Multivitamins are big business, with Americans spending over $2 billion on them every year, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). With that much money and all that hype, it’s no wonder so many people feel confused about multivitamins—do they help you stay healthy? Do you need to take one at all? Does one size truly fit all when it comes to supplements? Here’s what you need to know about multivitamins and what the experts say about the smallest pill you can find in your local drug store or online vitamin retailer.
What is a multivitamin?
A multivitamin is a vitamin supplement that contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. Vitamins are organic substances that are necessary for life and cannot be made by the body. There are 13 essential vitamins in human nutrition, which can all be found in one multivinatamin tablet or capsule. These are: Vitamin A, C, D, E, K, Thiamin (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Biotin (B7), Folic Acid (B9) and Vitamin B12.
Minerals are natural substances found in soil and water that provide important nutrients to plants and animals. In general they serve four major functions: they maintain the integrity of cells, they enable communication between nerves and muscles, they regulate fluids in the body and they help with forming blood. Multivitamins usually contain 20-30% minerals depending on what type you take. In some cases you might want a mineral supplement as well such as iron for anemia sufferers.
Why do people take them?
People take multivitamins in order to get a number of essential vitamins and minerals that they might not be getting enough of in their diet. This is especially true if you’re not eating enough fruits and vegetables or taking in enough calories. If you’ve been feeling tired or low on energy, are experiencing mood swings, have trouble with memory or concentration, or find it difficult to heal from injuries, these symptoms may be due to deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals.
A multivitamin can help fill those needs and make you feel like yourself again. But which one should you choose? That depends on your age, gender, weight, and medical history—among other things. What’s more, there are many different types of multivitamins out there–from liquid versions to chewable tablets–and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.
It’s important for consumers to do their research before choosing any supplement product because just because something works for someone else doesn’t mean it will work for you!
Do they actually work?
The answer is a resounding yes. Supplements are not a substitute for a balanced diet, but they can help fill in some nutritional gaps. And while it may seem like you’re just wasting your money if you take them every day and still eat unhealthy, the opposite is true. A 2016 study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that people who took multivitamin supplements were less likely to die from any cause over 10 years than those who did not take them. Plus, most multivitamins only cost a few dollars and are available over-the-counter at your local grocery store – so there’s no reason not to try one out for yourself!
They don’t always have side effects either; when an adverse effect does occur, though, gastrointestinal issues tend to be common. Stomach pain and cramps can happen after taking these pills as well as nausea or diarrhea depending on which pill you choose.
Since dietary supplements aren’t regulated by pharmaceutical agencies like Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor are they subject to clinical trials testing for safety and efficacy before being sold in stores or online, consulting with your doctor about possible interactions between other medications and dietary supplements would be a wise decision too.
No matter what type of vitamin supplement you choose – whether it be liquid or pill form or even powdered form – make sure you read the instructions carefully first before using.
Are there any risks associated with taking them?
Taking multivitamins can be beneficial for our overall health. However, there are risks associated with multivitamins that we should consider before deciding to take them. There is no conclusive evidence that taking a multivitamin will reduce your risk of cancer or heart disease, but it may improve your mood and immune system. Some people who take a daily multivitamin experience an increase in vitamin deficiencies because they are not eating enough food to provide their body with all the necessary nutrients like calcium, iron, zinc and folic acid.
For some people who have had bariatric surgery or suffer from Crohn’s disease or celiac disease. It’s important to get certain vitamins from food sources rather than supplements. Taking a multivitamin can cause more harm than good.
So, what is the smallest multivitamin pill?
Do you ever find yourself wondering about the smallest multivitamin pill? What does a typical one contain? Which are best for old people? Could you even get too many vitamins from a multivitamin? How much water should you drink with your multivitamins to make them work better? These are just some of the questions we’ll explore in this post. There’s really no such thing as the smallest pill, because size is relative. What might seem small to one person may not be small to another.
In general, however, a tablet that measures 3/4 x 1/2 x 1/32 is considered small. Multivitamins typically contain between 10 and 20 different nutrients, so it varies greatly depending on the pill. Multivitamins made specifically for olds typically have calcium and vitamin D added. Because they’re important nutrients which older adults can often become deficient in.
If you’re taking more than one pill per day. Then I would recommend dividing up those pills into two doses rather than drinking more water than recommended (the U.S.D.A.’s dietary guidelines recommend 8-12 cups a day). It all depends on how hydrated you normally are. But any excess liquid will dilute your stomach acid and impair absorption of key nutrients like iron or zinc.
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