The concept of vitamin supplements is not new for us, but this COVID-19 pandemic brings them into the limelight. They may help us to increase our natural immunity and fight against coronavirus.

Vitamins are the main building blocks of the body and help you maintain good health. Some believe that multivitamin supplements can also compensate for poor eating habits and even reduce your risk of chronic diseases.

We try to eat right, exercise more, and sleep better, but somehow we lack essential nutrients. We strive for a balance to increase wellness to deal with the stress, poor sleep, and dietary deficiencies that come from our body from a busy life.

To fill our nutrient gaps, most of us have looked to the once-a-day multivitamin for help.

What are multivitamins?

Multivitamins are a combination of different vitamins and minerals present in food sources. Consumption of multivitamins daily can help us to make up for nutritional gaps to boost our health naturally. Multivitamins are an instant way to fulfil our everyday demands of nutrition and to get our daily servings of all our vitamins and minerals.

Are multivitamins all we need?

If the diet is well-balanced, we might not need a daily multivitamin or specific vitamin pills. But there are situations where we do. For example, women of childbearing age should take a folic acid pill every day.

Taking multiple vitamins personalised for your needs is better than taking one multivitamin, but finding a specific supplement and vitamin routine can be difficult and time-consuming. Sometimes, it’s better to take a single capsule of a multivitamin than taking multiple pills of different vitamins.

I highly recommend supplementing with calcium and vitamin D may help build bones and stall the occurence of osteoporosis in women who have reached menopause. This will help them maintain bone health with advancing age.

Dr. Siddharth Gupta, MD

What Multivitamins Contain?

As the name suggests, it contains various vitamins along with minerals. The human body required thirteen vitamins and sixteen minerals for healthy growth.

Multivitamin supplements may also contain other ingredients like herbs, amino acids, and fatty acids.

Commonly searched products containing multivitamins:

Let me give you a revelation about multivitamins! Multivitamins are a proven source of numerous vitamins, however, they may bring some surprising issues with them. Yes, you read it right. Research studies suggest that in case of overconsumption of vitamin D, i.e. more than 1,200 mg per day, there may be an increased risk of kidney stones. I strongly recommend the consumption of multivitamins with the physician’s consent.

Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS

Health Benefits of Multivitamin

1. Increases Energy Levels

When our body doesn’t meet the nutritional criteria, we may feel weak and lethargic. A regular course of multivitamin capsules as per your doctor’s advice can help you regain your energy. Taking multivitamins and keeping a healthy lifestyle can keep you energetic and fit.

Also Read: 9 Energy Giving Foods to Add to Your Diet

2. Boosts the Immune System 

The multivitamin tablet uses include strengthening the immune system if it contains vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin D. Vitamin C and vitamin E are antioxidants that help to reduce allergy symptoms.

3. Keeps Heart Healthy 

The heart is a vital organ of the body and keeping it healthy is necessary. Various studies suggest that high-quality multivitamin tablets use may reduce cardiovascular diseases. Vitamins B1, B2, B6, K1, Niacin, and magnesium all play a role in cardiovascular health.

4. Supports Eye Health 

Vitamin A is also known as an eye vitamin because of its benefits. It helps to improve your eyesight and reduce age-related macular degeneration that may cause permanent eye damage. One study suggests vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants may slow down the progression of macular degeneration.

Also Read: 8 Tips to Keep Your Eyes Healthy 

5. Maintains Muscle Strength 

Free radicals in the body are dangerous as they are mainly responsible for muscle ageing-related problems. These free radicals can be destroyed by antioxidants, which are present in multivitamin capsules. Taking multivitamins can help keep these damaging free radicals in check.

6. Reduces Cancer Risk 

Many results suggested that taking a multivitamin daily can reduce the risk of getting all types of cancer. As per your doctor’s advice, you can take multivitamins accordingly.

Also Read: Best Vitamin C Products In India For Improved Health

7. Improves Brain Function 

Some vitamins and fatty acids are slow or prevent memory loss. Vitamins like vitamin B12, herbal supplements such as Ginkgo Biloba, and omega-3 fatty acids help restore brain function.

8. Reduces Stress & Depression 

The multivitamin tablets benefits include the potential to significantly reduce stress and depression symptoms due to the vitamins and minerals included in them. Vitamin B stimulates your nervous system to produce stress hormones to reduce stress. Acquiring enough vitamins and minerals improves the brain functions responsible for your mood.

Also Read 15 Ways to Naturally Fight Depression

9. Beneficial for Skin

Vitamins and minerals are always best for skin health. They help keep your skin healthy and shiny by providing essential vitamins such as vitamin E and vitamin C. They help to retain the natural oil inside your skin to prevent dryness of the skin. Antioxidants present in it also play an important role.

10. Good for Healthy Hair 

Hair requires the most care, especially in winters. Vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, and some minerals are essential for the healthy growth of hair. They work excellently in hair fall problems.

Also Read: 5 Foods That Help With Hair Growth

I highly recommend unless specified on the label, multivitamins containing a high dose of retinol, which may be present in the form of acetate or palmitate, should be avoided. In terms of your bones and liver, retinol may be detrimental to your health.

Dr. Smita barode, BAMS

Special Role of Nutritional and Diet Supplements During COVID-19

In light of recent times, the covid-19 pandemic has negatively affected our lifestyle. Not only are there higher chances of infection but the recovery from covid may sustain detrimental side-effects like breathing problems, weaker joints, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Hence, doctors and researchers have collectively agreed on the varied benefits of Zinc, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D nutritional supplements. 

These nutritional and dietary supplements are not meant to replace healthy foods. Instead, they act as an additional shield against the covid infection. A healthy and balanced diet with decent amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat is recommended, along with intaking nutritional supplements. In various cases, there has been a shortage of food supplies or necessary dietary needs. Thus, increasing the need for vitamins and dietary supplements.  Vitamin D has previously been useful in creating immunity against epidemics like flu, and chronic illness. It raises your blood levels and is favourable for children and older adults. The nutritional supplements have also been proven beneficial for meeting RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances) and creating a safety net against diseases. Vitamin C prevents after-effects from the covid infection like inflammation,   tissue damage, and cardiac conditions. A dosage of 1.5g per day is recommended. Zinc is among the most accessible for lower and middle-class families. It shortens the duration of the infection and improves the recovery rate drastically.

Also Read: Vitamin E Capsule for Hair: The Science Behind Its Proposed Hair-Boosting Benefits

Types of Multivitamins

Vitamins are broadly divided into two types based on how the body metabolises them, here is a quick guide on both types:

Conclusion 

Though our body doesn’t require multivitamin supplementation as we can get them from our regular diet, there are also various benefits of multivitamin tablets. Before taking multivitamin tablets, always consult your doctor. Only as per requirement you can take those capsules.

Also Read: Benefits of Zinc for Men: A Detailed Research-Based Overview

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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