There has been debate within the medical community about whether or not vitamins actually work to make and keep you healthy.
According to several studies done by John Hopkins University,
"researchers concluded that multivitamins don’t reduce the risk for heart disease, cancer, cognitive decline (such as memory loss and slowed-down thinking), or early death. They also noted that in prior studies, vitamin E and beta-carotene supplements appear to be harmful, especially at high doses."
John Hopkins are not the only one claiming they are useless. Just about every medical publication in the United States and the United Kingdom is telling us not to waste our money. They recommend instead using a healthy diet to get our nutrients. Check out this article from Physicians Weekly.
Dieticians and Nutritionists, however, do recommend taking a supplement along with keeping a healthy diet. So, what to do when you decide to take a supplement?
First, research heavily.
If you have ever researched supplements, you may have been shocked to learn that many supplements don't have much nutritional value at all. Many are processed so heavily that most of the vitamins are stripped away, and then there are those unscrupulous actors who fill capsules with sugar or flour and call it a super vitamin. This is why it is important to double and triple check the brand, and the process used to create the supplements when making a choice. A great place to start is at Very Well Fit.
Not sure if you need extra vitamins? Below is a resource to get you started.
If you are taking any sort of supplements, talk to your doctor about it and pay close attention to any changes to your health.