How Do You Know If You Need A Vitamin Supplement?

Billions of dollars are spent every year by millions of

people around the world on vitamin supplements. In

2004 alone, it is estimated, nearly $20B dollars went to

supplements. A lot of the people spending their hard-

earned money on vitamin supplements believe they are

warding off cancer, heart disease, or other conditions just

by taking vitamins. Most people don't know, however,

that it is not possible to stock up the nutritional value of

many vitamins. Water soluble vitamins and minerals like

vitamins B and C are actually eliminated each day (don't

ask me to go into details about how that happens!).



Other vitamins are ¡°fat-soluble¡± meaning they dissolve in

fat. Those include vitamins A, K, D, and E. The fat-

soluble vitamins can be more dangerous than water-

soluble. What is not used by the body actually ends up in

the liver, where it can build up and could potentially be

toxic.



You should check with your doctor or healthcare

practitioner about whether or not you can absorb the

vitamins you want to be taking. That's the first place to

look when deciding what supplement may be right for

you. If you are not absorbing a vitamin or mineral as it

naturally occurs, you will want to supplement it. Don't

supplement vitamins you are already supplying your body

in adequate quantities.



The next thing to consider is if your nutritional needs have

changed due to medical conditions like pregnancy or more

time spent bodybuilding. These and other conditions have

special requirements and you may not be naturally getting

enough of certain vitamins and minerals.



Check with your doctor on potential interactions between

your supplement, and any medication you are on. It is

also prudent to talk to him about whether or not you even

need a particular supplement vitamin.



Doctors can find out a lot about your nutritional needs by

taking a simple blood sample. She can then see what you

may be deficient in, and need to supplement. You don't

want to be taking something you don't need.



Perhaps moreso in the vitamin supplement world than in

other areas of your life, ¡°buyer beware¡± is an important

thing to remember. Vitamin supplements are largely

unregulated by the government (in the USA, and even less

elsewhere). You will be bombarded with messages about

how this or that supplement will keep you safe from

cancer or other diseases, with little research to back up

such claims.



Be careful, and don't rely on the supplement

manufacturer's claims alone. The internet is a great place

to research different supplement companies and

supplements, and of course your doctor is a trained

professional. The US Government (FDA) and other

agencies also provide free information on supplements

they have tested.



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Matt Ream is the content editor of VitaminSupplementVitamin.com, a website dedicated to non-biased information on vitamin supplements.

Learn about vitamin supplements and which you should take... if any! Many vitamin supplement vitamins are unnecessary. Are you doing more harm than good to your body? Visit http://www.vitaminsupplementvitamin.com today.