Vitamin Supplements

We all know that we need to consume all the vitamins that our body has to have in order to function correctly, although most of us do not know exactly what they are. We also know that it is better to acquire these vitamins and nutrients from our food rather than from tablets or supplements. Regrettably, this is not always feasible, so occasionally we have to resort to supplements.

Some people resort to supplements because the food that contains the vitamins that they are lacking is hard to come by, difficult to cook or is too expensive. This is why the provision of vitamins, nutrients and supplements is such big business, being worth billions of dollars a year.

Supplements come in three different types: liquid, tablets and capsules containing liquid or solids. Naturally, it is best to make sure that the supplement dissolves in your system before it passes through you, which is why the liquid form is considered the best type.

However, some individuals do not like the taste of the liquid, which is where capsules containing liquid come in. They also happen to be the most expensive type.

Some individuals have difficulty swallowing tablets and tablets are the kind that sometimes do not completely dissolve. Before you buy your supplements there are a couple of items to check.

The first is to find out what the 'recommended daily amount' (RDA) of every vitamin and mineral is in your country. I say 'in your country' because not every country recommends the same quantities.

Then check the country of origin of the supplements. There are some countries I would not trust, but that is your choice. It is worth being aware of though. It is pointless taking a higher dose than the RDA unless your medical doctor tells you to.

It is also not actually worth taking a great deal less unless you are truly merely supplementing the vitamins in your normal food intake.

When you have worked out your needs you could go down to your local health food shop to get the names and prices of manufacturers that can fulfill your requirements.

Then go back home and check Amazon and eBay for prices of the same items. Shopping for supplements in this way can save you more than 50% on High Street shop prices.

If you are having difficulty working out which vitamins you should be taking enquire of your medical doctor as your age, sex, level of fitness and health can all affect your requirements. One thing you should never do though is attempt to replace food with supplements.

You require both or rather you should take your vitamins in your food if at all possible. Vitamin supplements are only that - supplements to food, not replacements for it. Some minerals such as essential fatty acids like Omega 3 do not have an RDA in each country, so you should take private advice on these essential fatty acids particularly DHA and EPA long chain essential fatty acids from fish oil.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on a number of subjects, but is now concerned with omega 6 and omega 3. If you would like to know more, please visit our site at Omega 6 9