Vitamin tablets - are they as good as real vitamins or a poor temporary substitute?

Question

They tell you to intake more iron for example, so people take iron tablets, would it not be better to eat plenty of the food stuff that contains iron, as this way is more 'natural' - or am I not making sense?

Answer 1

for people like me who rarely eat anything, much less eat anything healthy, vitamin supplements are really nice to add to the diet.

Answer 2

Oh God no -- you do NOT need that Shaklee crap!

Read carefully:

If your diet is mostly processed foods: fast foods, basically foods that you cannot recognize as even remotely looking like they could have come from a farm -- then YES, supplements might be what you need, and even then, choose the superfoods -- compressed tablets of highly concentrated organically grown fruits and veggies -- they can be amazing helpers. "Garden of Life" makes an AMAZING line of real food supplements made for health-conscious busy people.

If you eat healthy foods that you actually have to chew, and look like something you could pick or grow yourself if you had the time, then supplements could be a waste of good money, particularly if your foods are organically grown in good healthy soil and clean water. Organically grown simply means that no dangerous chemicals and/or pesticides/herbicides were used.

Be VERY careful when you go to ANY vitamin supplier. By the time you have spent TEN minutes there, they can have you convinced that you will almost die without at least 10 supplements. The most common needed supplement these days is trace minerals, since the soil on many farms is so overfarmed that it's lacking in minerals. Many "diseases" are actually just nutrient deficiencies in disguise.

Make healthy choices, and get the benefit of extended life, enhanced beauty, controlled weight, and massive energy!

Good Luck!
:)

Answer 3

Eating foods that naturally contain the vitamins is really the best option, because some nutrients and vitamins require other vitamins, nutrients or fats in order to digest and metabolize properly. For example, it's easier and more efficient for your body to utilize the calcium in spiniach or a glass of milk than it is for it to utilize the calcium in a supplement, because amongst other things, your body needs vitamin D to use calcium. However, tablets are better than nothing, and are generally considered to be a good way to ensure you're getting all of what you need. I heard someone once say that "a well stocked refridgerator is the best medicine cabinet".
Vitamin tablets really should be used more to suppliment your diet, rather than replace foods.

Answer 4

I asked myself the same question, as at times I get low calcium into my body up to the point of passing out. My doctor told me that at times the human body does not absorb vitamins directly from the foods we are eating. A vitamin pill doesn't contain only a high intake of that specific vitamin but also other ingredients that once in the organism create the right chemical reaction for the body to absorb the missing vitamin.

Answer 5

they are VERY poor.

The digestive system needs to be stimulated to work correctly. This is achieved by chewing.

If you do not chew something and just swallow it, chances are that the digestive system will only absorb a small amount of the chemicals making up the tablets. The rest is simply passed on.

Also they should NEVER EVER be used as a substitute.

A healthy balanced diet is all that is needed to provide all the nutrients and vitamins that you will require.

Answer 6

There is a lot of conflicting information regarding vitamins, but they cant really harm you as long as you do not take too many, and you are still eating healthy food which is giving you nutrients too.

It is all about balancing, such is everything in life.

Answer 7

Temporary substitutes

Answer 8

It would be better to eat the foods because then you also get the nutrients that will help you absorb that iron. :)

Answer 9

they help a lot cause food sucks sometimes the calcium works ive took it for 4 months and ive changed a lot

Answer 10

you do not know what is in the vitamin pills. at least you know what vits are in the veg and fruit you eat