Vitamin Supplements vs. Food

Can I take a daily vitamin pill and not have to worry about getting a lot of nutrients from food?

There are many reasons not to depend on just the vitamin pills for nutrients.

-Many of the supplement companies produce unregulated products. Products that arent approved by the Food and Drug administration (FDA). So you never know what your getting.

-There are some food components such as fiber that are hard to get into pill form.

-We still do not know all of the active components in food. There alot of different substances in food such as different chemicals that are advantageous. This means you can never get the full benefit of food into a pill.

- Extracts of substances from foods and "pill forms" are often different from the forms that occur naturally in foods, and we often don't know the effects that this may functionally have. In addition, active substances in foods naturally occur in a complex matrix of other nutrients and substances, and removing them from this natural environment may affect their function in ways that we don't fully understand.

-Our bodies function in a delicate balance, with one action or nutrient often causing consequences in other areas. For example, excesses of one nutrient can affect the bioavailability or function of another nutrient or action. the ADA stated that "Consuming a wide variety of foods in moderate amounts reduces the risk of inadequate and excessive intakes."

there are circumstances in which proper supplementation can be helpful. For instance, a woman of child- bearing age may want to consider supplementing her diet with folate, iron and calcium if her diet is consistently lacking in these nutrients. Checking with your doctor or nutritionist is the best way to assess what nutrient supplementation may be advantageous to you individually.However, it is important to remember that this should not replace a healthy diet.