Vitamin supplements are one of the easiest ways to meet the nutritional requirements of the day in a single go. They are a rich source of essential nutrients such as the B class of vitamin fact, vitamin A, vitamin C, and a lot of other minerals as well, making them an important part of our diet.
However, there have been a lot of myths surrounding the consumption of vitamin supplements as of late, which can be confusing for people who are considering the supplementation of vitamins as a part of their daily diet. To eliminate the confusion, we have researched the proper vitamin fact to help you identify the pros and cons of the supplements that you are consuming.
10 Vitamin Myths And Fact
Given below are ten myths surrounding vitamin supplements and the vitamin fact that accompany them:
Myth 1. More Vitamins Result In Better Health
Vitamin Fact: In the case of vitamins, consuming more of them does not always mean that you are going to be in good health. Most of these supplements have an upper limit of consumption for the day and crossing that threshold can actually be quite dangerous for one’s health. This is the reason as to why the Food and Nutrition Board has come up with the recommended daily intake levels of several essential vitamins, as a way of optimizing their utility. For example, one of the vitamin C facts is that consuming too much of it can hinder your body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients such as copper.
In the same manner, consuming too many phosphorus supplements can interfere with the absorption of calcium. Coming to vitamin A facts, the body cannot get rid of fat soluble nutrients such as vitamins A, D, and E through micturition. Instead these nutrients get stored in our body, making them cause problems like obesity and cholesterol. One of the vitamin D facts is that taking too much of vitamin D supplements can result in the excess buildup of calcium in the body, which can cause damage to the heart and kidneys.
Myth 2. Natural Supplements Are Always Safe
Vitamin Fact: One of the most important things that we need to understand about the consumption of nutritional supplements is that the word natural does not always equate to healthy. The effect of the supplement in itself depends on a variety of factors such as the quality of its sourcing, potential side effects, reactions with other natural compounds, etc. Always look into the supplements that you buy and make sure to research the names of any ingredient that you do not know, even if it states that it is a herb. The presence of this compound may be in trace amounts or highly concentrated, depending on the product that you end up purchasing.
Myth 3. Vitamin Supplements Work Well With Medication
Vitamin Fact: Since a lot of vitamin supplements are available over the counter, people fail to consider the implications that they may have when consumed in combination with prescription medicine. One of the vitamin D facts is that consuming too much of it alongside steroid medications can render them useless. The natural compounds present in these supplements are always going to interfere with other drugs present in the medicine. Always make sure to consult with your doctor before deciding to supplement your preexisting medication and diet with some vitamin supplements.
Myth 4. Vitamin Supplements Are Enough To Prevent Heart Disease
Vitamin Fact: One of the more common misconceptions about vitamin supplements is that consuming them will automatically prevent us from contracting any form of heart disease. While one of the vitamin D facts does state that consuming its supplement will be useful in regulating the proper flow of blood and ensuring cardiac health, consuming these vitamin supplements alone is going to have very little effect on our heart health. You will also need to cut down on junk, exercise a lot, and lead a healthier life in general in case you plan to prevent contracting cardiovascular complications.
Myth 5. Vitamin C Prevents Cold
Vitamin Fact: One of the most common vitamin C myths is that consuming its supplements can help you prevent getting a cold. While medically researched vitamin C facts do say that consuming vitamin C supplements are useful for boosting the functioning of the immune system, the common cold is a virus that has been around for several years, and there is virtually no cure for it. All you can do is try your best to stay fit and healthy by consuming supplements such as vitamin c, which can only reduce the severity of the symptoms experienced by a person when diagnosed with the common cold. Another vitamin C fact also says that its supplements are useful for getting rid of free radicals which drastically improves the functioning of the immune system.
Myth 6. Vitamin D Prevents Cancer
Vitamin Fact: One of the most precarious vitamin D myths is the common misconception that consuming it helps in reducing the symptoms of cancer, or even treating it. There have been several investigations and research papers carried out since 2018 which have looked into the extent of this vitamin D myth. However, there is no clear answer as to how it can help people diagnosed with invasive cancer or even basic cardiovascular complications.
Myth 7: Vitamins Supplements With Probiotics Cure Everything
Vitamin Fact: Over the years, there has been a common misconception that consuming prebiotic supplements eliminates the risk of developing diseases and cures virtually any disease. While probiotic supplements are indeed a huge factor in improving the functioning of the gut and digestive system, they do not possess the ability to cure the body of any sort of disease. These supplements are aimed towards improving your general health levels and relieve the symptoms among people diagnosed with conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. However, apart from very specific scenarios revolving around the functioning of the gut, prebiotics does not have much of a role to play in overall health.
Myth 8. Vitamin Supplements With Antioxidants Make You Live Longer
Vitamin Fact: Oxidation is a chemical process that is common in every single human body. This process brings forth the production of harmful substances such as free radicals which can interfere with the proper functioning of the body and cause damage to the cells. Antioxidants are those naturally occurring compounds that are designed to eliminate the free radicals present in your body. One of the common vitamin C myths includes that consuming it will give you the antioxidants required to live a longer life. While consuming antioxidants will definitely improve your overall health and give you a higher nutritional intake (depending on the source of antioxidants) this vitamin C myth is false as antioxidants virtually have no effect in reducing the risk of developing diseases such as cancer, cataracts, and cardiovascular diseases.
Myth 9. Vitamin Supplements Are Viable Diet Replacements
Vitamin Fact: One of the common vitamin C myths is the misconception that consuming vitamin supplements such as essential nutrients are enough to be considered as potential diet replacements. This cannot be further from the truth as any balanced diet is supposed to be full of natural and whole foods which are geared towards meeting your nutritional requirements for the day. You must only use these supplements as nutritional aids and not meal replacements.
Myth 10. People With Unvaried Diets Need Supplements
Vitamin Fact: While it is true that one must analyze their nutritional intake and bring in a lot of essential nutrients, it does not mean that people who consume a similar pattern of food always fall short in the vitamin department. Even if your diet is not varied and contains the same kind of foods, it can still be a rich source of nutrition. In fact, you will not be at risk of developing any sort of deficiency unless your body loses out on every last ounce of its vitamin reserves and begins to run on nothing.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the most important vitamin fact that we need to keep in mind is that while the consumption of vitamin supplements are necessary, they are not all there is to living a proper and healthy life. Make minor changes to your lifestyle and eat a balanced intake of all nutrients to stay fit and healthy. Always consult with a doctor before deciding to supplement your nutritional intake with any kind of supplements as they can have unwanted complications if your body is not comfortable with it.
