Vitamin Supplements – Do You Need Them? 

Vitamin supplements, commonly referred to as multi-vitamins in the UK are part of a huge industry estimated to be worth nearly 1 billion pounds. Many people from all walks of life take multi-vitamins but should you?

While they might seem like a good idea, there are a few things to remember about multi-vitamins. First, they could be of poor quality and come from an unreliable source/manufacturer; this could be especially true if you buy multi-vitamins online.

Secondly, you have to consider whether you really need these supplements at all. The NHS recommends that the vast majority of adults won’t need vitamin supplements as they should get everything they require through eating a healthy balanced diet.

Remember, vitamins and minerals also include things like iron and calcium. While all vitamins and minerals are incredibly important, taking them for too long could be very harmful. You could also accidentally take too many too many.

Your body only requires a small number of vitamins and minerals to work properly. Many people don’t realize this and think taking more vitamins and minerals is a good thing when it actually isn’t. However, there is one notable exception to this.

Vitamin D Supplements 

Most people can get all the vitamin D they need through direct sunlight. However, this becomes more difficult during the Autumn and Winter. During these seasons, many people take a supplement to “top up” their levels of vitamin D.

It’s recommended that people take a supplement containing no more than ten micrograms of vitamin D. Some people are more at risk and therefore take vitamin D supplements for longer periods of time.

If you want to take a multi-vitamin or are thinking about doing so, you should talk to your GP or pharmacist to get professional advice about potential risks.