Vitamin Supplements We all know that we need to get all the vitamins that our body has to have in order to function correctly, although most of us do not know exactly what they are. We also realize that it is better to acquire these vitamins and nutrients from our food rather than from tablets or supplements. Regrettably, this is not always possible, so sometimes we have to resort to supplements. Some people resort to supplements because the food that contains the vitamins that they are lacking is hard to come by, difficult to cook or is very expensive. This is why the sale of vitamins, nutrients and supplements is such big business, being worth billions of dollars a year. Supplements come in three different kinds: liquid, tablets and capsules containing liquid or solids. Obviously, it is best to make sure that the supplement dissolves in your system before it passes through you, which is why the liquid kind is considered the best sort. However, some individuals do not like the taste of the liquid, which is where capsules containing liquid come in. They also happen to be the most costly sort. Some individuals have difficulty swallowing tablets and tablets are the form that sometimes do not completely dissolve. Before you purchase your supplements there are a few things to check. The first is to find out what the 'recommended daily amount' (RDA) of each vitamin and mineral is in your country. I say 'in your country' because not each country recommends the same quantities. Then check the country of origin of the supplements. There are some countries I would not have confidence in, but that is your choice. It is worth being aware of though. It is pointless taking a higher dose than the RDA unless your GP tells you to. It is also not really worth taking a lot less unless you are truly merely supplementing the vitamins in your regular food intake. Whilst you have determined your needs you could go down to your local health food store to find the names and prices of manufacturers that can fulfill your needs. Then go back home and check Amazon and eBay for prices of the same items. Shopping for supplements in this manner can save you over 50% on High Street shop prices. If you are having difficulty working out which vitamins you should be taking enquire of your medical doctor as your age, sex, level of fitness and health can all have an effect on your requirements. One thing you should never do though is try to replace food with supplements. You need both or rather you should take your vitamins in your food if at all possible. Vitamin supplements are only that - supplements to food, not replacements for it.
Some minerals such as essential fatty acids like Omega 3 do not have an RDA in every country, so you should take private advice on these essential fatty acids particularly DHA and EPA long chain essential fatty acids from fish oil. Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a number of topics, and is now involved with omega 6 and omega 3. If you would like to know more, please visit our web site at Omega 6 9