Do Vitamin Supplements Help or Hurt?

Walk into any grocery store, health store or gas station you will likely see an array of vitamin supplements on display all with labels screaming for you to buy.  Everything from energy to pain relief is available and claims to be the next cure all for any ailment you encounter.  Are these products the modern day version of snake oils or do they truly live up to their claims? Unfortunately most of health products stretch the truth further than laffy taffy but understanding what is real will help you cut through the clutter for the good stuff.

The latest trend in the health supplements arena is natural remedies that use organic ingredients to form superior vitamin supplements. Be aware that not all of these products are the same since some will use all natural ingredients while others will just have an organic "active ingredient".  The difference is that the all natural supplements usually are byproducts taken directly from Mother Nature while the others mix man made ingredients with only one or two organic components.  Your body will get more benefit and absorb more of the nutrients from a 100% natural supplement over something derived from nature that contains inorganic ingredients.

Another overlooked detail is how much of the supplement does your body actually absorb. Many nutritional experts will not tell you that even though there are supplements packed full of daily value of vitamins your body does not use 100% of the contents.  Most of the time your body will only absorb 10-15% of any type of vitamin you take over the counter.  Even some prescription medications fall prey to this even though the doctor or pharmacy may not tell you. Now that doesn't mean you should take 8-10x more supplements to make up the difference but it does mean your body gets more nutritional value from foods that contain those same vitamins. One thing to consider is only taking supplements for instances where you cannot get 100% of what you need from meals. This is why multi vitamins have become so popular and work with a balanced nutritional diet.

Vitamin supplements can get expensive very quick especially if you take them on a daily basis.  Finding a discount source for your health supplements can help you save hundreds of dollars a year. You should also consider ways to maximize the uptake of the nutritional value of the supplements you take. Your body naturally will absorb more of the minerals in a liquid form than in a solid state. You can find most minerals in a liquid form instead of pill which makes it easier to take and is better for you. If you have trouble swallowing pills or just do not enjoy popping pills then you are a perfect candidate for liquid ionic minerals and vitamins.

Remember that the supplement industry is huge and new products come out almost every day.  Before you make an impulse buy in a health store, grocery store, online or anywhere else perform some research.  Taking the time for due diligence to find respectable companies that make vitamin supplements that work will bring you peace of mind and a healthier body. Make sure actual research has been done by independent doctors on a mineral supplement prior to purchase. Any health product worth its salt will have been tested by at least one doctor that was not hired by the company who makes the product; usually you can find several third party clinical studies for an exceptional supplement. Don't be a guinea pig for the latest fad; let others and then you can use what really works instead of hoping it will work.