6 Reasons To Take Multivitamins
Vitamin and nutrient deficiency can have a negative impact on your health when left unchecked. This is the reason majority of adults ages 18 to 34 are turning to supplements, like multivitamins, to help their body meet the recommended daily allowance (RDA) and promote a healthy lifestyle. But, what does a multivitamin actually do? Why should you take multivitamins?
Why take multivitamins
Taking multivitamins helps boost energy, enhance brain function and mood, and prevent degenerative diseases. But, there’s more to learn about multivitamins. Read on to discover all the reasons why you should take multivitamins and more.
What Are Multivitamins?
Your body needs vitamins and nutrients in order to survive and function properly. These nutrients usually come from the food you eat.
However, most gravitate towards consuming fast and junk food lacking in the essential vitamins and minerals the average person needs because of their busy lifestyles.
This is where multivitamins play their part.
Multivitamins are a concoction of vitamins and minerals you can find in food sources. If you don’t meet the suggested daily value of vitamins due to your diet, multivitamins act as a bridge between those nutritional gaps.
Multivitamins come in different shapes and sizes (literally). They come as tablets, capsules, powders, liquids, and even chewable gummies. And, you can buy them at your local pharmacies, supermarkets, and online.
For the guys out there, make sure to look for the best multivitamin for men to help them achieve optimum health.
The Purpose Of Multivitamins
- Vitamin A—essential for normal vision, maintaining the immune system, and cell development
- Vitamin C—boosts the immune system, as well as promotes wound healing and iron absorption
- Vitamin D—aids in the absorption and regulation of calcium and phosphate in the body, as well as helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth
- Vitamin E—is an antioxidant that helps maintain healthy skin and eyes, and strengthens your body’s immune system
- Vitamin K—helps keep your bones healthy and promotes blood clotting, which aids in healing wounds
- Thiamine (B1)—improves your cell’s ability to convert food into energy, thus helping optimize your metabolism
- Riboflavin (B2)—maintains the proper function of your eyes, skin, and nervous system
- Niacin (B3)—helps lower cholesterol levels and promote normal growth
- Pantothenic acid (B5)—helps break down fat and normalize blood sugar levels
- Pyroxidine (B6)—allows the body to use and store energy from carbohydrates and proteins
- Biotin (B7)—helps break down carbohydrates, amino acids, and fat in your body
- Folate (B9)—helps prevent congenital disabilities in pregnant women
- Cobalamin (B12)—aids in red blood cell production, as well as DNA and RNA
Does this list sound too overwhelming? Are you asking yourself whether or not you’re getting all of these nutrients from the food you eat?
Yes, you may be getting these nutrients, but only if you really make an effort to maintain a diet rich in leafy greens, as well as healthy meat products.
Benefits Of Multivitamins
The good news is if you are missing out on these vitamins and their significant health benefits, taking multivitamins may be the solution.
Here are six reasons why you should take multivitamins:
1. Helps Prevent Cancer
Physicians’ Health Study II researched the long-term effects of multivitamins on different aspects of health.
Based on their findings, men who regularly took multivitamins lowered their risk of developing cancer by 8%. This was regardless of whether their male test subject had a family history of cancer or not.
2. Strengthens Eye Health
From the same study mentioned above, researchers discovered that multivitamins could slow the progression of macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration is an age-related degenerative condition that causes blindness. At the same time, regular vitamin intake also helps reduce your risk of cataracts.
3. Enhances Memory
Vitamins like cobalamin (B12) and vitamin E have been found to help improve brain function and enhance short-term memory in older adults.
Although further research is still needed to achieve a firm answer, including multivitamins alongside proper diet, as well as mental and physical exercise can be a great formula to strengthen your brain.
4. Boosts Energy
The lack of vitamins in your body can cause difficulty in performing even the simplest daily tasks. In fact, vitamin and nutrient deficiencies can cause overfatigue when left unchecked.
Combining multivitamins with an active lifestyle can help you boost your energy and stay on top of your to-do list.
5. Improves Mood
Mental health experts believe that a lack of specific vitamins and minerals in the body can cause mood disorders, like depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety disorder.
Taking vitamin D and other B vitamins can help stabilize nerve cell membranes and improve mood. In fact, vitamin D is an effective mood enhancer for those with seasonal affective disorder, a form of depression that occurs during the winter months.
6. Reduce Stress And Anxiety
A healthy body is your best ally in combating stress and anxiety. Getting adequate sleep, exercising, eating a balanced diet, and taking supplements can help you achieve a healthy mind and body.
In fact, experts say that B vitamins have been found to help improve symptoms of stress.
Do Multivitamins Work?
Yes, they do. But, there are caveats.
As mentioned earlier, multivitamins are supplements; therefore, these should be taken only to support a healthy lifestyle. Never assume that multivitamins can replace the benefits of a healthy and balanced diet.
Seek the advice of your doctor or nutritionist if you have preexisting health conditions. Other multivitamin supplements may have an effect on your medication.
Check the labels on the bottle before buying a multivitamin. Make sure all the essential vitamins and ingredients you need are listed on the label.
Wrap-Up
Multivitamins can provide excellent health benefits, such as maintaining optimal health, boosting your energy, lowering stress levels, and enhancing your mood.
But, it still can’t replace the benefits of incorporating a healthy lifestyle consisting of a balanced diet and exercise.
If you want to live a healthy life, incorporate an exercise regimen, a diet plan, and multivitamin supplements into your routine. This is your ticket to excellent health and quality of life.
