Why take vitamin supplements? On the other hand, why not? Should a person who doesn’t have any vitamin deficiencies take supplements or not? Are the nutrients you get from food (assuming you’re eating right) enough? It’s all very confusing, isn’t it? People have different abilities and body/health conditions to absorb nutrients. For the most part, make sure that the vitamin supplement product has a 100% RDA for that particular vitamin or mineral.

Science has taught us that antioxidants, certain compounds found in plants help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, cataracts, and an age-related eye disorder known as macular degeneration. Antioxidants are essentially Beta-carotene and Vitamins C and E, where Beta-carotene transforms into Vitamin A when it enters the body.

Then there’s the threat of cigarettes, steroids, and birth control pills . Smokers have a higher metabolic turnover rate for vitamins compared to non-smokers. Steroids increase the urinary output of calcium and birth-control pills might result to folic acid and Vitamin B6 deficiency.

Remember that some vitamins and minerals are dangerous when taken in large doses. Fat-soluble vitamins such as A and D are harmful when excessive because they are stored in the body while water-soluble vitamins are also dangerous if excessive. Large doses of B6 have led to partial paralysis while excess in niacin is believed to cause liver disease.

The best way still is, as always, to maintain a balanced diet and good eating habits. Refuse processed-foods and adopt a regular exercise activity complemented by enough rest. However, given the lifestyles that we have today, it’s quite impossible to eat a balanced diet everyday.

The verdict? Consult with a dietitian or a doctor to make sure that you get a balanced diet or be properly diagnosed of vitamin deficiencies. If ever you’re not getting the proper amount of nutrients, these professionals will prescribe you with better courses of action or the appropriate supplements to take.