The Advantages of Vitamins

For some people, taking vitamins is a way to help maintain good health. For others they can help to correct deficiencies that may have caused a specific health problem.

• Vitamin supplements can help provide nutrients not obtained from food

Considerations

• The amount and type of vitamins your body needs at any given time can depend on many factors, including age, genetics and the foods you typically consume.

Types

• Single vitamins such as B-12 can be taken if there is a vitman deficeincy in one particular area. A multivitamin will provide most if not all of the vitamins your body typically needs.

Time Frame

• To get the full advantage from a vitamin you may have to apportion the amount you take throughout the day. For example, you may have to break a calcium pill into two parts and take one in the morning and one at night since your body may not be able to absorb the full amount at once.

Benefits

• A large dosage of vitamins may be able to reverse the effects of a chronic medical condition such as anemia. However, this should only be done under the supervision of a physician--taking some vitamins to excess can be dangerous.

Protection

• Vitamins can be beneficial even for healthy people. A daily multivitamin can help ensure that you are getting proper nutrition in those times when food selection may be poor.