Taking multivitamins is a common practice among the masses. But have you ever wondered why do people depend on multivitamins? Do you really need to take multivitamins daily? What are the benefits of taking multivitamins? Are there any side effects that you should know about?
It is common knowledge that the body runs on a combination of vitamins and minerals. And to ensure that all bodily functions are carried out properly, we must make sure that we are consuming all these essential nutrients on a daily basis.
Ideally, your diet should be the primary source of vitamins for your health. But due to busy work schedules and many other unexpected obligations, it is not always possible to consistently curate meals that can fulfil your body’s daily nutrient requirements. That’s where multivitamins come in.
What are Multivitamins?
By definition, multivitamins are a combination of multiple vitamins that can help you fill the gaps in your daily nutrition. Keep in mind that they cannot replace the nutrition your receive through food but can only supplement your daily diet.
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12 Health Benefits of Taking Multivitamins
Here are 12 health benefits of taking multivitamins regularly.
1. Boosts Energy
If your daily diet is lacking in certain vitamins, you may feel less energetic as your body needs to put more effort into each activity you perform. This drains your energy quicker and leaves you feeling exhausted. In such a case, multivitamins can be your saviour. By providing your body with the missing pieces of nutrition, multivitamins can boost your energy level.
2. Strengthens Immunity
As we know, the immune system is powered by vitamins and other essential nutrients. Having an unbalanced diet regularly can hamper your immune system and make your body prone to catching diseases. Taking vitamin supplements like vitamins C, E, and D or multivitamins may help you make up for the lost nutrition and improve your natural immunity.
3. Keeps Heart Healthy
Keeping your heart fit and strong should be one of your top health priorities to keep cardiovascular diseases at bay. And multivitamins may make that task a little easier. Although, do keep in mind that your heart health mostly depends on your food habit, exercise, and other lifestyle choices and depending solely on supplements will not make up for a poor lifestyle. But taking certain supplements and multivitamins like omega 3 fatty acids can lower blood pressure and triglycerides, and may lower the risk of heart diseases and stroke.
Suggested Read: Curious to know – Why Are Young, Fit People Dying Of Heart Attacks? Check the linked article to know more.
4. Good for Eyesight
Multivitamins like Vitamin A have many benefits for your eyesight. It may help prevent age-related eye-sight problems like macular degeneration. Taking sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals will slow down the progression of such disorders.
5. Maintains Muscle Strength
As vitamins play a pivotal role in gaining muscle strength, deficiency of it may lead to weak muscle, and lack of strength. If your diet is unable to provide you with enough vitamins, you might want to add some multivitamins to your diet. Taking multivitamins daily may also help in reducing age-related muscle problems.
6. Reduces Cancer Risk
Studies have shown that a group of men taking multivitamins on a daily basis has shown a reduction in total cancer compared to another group of men who were taking a placebo. As vitamins are the foundation of overall good health, it is natural that taking sufficient doses of them will prevent many health issues, including fatal diseases like cancer.
7. Improves Brain Function
Like other aspects of your body, vitamins are essential for keeping your brain healthy as well. Fixing your vitamin intake by adding multivitamins to your diet can be beneficial for your cognitive performance among other things. Some studies have shown that multivitamins can improve memory, especially among older people.
8. Reduces Stress & Depression
A deficiency of essential vitamins and minerals in your body can sometimes lead to anxiety, stress and depression. In case your anxiety is caused because of this reason, consuming multivitamins daily can replenish those missing nutrients and it may be beneficial in reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.
Suggested Read: Foods to Eat During Stress and Anxiety
9. Good for Skin
Vitamin C, among all vitamins, can be considered an elixir for your skin. Naturally, taking vitamin C supplements or multivitamins can improve your skin, and make it look younger and brighter. The collagen content in the vitamins may also enhance the healing power of your skin.
10. Good for Hair
Your hair health also depends on whether your body is receiving sufficient vitamins on a daily basis. A simple way to nourish your hair with essential nutrients is through multivitamins. Multivitamins containing vitamin E, A, biotin, etc can significantly improve your hair health, reduce hair fall, strengthen follicles, and increase shine.
11. Improves Bone Health
Like the rest of your body, your bones are no different. They also need vitamins and minerals to become strong. In a research report published in the National Library of Medicine, it was found that continuous consumption of multivitamins and mineral supplements reduces the risk of fractures.
12. Beneficial During Pregnancy
Multivitamins can be beneficial for pregnant women because during pregnancy the body requires more vitamins and minerals, especially iron, than usual. Most women tend to have an iron deficiency which can lead to anaemia. Hence, during pregnancy doctors recommend multivitamins to keep up with the body’s needs for nutrition.
Conclusion
Hence, multivitamins may be a good way to bridge the gap in your daily nutrition intake that your diet alone cannot fulfil. Although your main nutrition should come from your food, multivitamins can lend support to your general nourishment and help your stay healthy and live better.
Before starting to take any multivitamin, do consult a doctor or nutritionist who would be able to suggest the right supplements for you.