Are Supplement Vitamins Necessary?

Are Supplement Vitamins Necessary?
I think we can all agree that vitamins are necessary for good health. Vitamins are found in the food we eat every day and are classified in basically two forms; Fat soluble and water soluble.

Fat Soluble Vitamins
Vitamins A, D, E and K are classified as fat soluble vitamins.
They are commonly found is foods such as butter, dairy products, liver and fish oil. One characteristic of fat-soluble vitamins is that they are stored in the liver if your body has no immediate use for them. If you are taking fat soluble supplements, you should keep this in mind.

Water Soluble Vitamins
Vitamins B and C are the most commonly known water soluble vitamins and can be found in the fruits and vegetables we eat. Unlike fat soluble vitamins, water soluble vitamins are not stored in the body. When we ingest an excessive amount of water soluble vitamins, the body rids the excess in our urine.

If you have shopped a vitamin isle in your local drug store or supermarket, you've probably become confused by the number of selections and types of vitamins. Although there are many on the market, the question is, are they really needed?

If you are a healthy person and eat a nutritious balanced diet, chances are vitamin supplements are not necessary. One practice that I make is to eat at least five portions of fruits and vegetables a day. Not only are they delicious, but they will provide most of the vitamins you need. Some of the fruit can come in the form of a juice drink as long as it is a natural drink and not artificially flavored. Make sure you read the label first; many appear to be natural on the outside, but lacking any healthy vitamin content.

Vegetables are a great source of vitamins, especially when eaten raw. Studies have shown that cooking vegetables removes much of the nutritional value. There is nothing better than eating a healthy portion of broccoli or carrots. It's also a good way to curb your desire for candy and sweets and even helps when quitting smoking.

Eating fruit also provides many vitamins and has many practical uses as well, such as staying away from sweets and smoking.

Other foods such as meats, fish, eggs and dairy products provide the additional needed vitamins that the body needs. Seeds and nuts are an excellent source of vitamins. This is one of the reasons why nuts are found in many cold breakfast cereals and breakfast bars.

A vitamin supplement is no replacement for a well balanced diet. However, there are times when a supplement is required by a doctor such in the cases of pregnancy, the elderly, or for children between the ages of 6 months to four years of age. You should consult your doctor for advice of supplemental dosages and types of vitamins to be taken in if you fall into any of these categories.

Generally speaking, supplements are not necessary for the healthy person who watches their diet and eats a healthy and consistent well balanced meal.