In addition to a multivitamin there are some essential supplements that can be taken on an ongoing bases for overall health. You may want to choose particular supplements to help prevent, treat and manage your individual health concerns.
If you have a certain health issue or a lifestyle factor, you may benefit from certain supplements.
Consider the following beneficial supplements for your lifestyle:
- During pregnancy, women need additional amounts of almost all nutrients. Especially vitamin B6, because the fetus drains this vitamin from the mother.
- If you are lactose intolerant and cannot digest milk products, you may need to take
calcium supplements.
- Smokers, those under a great deal of emotional stress and those who exercise hard, usually need additional amounts of antioxidants, especially vitamin C.
- Vegetarians or those who do not eat dairy products or eggs, may need to take additional vitamin B12, D and calcium. Some vegetarians may need to take additional iron and zinc supplements because these nutrients are more easily absorbed from animal products than from plants.
- Individuals in nursing homes or homebound, regardless of their age, may need a vitamin D supplement because of a lack of exposure to the sun.
- Those who drink a great deal of alcohol have difficulty absorbing and utilizing many nutrients. Especially the B vitamins. Vitamin B supplements may improve their nutrient level.
- Those on a very low calorie diet may need significant amounts of all minerals and vitamins because of their poor nutritional intake. Especially calcium,
iron,
zinc and vitamin B6.
Even the greatest multivitamin-mineral supplement cannot provide all the calcium, vitamin C and vitamin E you may need for optimal health. If a pill could contain adequate levels of all nutrients, it would be to large to swallow.
The most common supplements to take in addition to a multivitamin include calcium, vitamin C and vitamin E. In the prevention and treatment of many health conditions, these nutrients prove to be beneficial to most people.
