Vitamins and Supplements Delivery or Pickup

While it's best to try to feed your body the nutrition it needs with a balanced diet, vitamins and supplements can be used to fill in the gaps you may be missing. Some people have food allergies or aversions to foods that offer the nutrients required by our bodies and simply can't get these nutrients via food sources. Pills, powders, and liquids will never replace the plethora of benefits your body gets from fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, dairy products, fish, whole grains, and high-quality fats. However, if you're lactose intolerant, a calcium supplement would be to your benefit.

There are times in our lives when it's more beneficial to supplement your diet with vitamins and other dietary supplements. Older adults can benefit from vitamin D and B12 because those vitamins tend to get harder to consume in adequate amounts as we age. Those who have Crohn's disease, celiac disease, liver disease, and cystic fibrosis may benefit from vitamin D supplements. Additionally, anyone who has had gastric bypass surgery or is considered obese may also need more vitamin D than usual.

Folic acid is recommended to women of childbearing age, especially if they are hoping to become pregnant. Folic acid is believed to reduce the risk of several congenital disabilities that develop prior to a woman knowing she is pregnant. Women who are pregnant and pubescent girls may benefit from the addition of an iron supplement to their diet.

People who consume a vegan diet, have various medical conditions, or have multiple food allergies may want to consider adding numerous vitamins and supplements to their daily diet. Vitamin B12 is found in foods from animals, so a vegan may lack this vitamin. Finally, those who eat a restrictive low-calorie diet due to drug or alcohol abuse, an eating disorder, a poor diet, or trying to lose weight should consider vitamins and supplements to reduce the risk of malnutrition and deficiencies.

No. It's essential to do your research or speak with a medical professional about any vitamins and supplements you wish to take. Some vitamins and supplements compete with each other when it comes to gut absorption. Others interact poorly when consumed at the same time.

Vitamins and supplements are not reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for effectiveness or safety before they hit the shelves of your local grocery store. After a vitamin or supplement is reported to have problems, the FDA can step in and remove it from the market. If you're interested in adding vitamins or supplements to your diet, talk to a medical professional. Some dangers are associated with overuse, mixing with prescription medications, and combining supplements that shouldn't be taken together.