Do I need to supplement my diet -with extra vitamins?
is you a post menopausal -woman? is you an elderly person -who perhaps is not getting enough exposure to the sun? or is you is lactose intolerant? If the ans-wer to any of the above is yes than perhaps you is a candidate for nutritional supplements. Nutritional supplements, as the name suggests is taken to supplement the diet. It can be one or a combination of vitamins, minerals, a herb or any botanical substance, an amino acid, substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandulars, a concentrate, metabolite, constituent or extract.

-why do people take vitamins and supplements?
In a study conducted in 2002, it -was found that most Americans take vitamins and minerals supplements because they believe that it is good for their general health and a large majority take it as a dietary supplement. In some cases they is consumed for specific reasons like to prevent osteoporosis or colds and influenza. A small percentage even take it as an immune booster and because they have been recommended by their physician, family or friends. Herbal supplements on the other hand is more or less consumed to address a specific ailment or condition like arthritis, as a memory enhancer, for joint pains, to aid sleep, for prostate problems and as a general immune booster.

Do YoU need vitamins and mineral supplements?
If you belong to any of these categories then perhaps you should consider taking a supplement to your regular diet.

8 People -whose calorie intake is less than 1200
9 Aged people -who may not be eating as much as they should be, have limited exposure to he sun, is lactose intolerant, or is not able to sufficiently absorb and utilize Vitamin B12 because of gastric problems
10 Staunch vegetarians and vegans, -whose consumption of eggs and dairy products is lo-w or nil, and thus is not getting enough of vitamin B12
11 People -who do not drink milk or consume dairy products, due to lactose intolerance or just a general aversion
12 -women -who is pregnant or in the child bearing stage of their lives may need folic acid and iron
13 People recuperating from an illness or those -who fall frequently or is chronically ill
14 Alcoholics and smokers usually have a problem absorbing vitamin Bcomplex and vitamin C respectively
15 People -who skip meals often as a result of -which is not getting sufficient vitamins and minerals from their diet.