If you’re here, then you probably Google’d: what daily vitamins do i need. This subject along with many others are quite common, we will do our best to answer this and many other similar questions in this article which should ease your mind regarding this subject.
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.
What The Numbers Mean
For example, here are some guidelines set up by the Institute of Medicine: The RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) and the AI (Adequate Intake) are the amounts of a vitamin or mineral you need to keep healthy and stay well-nourished.
They’re tailored to women, men, and specific age groups. For certain nutrients, the higher you go above the UL, the greater the chance you’ll have problems. Separate from the RDA and the UL, the Food and Drug Administration uses a different measure for the nutrients you need: The DV (Daily Value) is the only measurement you’ll find on food and supplement labels.
Although the details may be different, remember that the RDA and DV are both set up to help you get the nutrients you need to prevent disease and avoid problems caused by lack of nutritio.
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.
“Others might take supplements for the antioxidant benefits or because they know they don’t eat fruits and vegetables. 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. 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.
The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamins and minerals is the average daily intake a person needs to avoid deficiencies and stay healthy. Men and women often have different vitamin and mineral recommendations. There are different ways to measure the RDA.
There are 1,000 micrograms in 1 milligram.
Things To Consider
Not getting the vitamins and minerals can have serious consequences for your health. A general lack of nutrients can lead to malnutrition.
Some vitamin deficiencies can even be life-threatening. For example, an overdose of vitamin A during pregnancy can cause problems with the baby’s development in the womb. This is especially important if you are pregnant or have health conditions.
Some deficiencies have no symptoms at all. You are often tired, even when you get plenty of sleep. Your vision is getting worse, especially at night.
You have dry eyes. You are depressed. Your gums bleed.
Should I Be Taking A Multivitamin Or Other Dietary Supplement?
Should My Child Be Taking A Multivitamin Or Other Dietary Supplement?
Is One Brand Of Vitamins Better Than Another?
Resources
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, health.gov: 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.