Are Vitamin Tablets Good or Bad?

Every year people in the UK spend millions and millions of pounds on vitamin tablets and supplements according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The most popular supplements are cod liver oil and multivitamins but products like mega-dose vitamins and minerals are increasing in popularity and some manufacturers have reported a 20% increase in sales over the last three years.  Even though there are health warnings attached to some of these supplements it would seem that people are more interested in seeking the elixir of life which can often cost them up to £30 a time.

Vitamins are a small group of substances that are essential for our body’s growth and development. There is no disputing the fact that we need vitamins in our diet and because most vitamins cannot be manufactured by the body they must come from our diet. Unfortunately some people think that taking vitamin tablets by the handful means that they do not need to watch what they eat and anyone can see the attraction of this approach – eat junk food and still be healthy even though it is completely incorrect.

If you speak to dieticians and nutritionists and other experts they will all tell you the same thing, most of us do not need to take vitamin tablets or food supplements as we can get all we need from a balanced diet. Although a small group of the population my require vitamins and supplements, the rest of us really just need a healthy diet. The best thing you can do is increase your intake of fruit and vegetables as these are the foods that are rich in vitamins, nutrients and minerals. It is recommended that people try to eat 5 portions of fruit and veg every day but the reality is that most people do not have even half the recommended amount.

As I mentioned previously, there are groups of people that will need to take vitamin tablets and these people are likely to be pregnant or planning on to get pregnant, people who have  limited exposure to sunlight, vegans who do not eat meat or dairy products, malnourished people and people who are involved in intense training for sport.

For those who are taking them for nutritional and sporting purposes you only need to take the most basic, inexpensive multivitamin. Overdosing on vitamins can have a toxic effect on your body and more is definitely not better when it comes to supplements.

Taking vitamin tablets and food supplements is not really good or bad, but more unnecessary for the majority of us. Your money could be better spent eating a well balanced and healthy meal at a nice restaurant rather than spending it on expensive and unnecessary vitamins and supplements.