How To Choose a Good Vitamin/Supplement

There are literally thousands of different types of vitamins, supplements, and pills out there. They all claim they are so great for you that you just have to buy that brand. It can seem overwhelming if you don't know much about how vitamins and supplements work, and if you're like me (or how I used to be) you probably go to the local supermarket and grab the cheapest multi-vitamin on the shelf. You think to yourself, "well it sure has a lot of stuff in here, I'll bet it has the ones I need, and I'm not paying much, so ok!" That is NOT the best way to choose, and hopefully we can give you a better chance at finding the right one for you.

To start you off with, I would like to recommend you read a book called, "The New Truth About Health And Vitamins", by Bill Sardi. It helped to educate us on how important a good multi-vitamin is. Next, it is very important to realize that there is no such thing as the "Magic Health Pill". So many people now want to just take a pill and lose weight, or gain muscle, or feel healthier, or whatever. Vitamins and supplements are just part of the good health equation. Also, if you're buying the cheapest vitamin you can get, guess what, you just got what you paid for. Sometimes it's better than nothing; sometimes it's worse than nothing. Just as easily, you can blow out your bank account on super customized vitamins. Seriously, some people pay thousands of dollars to have a company take a blood test, analyze your blood, and then make a custom vitamin just for your body type. Hey, if you've got millions of bucks and are just looking for somewhere to blow it... go ahead dude. I think they're getting ripped off. The rest of us will do just fine with a good multi-vitamin that has balance, and has the right amounts for "optimal health".

In order to get the maximum benefits of a vitamin you have to take them in a high enough dose. Kind of like with water, we need it, but if all you're getting is a drop or two a day, you won't last long. Also, if you drink too much at one time (several gallons) you can literally die. So with most vitamins, you need to get enough but not too much. Luckily, it's hard for an adult to get too much of any vitamin. Let's take a look at vitamin C (found naturally in fruits like oranges). Everyone needs a little of it to prevent diseases, like scurvy, but what the FDA recommends as the "recommended daily allowance" is really just enough to keep you from getting sick. However, in order to enjoy the other benefits of vitamin C, you have to consume much more than the RDA. So when choosing a vitamin, look for ones that provide the amount needed for optimal health.

About supplements, they are just that, supplements. We still have to try to eat well, get exercise, and be emotionally balanced. But science has proven over and over that vitamin supplements have wonderful health benefits and we're all better off with them. Thanks for taking the time to check this out. I hope it has been a little helpful.