Need a sleep aide? Check. Need more fiber or a Vitamin C boost? Check and check.
Overall, the body needs about 40 vitamins and minerals to function optimally, WebMD says, but don’t assume you’ll get all of that in the foods you eat. That’s why vitamins and supplements are a great way to live a healthier lifestyle while ensuring your body gets the help it needs.
If you’re relatively new to taking vitamins, these three tips will help:
Tip 1: Don’t Replace your Healthy Diet with Vitamins
Vitamins are just a helping hand when it comes to your health; you don’t want them to take the wheel. Before you buy vitamins and supplements from anyone in Draper, you should make sure that you are maintaining a healthy diet. Keep in mind that when we say a healthy diet, we mean fresh, whole foods. In other words, nothing can replace a healthy diet, so don’t even try.
Tip 2: Supplements can be Deficient
Just because you found it in a bottle at the store doesn’t mean it’s as good as anything else. The FDA doesn’t regulate supplements, so it will be up to you to determine what works and what doesn’t. Read the ingredients and make sure that the ratios are correct before you commit yourself to a regimen.
Tip 3: Don’t Go Over the DV!
Believe it or not, taking individual vitamins or mineral supplements can be toxic if taken in large amounts. That’s why multivitamins are a good place to start. The term you should be aware of when looking for multivitamins: daily value, or DV. Be wary of supplements that offer more than 100 percent of the DV for a vitamin or mineral, WebMD says.
The bottom line? Supplements and vitamins can give your body the boost it needs to fend off illness, stay alert and remain relatively healthy overall. But if you’re not 100 percent sure which ones will benefit you the most, check with a health official first.
