Warning: Your Daily Vitamins May Cause Health Problems

You are probably the sort of person who is invested in their own wellness and well-being. Perhaps you eat healthy and exercise daily. You may even take vitamins, minerals and supplements on a regular basis. But what if we told you that this daily vitamin pill could actually be damaging your health?

 

Vitamins are a big business, ranging from liquid vitamins for babies, chewable vitamins for children and then a whole range of vitamins for adults, tailored for specific health problems, such as high doses of vitamin C for those who are suffering problems with their immune system, essential oils for those struggling with illnesses of the joints and vitamins tailored for men and women going through various stages of life (such as exercising healthily or going through menopause).

 

The data, however, has shown that many types of vitamins and supplements can be harmful to your health. Fish oil capsules, for example, have now been linked to increased incidents of prostate cancer, which is devastating news for the millions of people who take fish oil capsules on a daily basis in an attempt to help ease their joint pain, improve the health of their heart and fight against mental decline.

 

Carried out with more than 2,000 men, the study showed that men who had high levels of omega-3 in their blood samples were around 71 percent more likely to contract the most serious and lethal form of prostate cancer, and 44 percent more likely to get the milder kind, too.

 

It’s not just omega-3; researchers have found that multivitamins may also be doing more harm than good. For a start, there is very little evidence that multivitamins or vitamins of any kind have a significant effect on protecting you against any diseases, whereas further research seems to indicate that taking multivitamins can lead to premature death.

Categories: daily, fish oil, health, health problems, Multivitamins, nbsp, oil capsules, Omega, prostate cancer, vitamins

What Everyone Ought to Know About Taking Multivitamins

A shocking new study has found that multivitamins may be worse than useless – they may actually be bad for your wellness. Many people take a variety of vitamins, minerals and supplements on a daily basis, determined to do all that they can in order to boost their wellbeing. Multivitamins are the most popular form of dietary supplement, as people enjoy taking a simple pill and feeling that it is the solution to their physical problems and can help safeguard their health in the future.

Evidence has emerged in a recent study which supports the evidence that has been gathering for decades now, that multivitamins don’t do much to help the wellness of ordinary people, on a day to day basis. This evidence also suggests, worryingly, that as well as not being of any benefit, multivitamins may actually be bad for you. This evidence seems to suggest that taking a multivitamin on a daily basis can actually shorten your life, rather than the opposite.

If you have a specific vitamin deficiency, then it is definitely a very good idea to make sure that you take this in a supplement form, but, otherwise, the idea that taking a multivitamin could help to safeguard your wellness is, unfortunately, a myth.

Statistics show that, despite the recession, Americans are taking more vitamins than ever before, as they attempt to avoid an expensive visit to the doctors. The vitamin industry is worth over $20 billion per year, and hedge funds are desperate to get a piece of the action.

Randomised trials have now found that people who take multivitamins may be at more risk of heart disease and cancer, and tests showed that those who took them on a daily basis were actually twice as likely to get these conditions, rather than being safer.

Categories: health, Multivitamins, vitamins

Warning: You Should Stop Taking Your Multivitamins

Many people take vitamins, minerals and supplements on a daily basis, believing that by taking a simple pill they can help to protect their wellness and wellbeing.

Now a new book is throwing everything that you’ve ever thought about vitamin supplements into doubt. The research seems to indicate that high doses of vitamins can increase your chances of getting cancer and heart disease.

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute studied 11,000 men and found that those who took multivitamins on a daily basis were twice as likely to die from complications of advanced prostate cancer than those who did not take a daily multivitamin.

The word vitamin itself comes from the Latin ‘vita’, which means ‘life’ and millions of people take them on a daily basis in an attempt to extend their life, so this news will come as a devastating blow.

Of course, taking too few vitamins can also be bad for your health, as deficiencies of vitamins such as B1, B3, C and D can lead to unpleasant diseases such as pellagra, beriberi, scurvy and rickets. People genuinely do need vitamins in order to survive, and most vitamins are not made inside the body so have to be taken in from supplements or taken in via the food that we eat on a daily basis.

Experts in the field of nutrition argue that people do not need to take vitamins in supplemental form, and can get in all the vitamins they need in their daily diet and should avoid the supplements, which, they now believe, could lead to forms of cancer. The men who developed prostate cancer in the study were thought to be dealing with an excess of Vitamin E, so that is one vitamin that men are now being advised to avoid consuming in excess.

Categories: cancer, Multivitamins, vitamins

How Vitamin D Can Help Your Child

Nobody can ever forget a time in their childhood when they were wheeled into hospital due to a broken arm, but for those that are active and getting hurt on a regular basis, the reason may be down to a lack of Vitamin D.

A lack of Vitamin D can result in stunted growth, arms and legs that don’t grow straight and brittle bones.

“A vitamin D deficiency in growing children can keep their bones from growing straight or it can make bones too weak to support a child’s body weight, resulting in broken bones,” explained Ellen Raney, Medical Director of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Portland.

The reason that it may happen is a decreased amount of outdoor activity and an intense use of sunscreen whilst outdoors. Whilst it is good to use sunscreen, a substantial amount can prevent a natural source of Vitamin D: the sun!

A lack of Vitamin D in diet however, is sometimes the problem. It is usually found in foods such as salmon or cod liver oil, but is also partner to foods such as milk, certain types of juice, yoghurt, breakfast cereals or margarine.

It seems almost typical that the things that are good for you are the ones that taste unpleasant. Naturally, coaxing your children into having an acquired (but healthy) taste is wonderful in the long-run, but there is always another way.

It is recommended that a child has a daily Vitamin D intake of 400 IU a day during the first year after they are born. As they grow into becoming adolescents, they need an intake of 600 IU instead, which just requires a little more tweaking.

Alternatives to diet however, are very prominent, in the form of adorably-formed gummy sweets and liquids. Children’s multivitamins are also a way of acquiring Vitamin D, but bear in mind that taking several multivitamins is not wise. For a good dosage, consult your doctor on what to do.

Growing children need Vitamin D in their diet to keep them as active, healthy and wonderful as you know them to be.

How Vitamin D Can Help Your Child

Categories: child health, Children, diet, Multivitamins, vitamins

Ladies – What Nutrients Are You Missing?

You might be the buff bunny in the gym, the weekend warrior or simply the humble dietician – but the truth is, you could also be missing out on some important ingredients in your lifestyle. For women, living healthily is almost becoming a requirement, with so much on the go. As a result, we can’t slink back from the constant reminders to take this or take that. Of course, do us girls really have the time?

If you take daily supplements, have a seat, sit back and take a peek at a nutrient list designed specifically for women before you take any more …

1. Calcium – If you drink milk and calcium-rich foods, it’s a good start. Reducing the risk of arthritis and joint trouble is a must. Unfortunately, the tea and the café lattes just doesn’t cut it. Try out some leafy greens, seafood and vegetables to grab some real bone-strengthener!


2. Uniquinol – For optimum liver, heart and brain health, ubiquinol is the stuff that gets the real juices flowing! Foods such as oily fish, meat, whole grains, vegetables, olive and sesame oils are the best way to get yourself going. You’ll be sharper before you know it! Impress your boss – impress yourself!


3. Vitamin D – As calcium is beneficial for your bones, vitamin D improves your muscles, as well as strengthening your immune system and even helping calcium to strengthen your bones! Hunt down a few eggs and chow down on salmon during the cold winter months when the sun is barely peeking through the clouds.


4. Omega-3s – For our inner-strength, omega-3 boosts heart health and helps to reduce the risk of cancer. Fatty fish, ground flaxseed, canola oils, chia seeds and supplements can help to balance out our health, diets and hearts.


5. Iron – Anaemia is caused when the blood doesn’t have enough iron. For women, blood flow is a problem, since during our menstrual cycle, we can lose a significant amount. Take 18 mg a day if you are menstruating; 27 mg a day for pregnant women; 9 mg a day if you are breastfeeding; and 8 mg day if you are post-menopause.


6. Folate – Folate is a B vitamin that helps your body to make red blood cells. It can help reduce the risk of birth defects and lowers the amount of the amino acid homocysteine. Grab 400 mcg a day; 500 mcg a day for pregnant women; 600 mcg a day for breastfeeding women.


7. Magnesium – One of the biggies for us missies; magnesium helps to give us plenty of energy in our cells, maintains muscles, nerves, heart rhythm, immunity, bone structure and blood sugar and pressure. That’s strong stuff! Sources of magnesium are foods such as spinach and fresh vegetables, whole grains and fruits – and avoid processed foods if you can.


8. Vitamin C – If you’re not nibbling on citrus fruits, then you may need to tackle this – dark vegetables are a great source too. Grab 75 mg per day; 85 mg a day if you are pregnant; 120 mg a day if breastfeeding; and an additional 35 mg if you smoke.

That’s a heck of a lot to gnaw on each day! So could a multivitamin be the answer? Some doctors suggest that you don’t need one at all, whilst others suggest taking one alongside other nutrients – if you are uncertain about what you need, consult your GP and find what is the best concoction for your lifestyle.

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Ladies – What Nutrients Are You Missing?

Categories: anti-ageing, Multivitamins, women's health

VMS and PMS: How To Take Control Of Your Time Of The Month

For most women, that certain time of the month can bring all sorts of wellness-bashing joys. Whether you’re fighting against severe cramps, irritability, or bloating, you can improve your wellbeing with nothing more than your shopping list. The right foods, and vitamin and mineral supplements (VMS), can help you to reduce the symptoms of PMS, as they can help you balance your hormones, stabilise your blood sugar, and increase your nutritional intake.

Firstly, you can improve your hormonal balance by eliminating any non-organic dairy, beef and chicken from your diet, as this means that no added growth hormones and pesticides will enter your body and cause oestrogen dominance and other symptoms of PMS, especially cramping. ‘White’ foods, meaning sugar and starch, changes the way your body metabolises oestrogen, and converts more testosterone into oestrogen, so trade your white rice and bread for brown or wholegrain varieties, and swap your sugar for a natural sweetener, such as honey, and use only sparingly.

To stabilise your blood sugar, you should be eating a high-protein and high-healthy-fats diet. Make sure you choose high-quality, organic products that contain no added hormones, such as butter and cream from grass-fed cows, meat from pastured, organic animals, eggs from pastured hens and healthy fats from avocados, olive and coconut oils and fatty fish such as salmon and herring.

To replenish vitamins and minerals you may be lacking in, start by throwing out any low or non-fat foods, as these often contain chemical stabilizers. You should also avoid toxin-overloaded foods, such as those containing chemical preservatives, additives, artificial sweeteners and colouring. Instead, opt for nutrient-dense foods, including two daily servings of cruciferous vegetables like kale, collard greens, broccoli and cabbage. This family of vegetables contain Indole-3-Carbinol, which helps you to balance hormones and regulate oestrogen levels.

Finally, you can boost your PMS symptom relief with supplements and herbs. With a multivitamin and mineral formula that is rich in vitamin B, vitamin E, calcium and magnesium, you can give your body the nutrients it needs and help to relax your muscles, reducing menstrual cramps.

You can also ward of cramps with evening primrose oil, and regularly taking omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation.  If all else fails, cramp bark is a wonderful herb alternative to aspirin or ibuprofen. Just remember to keep your diet as clean as possible throughout the month and check with your doctor for drug interactions before beginning a new supplement or herb.

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VMS and PMS: How To Take Control Of Your Time Of The Month

Categories: Hormone Balance, Multivitamins, PMS

Are Vitamin Supplements Really Worth Taking?

There is increasing scientific scepticism about the use of supplements. While it has been claimed for a while that various supplements offer a variety of benefits, new studies are popping up constantly with evidence suggesting that either they are not providing what they promise, or that they are actually dangerous to our health.

According to a recent report, nearly half of all Americans take supplements on a daily basis. This makes it a huge industry, generating around $30 billion worth of sales every year. But given the mounting evidence that supplements might not be everything that we are hoping for, a new study has set out to understand why Americans continue to take their supplements.

It seems that there is a kind of in-built common sense logic that is betraying many people. The idea that ‘more is better’ seems to be applied everywhere, and that includes peoples’ daily routine of taking supplement pills.

Interestingly, it has been noted that people who take supplements are actually very likely to have a healthy lifestyle anyway. This means that they often attribute their good health to taking supplements when the reality is that they would have remained healthy anyway thanks to their good eating habits and regular exercise.

Multi-vitamin tablets are the most popular product amongst Americans, with calcium supplements and fish oil not too far behind. But it is notable that this popularity of pills has not been generated by medical science; less than a quarter of the supplements used by adults are recommended by their doctor.

Indeed it’s actually more sensible to get the vitamins and minerals you need for your food rather than in tablet or powder form. It’s well known that the body is better at absorbing nutrients from food and this can help you avoid all of the unwanted side-effects.

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Are Vitamin Supplements Really Worth Taking?

Categories: Multivitamins, Supplements, vitamins