When it comes to choosing the right vitamins and supplements for your individual needs and goals, it can be a daunting task. With thousands of products on the market, it can be difficult to know which type and dosage is right for you. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to make sure you are getting the right vitamins and supplements for your body. First, choose a multivitamin with 100% of the daily value of most of its ingredients.
While some nutrients, such as calcium, can't be included in a 100% multivitamin due to size, magnesium and potassium levels are kept low to avoid drug-nutrient interactions. Therefore, these nutrients should be obtained primarily through diet. Additionally, exceeding 100% of the daily value of certain nutrients won't help. Vitamins A, D, E, and K can build up in the body and become toxic if taken in excess.
Therefore, it is important to make sure you are not taking too many supplements. If you are concerned about taking too many supplements, seek guidance from a health professional. A dietician or family doctor can help you determine the amount of specific nutrients you need for your age and gender. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets guidelines for the amounts of different vitamins and minerals a person should consume per day.
Gummies may be useful for those who have difficulty swallowing supplements, but keep in mind that they usually contain sugar or sugar alcohols and may not be as consistent in quality as other supplements. The Pharmacopoeia Convention is an independent non-profit organization that determines if dietary supplements are pure and contain the ingredients listed on their labels. To find out which vitamins and supplements to take, take a close look at the nutritional value of all the foods in your diet and see how close they are to the FDA-recommended RDI for each essential vitamin and mineral. For optimal absorption of a calcium supplement, avoid taking it with your multivitamin.
If you take Synthroid, take it four hours before or after the multivitamin or calcium supplement for optimal effectiveness. A simple analysis of vitamins and nutrition in blood or urine can help determine what micronutrients a person is lacking. Be aware that taking too many dietary supplements or consuming a specific vitamin or mineral in excessive amounts could cause serious side effects.
