What are multivitamins? Should you take a multivitamin every day to stay healthy?

The term “multivitamin” has appeared more and more frequently over the past few decades. Many people believe that using it regularly will make the body healthier. What is the truth of its use, is it really good or not? Let’s find out together.

What are multivitamins?

A multivitamin is a supplement that contains various minerals and vitamins. Because there are no specific standards for making a multivitamin, its ingredients also vary by brand and manufacturer.

They come in many forms such as powders, tablets, capsules, and liquids. Most multivitamins should only be taken 1-2 times per day.

Multivitamins

Composition of multivitamins

Multivitamins contain at least 16 different minerals and 13 different vitamins. Most of the substances in it support normal reactions in the body, help with reproduction, growth and regulation of the body’s metabolic processes.

In addition, multivitamins also contain many different herbs and amino acids . Because they are not regulated by the FDA, the content of multivitamins can vary and depend on the label.

Ingredients in Multivitamins

Effects of multivitamins

In addition to providing essential nutrients for the body, supporting metabolic processes inside the body, multivitamins also have a number of other effects such as:

• Heart disease: The effect of multivitamins on heart disease is not really clear. The Doctor’s Health II study of 14,000 middle-aged male doctors did not find any association with a reduced risk of heart attack or stroke. However, another study found that among women who took a multivitamin for 3 years, the risk of stroke was 35% lower.

The effects of multivitamins

• Brain function: Studies have shown that taking a multivitamin is effective in improving memory. In addition, the ingredients in them also help reduce the symptoms of depression.
• Eye Health: Multivitamins work to slow the progression of macular degeneration. In addition, it also helps reduce the risk of cataracts, a common eye disease.

However, consuming too much of multivitamins will also harm the body and make you suffer from dangerous diseases. You should balance between minerals and vitamins together to have a healthy body.

Who needs a multivitamin supplement?

Multivitamins aren’t for everyone, but there are a few ingredients that should help your body stay healthy:

• Vegetarians: Since vitamin B12 can only be found in animals, vegetarians are at a higher risk of deficiency. In addition, they may also be deficient in calcium, zinc, vitamin D, and omega-3s.
• Older adults: The ability to absorb vitamin B12 decreases with age. Above all, the elderly should also add more calcium and vitamin D to the body.
• Pregnant and lactating women : During pregnancy, the mother’s health may be reduced or anorexia due to pregnancy. However, you should consult with an expert doctor before using multivitamins, to avoid harm to the body.
• In addition, people with poor health or undergoing surgery, diet can also use this vitamin.

Who needs multivitamin supplements?

Some frequently asked questions

Should I take a daily multivitamin?

According to statistics, the number of people using multivitamins in the US is increasing rapidly. They believe that they can provide the necessary nutrients and vitamins, are more convenient and cost-effective than the addition of vegetables and fruits.

However, a report based on 84 studies involving 700,000 people found no link between multivitamins and cardiovascular disease and cancer. According to Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pieter Cohen of Harvard Medical School , points out that taking a multivitamin every morning is not as good as consuming a glass of water.

Should I take a daily multivitamin?

When to take a multivitamin?

Basically, you can take a multivitamin at any time, but it should still be taken with food . However, for those who have trouble sleeping, taking vitamins before bed can interfere with your sleep process.

Some research shows that vitamin B12 and vitamin B6 can help you stay awake and make it harder to fall asleep. So it’s best to use it during the day.

In addition, you should not use calcium tablets and iron-containing vitamins at the same time, because calcium will interfere with the body’s absorption of iron. So, if you take an iron-containing multivitamin in the morning, you should take calcium at the end of the day.

When is the right time to take a multivitamin?

How to choose a multivitamin?

Be sure to read the medication label carefully to identify the substances that will be given during administration.

Choose vitamins suitable for age and sex, need to talk to your doctor about any diseases or allergies of the body to use the most appropriate vitamins.

Do not take multivitamins with milk, calcium medicines and antacids, which can interfere with calcium absorption.

Notes when taking multivitamins

• Use according to the dose recommended by the doctor, do not arbitrarily use less or more may cause unwanted effects on the body.
• Do not use multiple multivitamins at the same time without consulting your doctor.
• Do not take multivitamins with milk, calcium medicines and antacids , which can interfere with calcium absorption.
• It is necessary to consult a doctor when the user is in the process of breast-feeding.

Some notes when using multivitamins

The above article is information about multivitamins and how to use them properly. Hope the article will be useful to you and don’t forget to follow Tnhelearning.edu.vn for more knowledge!

Source: Health & Life Newspaper

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