by: Jeff Matson


Taking vitamin and mineral supplements is perhaps one of the most
controversial issues regarding healthy living. The lack of vitamins
in your diet can be unhealthy, but too many vitamins can also put
your health in danger. So, how do you know if taking vitamin and
mineral supplements is necessary for you? Ask yourself the following
questions in order to determine if you may need vitamin
supplementation for a healthier lifestyle:

1. Am I Stressed? If you are constantly stressed-out due to work,
relationships, family or any other situation, your adrenal glands
may be working overtime. This can potentially cause fatigue and
headaches.

Treatment: Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin E and Vitamin C supplements
can help with this problem.

2. Is My Immune System Up to Par? Do you constantly find yourself
catching colds and the flu more frequently than others? You may need
to boost your immune system with vitamins and minerals which provide
the nutrients needed to fight these viruses.

Treatment: Vitamin C supplement, Zinc and Manganese will do the
trick.

3. Do I smoke? I’m sure you’re aware that this habit is unhealthy
but smoking uses up vitamin C and puts you at higher risk of
osteoporosis.

Treatment: Vitamin C supplements and calcium supplements will help
reduce your chances of osteoporosis and provide you with the
adequate amount of vitamin C.

4. Am I Pregnant? Pregnant and hormonal women often lack in vitamin
B-6. If you do not receive enough of this vitamin it can be harmful
to you and your baby.

Treatment: Take a vitamin B-6 supplement, but make sure not to take
doses of more than 500mg per day without a Doctor’s recommendation.

5. Am I on a Diet? If you are on a low-carb, low-fat or any form of
diet you are probably not receiving the vitamins necessary for
healthy living. Individuals on diets very rarely eat foods from all
the major food groups and if they do, they usually do not eat the
required amounts.

Treatment: Depending on the type of diet and the foods you eat, you
may require a multi-vitamin supplement or specific supplements of
Vitamin A, B, C, D, E or K.

Answering yes to any of the questions above does not necessarily
mean that vitamin or mineral supplements are crucial to healthy
living. The situations listed above are merely a guideline to help
individuals who already feel as though they are lacking the vitamins
and minerals in their diets. It is important to remember that
vitamin supplements are meant to accompany food and are in no way
meant as a replacement for a healthy diet.

Health-related information changes frequently, and while every
attempt has been made to ensure the content in this article is up to
date and accurate, you should always check with a doctor or
nutritional expert before undertaking any substantial change in diet
or lifestyle.


About the author:
Jeff Matson is an avid health enthusiast who owned and operated his
own natural health food store. Now retired, Jeff spends his time
keeping fit, walking marathons and writing articles as a
contributing editor for http://www.vitamin-insight.com– a site that
offers information on vitamins like Vitamin C and other vitamin
supplements.