Let us begin by setting the record straight. Several resources out there provide information on how vitamins can help your health. While vitamins are important to stay healthy, there are some significant points to keep in mind:
- Vitamins are not medicines. They must not be mistaken as quick cures for ailments.
- Eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is important to stay healthy and make sure your body is getting the necessary vitamins.
- Although vitamin and supplements cannot replace a balanced diet, they are surely helpful if your body has a deficit of some nutrients.
- Taking supplements and vitamins is necessary in some cases. For instance, it is important for people with certain health problems, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and older folks.
It is a good idea to talk to a doctor before trying out any new supplements.
Addressing Misconceptions and Misinformation
1. More is good.
This is a common misconception about vitamins. Excessive intake of vitamins can be harmful. People often assume that vitamin and mineral supplements are safe at any dosage. However, excessive amounts of specific vitamins can interfere with the body's processes.
2. Can Vitamin C Help Maintain and improve immunity?
Although vitamin C is known to boost immune function, majority of scientists agree that vitamin C is not a reliable stand-alone treatment for any disease. A strong immune system can be bolstered by vitamin C.
3. Consumption of more More Vitamin D is Better
While vitamin D is important for good health, the saying "the more, the better" is not applicable to this vital nutrient. There is a popular misinformation that vitamin D is necessary for your body to properly absorb calcium from the intestines. On the contrary, an overdose of vitamin D leads to toxicity, which causes hypercalcemia (excess buildup of calcium in the blood).
4. It must be safe if the label states "natural."
Regretfully, the word "natural" has very little bearing on a supplement's efficacy or safety. As an extreme illustration, ferns naturally create the chemical cyanide. Naturally, we are not advocating for the presence of cyanide in any supplements.
There is more to natural plant chemicals than just their potential medicinal uses. For example, dandelion leaves have a diuretic effect, while the roots have a laxative effect.
Dilution is another issue to consider. To what extent does the finished product contain the plant compound? The extract may be quite concentrated, or there may be very little trace.
Dermatologists frequently work to disprove the misconception that you need to spend a specific amount of time in the sun each day in order to generate a sufficient level of vitamin D. This is untrue. Most people can obtain adequate amounts of vitamin D from fortified meals and pills, but it is also advisable to get some sun exposure to absorb this healthy fat-soluble vitamin.
Presenting Scientific Evidence To Clarify Facts
According to the American Cancer Society, it is established that excessive amounts of particular vitamins can interfere with certain processes in the body.
Over the years, researchers have carried out research about drug interactions and contraindications associated with herbs and dietary supplements. In a 2012 review, 1,491 distinct interactions between herbal and nutritional supplements and medications were discovered.
As with many myths, it is comforting to think that supplementing with vitamins and minerals will keep our hearts safe. However, a sizable review and meta-analysis that was released in 2018 was unable to identify any appreciable advantage. In general, the writers draw the conclusion that the evidence on the widely used supplements (multivitamins, vitamin D, calcium, and vitamin C) generally does not support a benefit for all-cause mortality or for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, or stroke.
However, it was found that B vitamins with folic acid, B6, and B12 reduced chances of strokes. However, these benefits were found to be marginal overall as well.
On the other hand, a 2019 study showed a connection between folic acid supplementation and a lower frequency of stroke in individuals who are at risk for cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, folic acid supplementation indicated a 10% lower risk of stroke and a 4% lower risk of overall cardiovascular disease, according to the findings of another study.
