Multivitamins: Benefits and Side Effects

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The Vitamin Support You Need

Multivitamins are the most popular and commonly used supplements in the world. People use it as a substitute for bad eating habits and protection against malnutrition and illnesses.

Multivitamins

Multivitamins are supplements that contain almost all forms and kinds of vitamins. It also has within it other ingredients asides from vitamins. Though the ingredients for a multivitamin is not universal, it varies and is particular to brands and products. However, they are available in different forms like capsules, tablets, chewing gums, powders, and liquids. Multivitamins are also called multi nutrients, multimineral, multiples, or just vitamins.

Multivitamins serve as replenishment of vitamins that were lost during either and illness, pregnancy, digestive disorders, and many more.

Supplements are extra sources of nutrients. These supplements sometimes come in the form of capsules and are completely packed with so many nutrients. As the name implies, supplements are effective for supplementing and complementing nutrients that are found in foods. Naturally, supplements provide extra nutrients in large and concentrated quantities. To be on the very safe side with this supplement, it is recommended that supplements should never be taken alone; they are only food complements, and thus, they should be taken when one is on a healthy and proper diet.

No doubt, supplements are the best sources of nutrients for people who are allergic to foods that give such nutrients. For instance, people who are allergic to foods that offer all-around vitamins can incorporate multivitamins into their meals without being left out of the numerous benefits of vitamins.

Composition of Multivitamins

The combination of few or more vitamins, coupled with other nutritious ingredients, are components of multivitamins. According to research, 13 vitamins, 16 minerals, and a few other nutrients are essential to our health. The body needs these nutrients to smoothen metabolic processes—multivitamins aid reproduction, growth, and development as well as body maintenance. The number of vitamins in a multivitamin pack might vary; notwithstanding, every pack contains the few essential vitamins needed for sound health.

Multivitamins also contain other ingredients like herbs, fatty acids, and amino acids.

All of the following are part of the 50 nutrients needed by the body to perform all metabolic processes effectively.

  • Vitamin A: It provides good vision, healthy skin, and healthy growth and development.
  • Vitamin B: It is a great vitamin for sharp vision, proper brain function, and psychological wellbeing.
  • Vitamin C: Vitamin C supplements strengthen the walls of the blood vessels, aid in the speedy healing of wounds, and protects the skin.
  • Vitamin D: Best for the immune system, great for healthy bones and is the ultimate natural mood improver.
  • Vitamin E: It aids the proper and healthy circulation of blood, protects the skin, and provides antioxidant protection to the body.
  • Folic acid: This nutrient is also known as pregnancy nutrient. It prevents all forms of fetal defects during pregnancy. It aids the replacement and renewal of dead cells and ensures the proper functioning of the heart.
  • Calcium: Perfect nutrient for the growth and healthy development of bones, teeth, muscles, joints, and tissues. It also encourages blood clotting.
  • Iron: Iron is a blood friendly nutrient. It sees to the perfect condition of the blood and aids muscle function.
  • Zinc: Zinc is good for the skin, best for immunity, and perfect for fertility
  • Chromium: Though not popular, but is the brain behind the regulation and maintenance of a healthy blood glucose level,
  • Magnesium: It is great for strong bones and proper muscle function. Magnesium converts food into energy and maintains normal bone density and blood clotting.

Benefits

Heart disease

Heart disease is known to be one of the major causes of death in the whole world. Taking multivitamins can help reduce the risks of developing heart-related illnesses. Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, K1, and magnesium play important roles in securing cardiovascular health.

Cancer

Just like multivitamins reduce the risks of developing heart disease, it is also effective in the reduction of cancer risks. The research found that of 47,289 people who consumed multivitamins daily, about 31% of this number had reduced risks of suffering from cancer.

Brain Function

the use of the brainMultivitamins have been found to be a great memory booster for aged people. It also handles psychological issues like anxiety and depression, as well as improves mood.

Eye Health

Taking antioxidants vitamins can reduce one’s chanced of having macular degeneration, a leading cause of total eye damage and blindness in the world. It does this by slowing down the progression of the disease. Multivitamins also reduce the risk of suffering from other eye defects like cataracts. Vitamins A, C, and E protect the eyes from harmful bright light and as well provides the eyes with sharper vision.

Hair and Skin Health

Vitamins are major nutrients requires for supple, succulent, and fresh skin. Many cosmetic products include every form of vitamins in their skincare products. The same goes for the hair. In order to grow healthier hair, vitamins are essential.  Using vitamin-rich products on your hair and skin, as well as incorporating multivitamins into your diet, can help you reach your skin and hair goals.

General Wellbeing

Multivitamins increase energy levels. It makes you active all day long. It helps relieve stress and anxiety and encourages relaxation.

Importance of Consuming Multivitamins Daily

  • Consuming multivitamins daily increases your energy levels. It makes you active and happy throughout your day. It helps you alleviate the effects of stress and gives your body soothing relaxation.
  • Daily consumption of multivitamins also improves your mood, eliminate all forms of anxiety and depression.
  • It combats short term memory, especially for aged people.
  • It strengthens the muscles, tissues, joints, and bones and reduces the effects and symptoms of joint aches at old age.
  • It would also help you prevent heart disease.
  • Healthy old age
  • As we grow older, the more our bodies find it difficult to absorb nutrients. Multivitamins are rich sources of nutrients that can help the body adapt to old age without feeling symptoms of mild illnesses associated with aging.
  • Immune system; Vitamin C is popularly known for its strength in energizing and boosting the immune system. Other vitamins like D and E also boost the immune system as well. Incorporating multivitamins into your diet strengthens your immunity such that your body would have the ability to combat harmful foreign bodies gaining access into the body.

Who Needs Multivitamins the Most?

Everybody needs multivitamins. However, a number of people have been discovered to need it more. Who are they?

  • People who are physically active. That is people who engage themselves in sports and exercises. Multivitamins help relieve their muscles and joints of soreness. Athletes who have taken sports as their profession need a higher intake of multivitamins to provide them with antioxidants and other benefits of vitamin C and E.
  • People who are suffering from a vitamin or mineral deficiency also need multivitamins the most. Most nutrients deficiencies come as a result of poor soil quality, which means planted fruits and foods are recently no longer as nutritious as they used to be about 60 – 70 years ago. marriedHence, the need for multivitamins is on the rise as they can provide the body with these lost nutrients that result from a great decline in soil quality.
  • Multivitamins are best for pregnant and lactating mothers. They support the growth and development of the fetus.
  • Multivitamins are also essential for infants and children between the ages of 0 to 5 years as this age is their growth and development stage.
  • People over age 65 need multivitamins to maintain their bone strength.
  • Women in their menopausal stage need plenty of vitamins to improve their bone strength. This is because the loss of estrogen at this stage leads to a decline in bone strength. Therefore, they need enough multivitamins for their bones to remain strong and healthy.
  • Those with a restricted diet as a result of a particular illness need multivitamins to make up for the nutrients they have lost during their diet restriction.
  • People who are exposed to little or no sunlight at all. One of the best and natural sources of vitamin D is sunlight. People who stay most of the time indoors need multivitamins to boost their vitamin D level.

Side Effects of Prolonged and Excess Use

  • Constipation
  • Dark stool
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abdominal pain

In conclusion, multivitamins are a great replacement for lost vitamins in diets. It comes in capsules, tablets, and liquid forms, enriching the whole body with its essential benefits. Multivitamins are best for everybody but should not be taken in large doses and over a long period of time to prevent their side effects. On the other hand, multivitamins product labels and descriptions should be read properly to understand the composition of the product as well as the number of vitamins contained in each pack. Consulting medical practitioners to discuss interactions and dosage is highly advised.