Do We Really Need Vitamins?

Guest Contributor
Dec 26, 2010

Balanced diet is the key to good health. However, in this modern society, it is difficult to always eat a balanced diet with an adequate amount of fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains. Some people argue that mass-produced food have depleted the soil of essential minerals. So even if we eat a balanced diet, we may still be deficient in important minerals for the human body. That’s why we think it is a good idea to take a multivitamin supplement to complement our health eating habits.

In our opinion, fish oil for omega 3 and a multivitamin supplement that includes essential minerals are important for good health. For better absorption, a liquid supplement may be a good idea. If the minerals come from a plant-based source in a vitamin (instead of synthetic sources), you will reap additional benefits. Omega 3 is essential for your brain and body functions, and its deficiency can cause depression and increase in inflammation in the body. Unless you eat lots of nuts and salmon, most of us are probably not getting adequate amount of omega 3. Also, if you are not eating an adequate amount of whole grains, fruits and vegetables from soil that is still enriched with essential minerals, chances are you are not getting adequate amount of vitamins and minerals either.

Fish oil and multivitamins are relatively inexpensive. If you do not like the fishy smell or fishy burp, it is a good idea to buy fish oil with enteric coating. The enteric coating ensures higher absorption because the stomach acids won’t destroy it before it reaches the small intestine. Also, it is important to make sure that the manufacturer has purified the oil to get rid of toxins such as mercury. In the US, you can buy a month supply of fish oil supplement for under $10. Similarly, even most branded multivitamin supplements are relatively inexpensive.

Even though vitamins and fish oil are important to good health, we recommend that you should still consult a physician especially if you are taking lots of prescription medicines. Sometimes some supplements can interact with the prescription drugs you are taking. But if you are not taking several prescription medicines, supplements do not have side effects as long as you are taking the right dosage.

If you need some guidance around picking the right supplements, we can certainly help. We will provide you a free recommendation if you email editor@healthonabudget.com.

(The information in this article reflects the opinion of the writer and not the opinion of healthonabudget.com. This article is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical or nutritional advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider or nutritionist to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation.)