(GoHealthier.com) – In this day and age, alternative medicine is becoming more sought after by many people. This is where multivitamins take center stage. So many natural products may have a positive impact on the body and mind.
While products like multivitamins claim to be effective at bettering health, could they actually waste time and money? Here are some science-backed facts so we can draw our own conclusions.
A Better Diet Is More Effective
Scientists conducting studies at Johns Hopkins University have one simple conclusion: Nothing can replace the nutritional role foods like fish, vegetables and whole grains play toward better health. A healthy, well-balanced diet is the single best thing we can do for ourselves. Supplements are not substitutes for diets or medications that can help prevent or control certain diseases and medical conditions.
Instead of taking supplements for things like fiber and fish oil, eat the real thing in healthy forms. This includes baked, fresh or broiled — not saturated in fat.
Serious Disease Requires Medical Supervision
Many people fighting arthritis, cancer and heart diseases turn to natural multivitamins for a fix or cure-all. Serious medical issues need to be addressed and monitored by a medical doctor. Life-saving treatment and medication might be bypassed for a multivitamin regimen by unsuspecting consumers.
In addition, some multivitamin cocktails could have negative interactions with some medications, leading to deadly side effects that may require urgent medical care.
Some Don’t Offer Benefits as Advertised
A lot of multivitamins hype their advertising. They may even use celebrities or actors to promote their product based on inconclusive claims. While this can cause consumers to break out their pocketbooks and spend a lot of money on products, it’s a form of false advertisement that’s prevalent in the natural health industry.
You Might Already Be Getting Enough
Several multivitamin companies post ads on social media that we may not be getting enough B vitamins or D, C or calcium. The reality? A healthy diet takes care of all of that for some individuals. The only way to know for sure is to visit the doctor and get a complete health workup. Only then will we know what we need to supplement.
Supplementing when not necessary could be dangerous. For example, getting too much magnesium or potassium could actually be harmful to our health. On the other hand, certain medical conditions, such as anemia, might require supplementation.
Before adding any new vitamins or supplements, be sure to check with a doctor first.
While some supplements may help, most are all hype. The bottom line is to eat healthy, get plenty of exercise and see a doctor on a routine basis. If we are taking a multivitamin or other supplements, it’s important to inform our healthcare team to prevent possible interactions between supplements and new or existing prescriptions and to make sure we aren’t overdosing. Being informed will keep us on a path to optimal health.
~Here’s to a Healthier Life!
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