rare cases when Vitamin E is taken in high
doses it can cause many types of symptoms including bleeding
and gastrointestinal problems.
--Research: A recent study found that vitamin E along with
other antioxidants and zinc may slow down macular degeneration.
Your doctor will prescribe the proper vitamins if you have
macular degeneration. Studies have indicated that Vitamin E may
slow Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
References:
American Heart Association Vitamin and Mineral Supplements:
http://216.185.112.5/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4788
National Eye Institute Age Related Eye Disease Study:
http://www.nei.nih.gov/amd/summary.htm
American Academy of Pediatrics Folic Acid for the
Prevention of Neural Tube Defects:
http://www.aap.org/policy/re9834.html
Mayo Clinic Using vitamin and mineral supplements wisely
(There is quite a bit of information in this article, if you are
considering taking vitamin supplements, read this article first.):
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=NU00198
Harvard School of Public Health Vitamins:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamins.html
Author Information:
Need help getting a balanced diet with plenty of vitamins?
Come and visit the NutriCounter web site
http://www.nutricounter.com and find
out how you can learn to eat healthier.
About the Author
Need help getting a balanced diet with plenty of vitamins?
Come and visit the NutriCounter web site
http://www.nutricounter.com and find
out how you can learn to eat healthier.
Written by: Renee Kennedy
Our site features tons of articles and rss feeds about
Vitamins. We provide these articles about Vitamins as a public service and hope that you will find them useful. However, we are not responsible for the content of these articles nor do we do not endorse or recommend any of the Vitamins-related websites or pages/images we link to. Use of our site constitutes acceptance of our
disclaimer. Vitamins is a serious condition and you should always seek the advice of a qualified health professional. Do not base any health decisions on any of the information contained on this site.
More About Vitamins
The Tibetan and Chinese health Secret If you read one health report a
It seems as if the health of America is failing. One million Americans will die of circulatory disease this year. Six hundred thousand lives will be cut short by cancer as well. How did we get in such a mess? I'm not sure. But there is a way out...
How Adult Day Care can help you maintain your sanity while caring for
Adult Day Care provides comfort, support, care, companionship and counseling for elderly or Alzheimer's patients who require supervision during daytime hours. It offers patients the opportunity to socialize and to receive health and social...
Natural vs Synthetic Herbs Vitamins Four Mountains Inc Reveals WHOLE t
Contact: Stacey Kumagai at 818.506.8675 CONSUMER ALERT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Natural vs. Synthetic Herbs &Vitamins Calabasas, CA -Paper or Plastic? 1 ply or 2? The best, natural, conscious choice is obvious. When it comes to herbs and vitamins....
How Adult Day Care can help you maintain your sanity while caring for
Adult Day Care provides comfort, support, care, companionship and counseling for elderly or Alzheimer's patients who require supervision during daytime hours. It offers patients the opportunity to socialize and to receive health and social...
How Adult Day Care can help you maintain your sanity while caring for
Adult Day Care provides comfort, support, care, companionship and counseling for elderly or Alzheimer's patients who require supervision during daytime hours. It offers patients the opportunity to socialize and to receive health and social...
Pediatric Obesity and Vitamin Deficiency Developments to fight future
Obesity, especially in children, is a matter of rapidly growing concern in the United States. For the first time in decades, we are projecting adecline in life expectancy for the current generation of pre-teens and children! This crisis has attracted...
Vitamins To Clear Skin
Acne can sometimes be improved with a regimen of vitamins and vitamin supplements. Vitamins to clear skin are readily available and reasonably priced. Vitamins to clear skin problems can be found in drugstores or online. You can also find vitamins to...
An Overlooked Plan for Bush Kerry Democrats Republicans and Healthcare
In an effort to assist our political leadership it would be wise to have a simple solution to a life threatening problem. The much talked about Medicare Medication benefits are going to waste if the medications are not taken properly. Since this...
An Overlooked Plan for Bush Kerry Democrats Republicans and Healthcare
In an effort to assist our political leadership it would be wise to have a simple solution to a life threatening problem. The much talked about Medicare Medication benefits are going to waste if the medications are not taken properly. Since this...
Take The First Step Towards Making The Connection Between Cholesterol
Your first line of defense is information and education.(NC)-Like many Canadians, you probably have not given much thought to your cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is a silent and a significant risk factor for heart disease,...
Vitamin Benefits – What You Need To Know Parents always tell their children to take their vitamins. Every day, consumers are bombarded with vitamin advertisements, and it is common knowledge that vitamins are beneficial to the human body. Unfortunately, many people do not know exactly how...
CAFTA: The End of Your Vitamins?Recently, The United States Congress and Senate passed the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). An agreement which actually restricts and regulates trade, contains a clause which will ultimately cost You Your health. CAFTA plus the Codex...
Are you getting all your vitamins?Far from the Flintstones shapes many of us chewed as kids, adult vitamins provide nutrients needed by a full-grown body. While vitamins are abundant in many foods, many adults do not follow diets that provide all of the vitamins and nutrients...
The Undercover Vitamin There is a secret vitamin in the neighborhood, wandering around your body under cover. This "vitamin" has just one single purpose, although some researchers believe he has ulterior motives. He goes by the inconspicuous codename of "D" –...
Avoiding Mental Disorders through the aid of Vitamins and MineralsWhen we think about the benefits of being ensuring a good bill of health by keeping track of our daily intake of prescribed vitamins, minerals and as well as the other nutrients that are needed by your body in order to stay healthy. It is important...
