Which vitamins are right for you?

Do you take vitamins? If so, you’re in the company of more than half of Americans who report taking a multivitamin or other dietary supplement. These tiny little capsules have garnered a lot of attention in the news lately.

The varying results from these studies remind us of the complexity of nutrition and vitamins. While many supplements can be beneficial for your health, other supplements still need further research to understand their full impact.

There are some guidelines though that can help you determine which supplements you should include in your diet:

First, not all supplements are created equally. Low-grade supplements are often not as soluble, which means the body has difficulty accessing the nutrients. If you’re going through the trouble of taking vitamins, you want to make sure they’re high-quality so your body can experience the full benefits. Many chiropractors have quality supplements on hand in their office or can recommend good sources.

Second, there seems to be a consensus among doctors that the best way to receive vitamins is through eating healthy food.  A lot of people have grown accustomed to eating primarily processed foods which often lack the nutritional benefits of unprocessed foods. And taking a vitamin isn’t a simple answer to that lack of nutrition either. Nutrients inside of food interact in complex ways that can’t always be replicated in supplements. Taking supplements can be a good way to enhance your healthy diet or fill-in if you have vitamin deficiency, but they aren’t meant to replace a healthy diet. Ask your doctor for more information about healthy nutrition and vitamin deficiency.

Finally, every person will have a unique set of vitamin needs. What supplements you should take depends on several factors like your diet, age, and sex, whether your have a deficiency. Your chiropractor has received nutritional training and can counsel you on which supplements are right for you.