Nutritional Multivitamin Supplement Articles | MultiVitamin

By: Alan Kenyon

It is correct to say, that in general, taking multivitamin supplements daily is safe, notwithstanding the controversy that surrounds this subject. It certainly is safer than suffering from a mineral or vitamin deficiency.

It’s the hectic, pressure-filled lifestyles we lead that make meeting our daily nutritional requirements a longer shot than it should be. Because of work requirements, many people eat out more often. What they usually get is an unhealthy dose of oversized food portions often cooked in artery-clogging oils and saturated fats.

Then there’s the inescapable fact of stress, something anyone in the 21st century may have to endure on a daily basis. Stress does take its toll on the body. It often has the effect of wasting much of the nutritional value we should be getting from the food we eat. Stressful situations even directly impact our eating habit. Who hasn’t eaten on the run, or at odd times of the day, or skipped a meal altogether?

Stress, poor eating habits, unmet nutritional requirements, plus insufficient exercise -- all these conspire to compromise our health. They also make a case for supplementing our diets with vitamin and mineral preparations.

If you are planning on taking multivitamins daily, you need not speak with a doctor first, unless you are suffering from some serious medical condition and are taking medications. If you are in good health, you can proceed to take a multivitamin that meets recommended daily allowances.

Over-supplementation isn’t an issue with the B-vitamins and vitamin C since they are soluble. This means that excess or unabsorbed amounts of these vitamins in the body are eliminated through the urine. However, the situation is different with the fat soluble vitamins A and D, which, as excess, are stored in the body. But still, even when ingested in amounts that are a little over their recommended daily allowances, these two vitamins shouldn’t cause any serious symptom. Very large doses, however, may set off unwanted complications, and are definitely not recommended.

In moderation is the way to take food supplements. We have to consider, too, that many food items sold nowadays, such as cereals and orange juice, are fortified with vitamins and minerals. When in doubt about how much supplementation you need, consult with a doctor or nutritionist.

The only thing you have to do once you have decided that multivitamins are for you is to choose and buy one. Multivitamins come in tablet, pill or liquid form, and under a bewildering array of brands, so you might want to read labels and settle for a well-known manufacturer. The size and shape of the vitamin will also matter, since it is something you’ll be taking regularly, if not daily.