Are Vitamin Supplements Really Necessary? by Renee Kennedy

It is a fact that vitamins are important to a healthy diet. Without certain vitamins, your body could be at risk for disease. There are some studies on how specific vitamins can help specific illnesses. Some of those studies are mentioned below and references are listed at end of article.

However, most of medical community seems to agree that getting your vitamins from whole foods is much better than taking supplements.

There are exceptions to this. For example, if you're pregnant, a folic acid supplement may be prescribed by your doctor. Another example is taking doctor recommended vitamin supplements for a specific illness.

Do not take vitamin supplements without consulting your health care provider, especially if you are on any medications or you have any illness or special health conditions (like pregnancy, anemia, heart condition, etc.).

Here are most important vitamins:

Vitamin A --Affects: skin, tissue growth and regeneration, eyes, white blood cells, bone and teeth growth and mucus membranes in mouth, nose, throat, lungs. --Daily Recommended Dosage: 5,000 IU for men and 4,000 IU for women --Whole Foods: whole milk, fat-free milk fortified with vitamin A, whole eggs, liver, beef, chicken, dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, broccoli, cantaloupe, mangos, apricots, tomato juice. --Deficiency Symptoms: teeth and gum problems, fatigue, loss of appetite, dry, scaly skin, increase susceptibility to infection, night blindness. (Vitamin A deficiency would be rare in United States, it occurs mainly in developing countries where people are malnourished.) --Warnings: High doses of Vitamin A from supplements can cause birth defects, liver problems and reduction in bone density. --Research: A recent study found that beta carotene along with other antioxidants and zinc may slow down macular degeneration. Your doctor will prescribe proper vitamins if you have macular degeneration.

Vitamin B6 --Affects: brain and metabolism --Daily Recommended Dosage: 1.3 to 1.7 milligrams --Whole Foods: Poultry, fish, pork, eggs, soybeans, oats, whole-grain foods, nuts, seeds and bananas. --Deficiency Symptoms: skin problems, anemia in adults, convulsions in infants --Warnings: High doses of B6 may cause nerve damage.

Your home or work environment may be causing you additional health risks without you realizing it. On average, Canadians spend about 80-90 percent of their time indoors, thus quality of indoor air is very important. Ask yourself a few questions:

Does fresh, outside air flow into room or office you are usually in? Is room humid? Are there any gas-fired appliances? Is your furniture composed of particle board or wood laminents?

These questions need to be addressed when determining quality of air in our home or workplace. Here are reasons why.

Does fresh, outside air flow into room or office you are usually in? Better insulation can save on heating costs, but it limits amount of fresh air that enters and leaves your house or office.As a lot of water vapour is produced from normal human activities, fresh air is necessary to get rid of this extra humidity.

Is room humid? Humid or damp conditions in your home can encourage growth of mould and dust mites. Mould can develop from too much humidity, building leaks, refrigerator drip pans, bathroom surfaces and flooding. Mouldy smells from carpet, wood and gypsum board are a sign that they harbour fungi. Stale water in humidifiers and air conditioners can lead to growth of bacteria and fungi.