| Are vitamins and other supplements worth | | | | If you are getting all of your vitamins and |
| taking? Or should you rely solely upon your diet | | | | minerals through your food, then you are much |
| to supply all of your dietary needs? If you take | | | | less likely to have that sort of a problem. It's only |
| enough vitamins and supplements, can you stop | | | | possible to eat so much of anything at a time |
| worrying about your diet? As an active runner, do | | | | before you become full. |
| you have different dietary needs than the | | | | If you are having trouble getting enough of a |
| average person? | | | | particular vitamin in your diet then it might make |
| The short answers are yes, maybe, no, and | | | | sense to take a daily multivitamin. If you have a |
| certainly. The long answer is that you should | | | | pill splitter, then you should cut the vitamin in half |
| always work on an optimum diet before you | | | | and take half in the morning with breakfast and |
| begin worrying about supplements. | | | | half in the evening with dinner. You can also get |
| Vitamins and supplements should never replace a | | | | fortified foods and beverages, such as orange |
| well balanced diet. When you eat vegetables, | | | | juice fortified with calcium. For example, now that |
| meats, and other natural foods then your body | | | | I can no longer drink milk, I have to be mindful |
| will be able to better absorb the vitamins and | | | | that I get enough calcium from other sources. |
| minerals that are present. They tend to be | | | | Protein shakes and supplements of that sort are |
| present in ratios that are ideal for quick and | | | | also great for gaining weight and fueling your |
| efficient absorption by the body. | | | | muscle mass. They can really aid in getting ready |
| Taking a vitamin or supplement by itself will | | | | for a tough workout or recovering from one. If |
| usually mean that you are wasting the majority | | | | you do drink protein shakes, however, do not use |
| of your miracle pill. Your body can only absorb so | | | | them as a meal replacement. They are meant to |
| much at a time, and if you do not eat any food | | | | be used in addition to your normal diet; if you are |
| when you take your vitamins then chances are | | | | trying to lose weight then it may make sense to |
| pretty good that your stomach acid will destroy | | | | lay off of them. One protein shake can contain an |
| the majority of what you are taking it for before | | | | entire meal's worth of calories. |
| it has an opportunity to be absorbed by the body. | | | | Any time you plan what is going to go into your |
| Even with food, you still need to be careful not to | | | | body, always consider your diet first and |
| take too much at a time. A few years ago, I | | | | foremost. A well balanced diet will provide the |
| won a bottle of vitamins that's contents were | | | | vast majority of what your body needs to be |
| beyond ridiculous. I never even bothered to break | | | | successful in any type of athletic endeavor. Once |
| the seal. There is no way that the human body | | | | you have a balanced diet, then you can try taking |
| could ever process 5000% of your daily B6. | | | | vitamins and supplements that fill in the gaps in |
| If you are silly enough to try taking something like | | | | your diet. |
| that, then you are going to wind up sending the | | | | Vitamins should always be taken with a meal to |
| majority of it out of your body through your now | | | | aid in absorbing as much as you can. Supplements |
| expensive urine. Many people can also have allergic | | | | such as protein shakes should never replace a |
| reactions if they take too many vitamins over a | | | | meal and should be considered extra calories on |
| short period of time. | | | | top of your normal diet. |