We might eat a lot of healthy foods rich in vitamins and minerals, but for some, it may not seem enough. Increased stress, irregular nutrition, lack of sunlight – all these factors can reduce the number of vitamins in your body. But there are several reasons why you don’t need to worry about buying expensive pill packs. We have compiled a few important facts about vitamins that you should know about.
Facts About Vitamins
Here are some interesting facts about vitamins.
1. Most People Don’t Need Multivitamins
Even if it seems to you that you get tired quickly, and your immunity is weakened, this does not mean that you absolutely need to take vitamins. Moreover, taking multivitamins daily does not reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attacks. So there is no point in taking them even as a preventive measure.
2. Vitamins From Food Increase Life Expectancy
The more vitamins you get through food or, in the case of vitamin D, the sun, the more likely you are to live longer. But there was no correlation with the intake of vitamins in tablets, so not all vitamins help to achieve longevity.
3. Different Tablets May Have Different Concentrations
One of the main problems with vitamin supplements is that they are not heavily regulated by the FDA. Analyzing popular vitamins shows that the number on the label often does not correspond to what is in the product itself. Thus, keep in mind that you might be getting much less than what you actually need.
4. Vitamins From Foods Help In Addiction Recovery
A person who is recovering from substance addiction suffers greatly from vitamin deficiency. Thus, experts focus on recovering the level of necessary vitamins in the body, such as B vitamins, through foods. Patients are provided with foods rich in minerals during inpatient treatment programs and are monitored all the time.
5. Vitamins Have Little Or No Effect On Mental Health
Taking vitamin supplements does nothing to cure depression or reduce your risk of mental health problems. Scientists tested this theory for a year but still confirmed that vitamins could not reduce anxiety.
6. Vitamin D Helps Fight Sunburn
We get vitamin D by absorbing it through our skin. But a 2017 study found that it can also be beneficial when taken in supplement form shortly after you get sunburn. The anti-inflammatory action helps to reduce swelling and pain. Thus, if you feel your skin is red after being in the sun for a long time, look for aloe vera and vitamins.
7. Vitamin D May Help Fibromyalgia Pain
According to a 2014 study, women with fibromyalgia can use vitamin D to reduce the symptoms. The sample was small – only 30 women, but after 50 weeks of administration, their pain levels had significantly decreased. Thus, for dealing with fibromyalgia, vitamins can be helpful.
8. Vitamins Can Improve Fertility
If you’re worried about not being able to conceive, try asking your doctor about vitamin D supplementation. It was suggested at a 2017 European Congress of Endocrinology presentation that some testing should be done on the link between low vitamin D levels and fertility in men and women. If this link is confirmed in more recent studies, vitamin D will be an easy way to address fertility problems.
9. Vitamins Can Improve The Intestinal Microflora
A 2016 study found that in mice with metabolic syndrome, vitamin D supplementation had a positive effect on the gut microbiome. This means that they have lesser susceptibility to type 2 diabetes, stroke, and other diseases.
We do not know whether this effect also occurs in humans, but a 2018 study found that about a third of American adults have metabolic syndrome, so even this finding could be considered a breakthrough.
10. Without Enough Magnesium, Vitamins Don’t Get Absorbed
All vitamins interact with each other, and a 2018 study found that taking vitamin D pills is useless if you suffer from magnesium deficiency. Make sure to include wheat bran, nuts and seeds, beans, green apples, and lettuce in your diet.
11. Vitamin B Helps With Schizophrenia
Doctors recommend B vitamins, especially B5 and B12, as an additive to antipsychotic treatments for people with schizophrenia. Vitamins cannot get rid of it, but they can reduce symptoms. It can significantly improve the quality of life for people with this disorder.
12. Excess Vitamin C Is Real
Some people have high doses of vitamin C, such as over 2,000 or 3,000 mg. per day, which can cause diarrhea, nausea, heartburn, fatigue, and insomnia. Those suffering from liver problems should not exceed vitamin intake from 1000 mg.
It can be difficult to achieve this figure, but if you are on a citrus diet for a long time or regularly take vitamin C in the form of tablets, then you risk doing your body more harm than good.
13. Excess Vitamins Increase The Risk Of Premature Death
Before taking any supplement, you should undergo a special examination and discuss the tests with your therapist. The Mayo Clinic found that people who take vitamins E and A daily without a medical indication are at high risk of premature death. The same applies to beta-carotene, which converts in the body itself into vitamin A.
14. Calcium Is Good For Bones But Has Many Side Effects
Calcium shows the worst health indicators when taking synthetic supplements. When taken from pills rather than dairy or other foods, you increase your risk of kidney stones or cardiovascular problems. At the same time, if you have health problems due to which you cannot get enough calcium in your body, pills will be the best option to keep your bones healthy.
Take Away
Vitamins are necessary for the body, and one should get them through natural sources such as food. If you are taking vitamin supplements, make sure to consult a doctor. By stuffing your body with excessive vitamins, you do more harm than good to yourself.
