A Few Myths About Vitamins You May Believe

Are you one of the millions of people who takes vitamins to improve your health? In the United States alone, a recent government study found that over half of all Americans do take some form of vitamins (or minerals) on a regular basis. The nutritional supplement industry makes billions of dollars each year through its use aggressive advertising and we are eating it up, hook, line and sinker.

Due to a large baby boomer population, an increased focus on health and the high incidence of disease, people from all walks of life are jumping on the nutritional health supplement bandwagon by spending lots of money on vitamins of all types. Here are five myths about vitamins that you probably believe.

All Multivitamins are Created Equal

There is no universally accepted definition for 'multivitamin'. Manufacturing companies have for years and continue to use that term for products which provide two or more vitamins (and minerals). Many of us today are shopping at discount stores for all types of products including multivitamins. If you are buying multivitamins this way, you should know that often these products are of poor quality, low on nutrients and are full of unnecessary additives.

High quality brands combine nutrients which are naturally sourced to allow your body to digest and use them correctly. The bottom line is that you do get what you pay for in a multivitamin. I's always best to spend more money on a high quality, reputable brand that actually provides you with some benefits.

If You Eat Right, You Won't Need to Take Vitamins

You would need to eat the right amounts of fresh, wholesome foods regularly in order to get all the vitamins your body needs. While that may seem like something you could manage to do, the fact is that it's virtually impossible to do unless you have the time to meticulously plan your daily menu.

Most of us overestimate how well we are eating. It has been proven that the average person consumes far too few fruits and vegetables, whole grains, seafood and dairy products – all of which are crucial to ensuring that we're getting the essential vitamins we need. Many doctors today are giving multivitamins in particular a thumbs-up as they can fill the gaps found in the diet.

Vitamin Labels Never Lie

While manufacturers of vitamins have to list each ingredient and its quantity on product labels, they do not have to prove the accuracy of this information. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration does not check that the vitamins match what is printed on the labels. According to a recent study, 30 percent of multivitamins tested by an independent testing service were incorrect for at least one ingredient. So how do you ensure that the vitamins you buy are what the labels say they are? See to it that you buy only from well-established brands or only purchase vitamins which have U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) certification seals on the products.

Buying Vitamins is a Complete Waste of Money

Besides Vitamin D, our bodies do not produce vitamins. This means that we must obtain the vitamins we need from outside sources. While foods can provide us with all the vitamins we need (if we eat the right types and amounts) most us us don't eat balanced diets for a wide variety of reasons. When you take vitamins, you can look at it as a type of insurance against any gaps there may be in your diet. 

As you can see, there is a lot of misinformation out there about vitamins. If you are concerned that you're not getting all the essential vitamins your body needs speak to your doctor. He or she will most likely recommend that you take a few high quality vitamin supplements or a good multivitamin like those from Pure Formulas.

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Sandra Quinn writes about health, nutrition and fitness.