If you’re here then you’ve probably Google’d about: what is the best vitamin you can take.
1. Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps our bodies absorb calcium, which is important for bone health. Not getting enough of this vitamin can increase: your likelihood of getting sick
your chances of bone and back pain
bone and hair loss While you technically should be able to get your daily vitamin D by being in the sunlight for 15 minutes, the reality is that over 40 percent of people in the United States don’t. Living in wintery locations with little sunlight, working an office 9 to 5 life, and applying sunscreen (which blocks vitamin D synthesis) makes getting vitamin D hard.
This vitamin is also hard to come by in food, which is why Taub-Dix says to look for this ingredient in your multi. Pro-tip: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends that children 1-13 years of age and adults 19-70, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, get 600 IU of vitamin D per day.
Do You Need A Supplement?
Most healthy people don’t need one.
But some folks may need extra help, says Jerlyn Jones, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Reasons include if you’re elderly, take certain medicines, or don’t have easy access to healthy food because of income or where you live. Talk to your doctor if you:
Are or might get pregnant.
And all women who are pregnant, or trying to be, should take folic acid. Eat a restricted or limited diet. It’s harder to get some nutrients, like vitamin B12 or calcium, if you leave out certain food groups.
Are older than 50.
Diseases & Conditions
Re a general term that includes vitamins, minerals, botanicals, probiotics and other products to supplement the diet. The best vitamin supplement differs from person to person depending on their gender, age and any health conditions they have.
Dietary supplements are a general term that includes vitamins, minerals, botanicals, probiotics and other products to supplement the diet. They are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as foods and not as drugs. The FDA periodically inspects facilities manufacturing supplements.
Several dietary supplements, however, contain ingredients that have strong biological effects that may interfere with a medicine you are taking or a medical condition you may have. We live in stressful times and our dietary habits are inconsistent, yet most of us receive enough vitamins and minerals from our diet. Most doctors do not recommend health supplements in young, healthy individuals.
A study conducted at Harvard has found that men who daily took a multivitamin for 11 years had 8 percent lower risk of cancer and 9 percent lower risk of cataracts than the placebo group.
What Vitamins Should You Take Daily?
It is estimated that about half of American adults take some type of vitamin or mineral supplement. “People might take supplements if they know they’re missing a certain food group,” says Patton.
Some people may have a true deficiency.”
Everyone’s vitamin needs are different, so it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor or registered dietitian before starting to take supplements. They can help you decide which products to take, or if you need to take any at all. Your doctor and pharmacist can also tell you if a supplement would interact badly with any medications you are taking, which may cause health problems.
What Does Recommended Daily Allowance Mean?
The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamins and minerals is the average daily intake a person needs to avoid deficiencies and stay healthy. There are 1,000 micrograms in 1 milligram.