Millions of people take nutritional supplements every day, but do they really stand up to the hype? It is true that there are some nutritional supplements that are recommended by doctors. For example, pregnant women are advised to take folic acid at the beginning of their pregnancies to help facilitate fetal development. Additionally, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as people who do not get much sun, may want to take a vitamin D supplement. However, generally, you can get every vitamin you need from eating a balanced, healthy diet. There are pros and cons to taking nutritional supplements. We have listed some below:
PROS:
- Children are often very fussy about eating, and it can be difficult to get them to eat a healthy diet. Because of this, a vitamin supplement can be beneficial for children under 5. However, if your child is eating a healthy diet already, a supplement is unnecessary. Discuss with their pediatrician to see if this is a necessary move to make.
- If you have any sort of vitamin deficiency but have difficulty eating a diet rich in that vitamin, a supplement may help you make up that deficit. This is particularly a problem for older people, people with certain medical conditions, and restrictive diets.
- If you have difficulty getting a nutritionally balanced diet, supplements may be able to help you make up for it.
CONS:
- Pills are not the best way to absorb vitamins, and you end up not absorbing many of the vitamins when you take supplements. A better source of vitamins is through a nutritionally balanced diet.
- Certain supplements can have negative side effects.
- Vitamin A supplements can be damaging to fetal development, so pregnant women should not take it.
- Vitamin B6 can cause loss of feeling in limbs.
- Extremely high doses of vitamin C can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Before you take vitamin supplements, consult with a doctor first. As a health club, we care about your well-being. Come into Spunk Fitness, and we will help you with your health goals.