Almost 40 percent of Americans get added nutrients in the form of a pill, reports an article in the Deseret News. But many don't know what levels of vitamins and minerals are best for their individual needs, or which can be harmful. Pregnancy, old age and chronic health conditions sometimes create an abnormal need for certain vitamins and minerals.
Most people don't realize that their nutritional supplements can be affected by the state of their health or by the medications they take, reports the article.
While food is the best source of the many nutrients the body needs, the article suggests talking with your doctor to determine what supplements, if any, you should be taking. And, if your health picture changes, you should check in with your doctor again to see if your nutritional needs are still being met.
In an accompanying article, the Deseret News explains the nutritional information on vitamin labels.
Understanding the vitamin label is just a first step. It's also important to know how vitamins and minerals can affect one another. For example, too much calcium can slow the absorption of iron, zinc, magnesium and phosphorous, reports this article from The Times of London.
