I refer to the NHS Choices website for information on vitamins and minerals. It lists them all, gives details of which foods are best for providing them, how much we need a day, and other details.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/vitamins-minerals.aspx
Personally I take no supplements. My blood tests are normal and I feel well and energised. If I had some niggling aches, pains, or complaints of some sort then I would look these symptoms up, Then I might go to my GP to discuss it, and maybe ask for any relevant blood tests rather than embarking on self-diagnosed treatments. I would take them as a last resort, but I would monitor myself carefully. Too many supplements are as bad as too few natural vits and mins.
As an example,
Magnesium is found in a wide variety of foods, such as:
- green leafy vegetables – such as spinach
- nuts
- brown rice
- bread (especially wholegrain)
- fish
- meat
- dairy foods
Ah...NHS 'track record' with nutritional information or interest our well being in first place (diet advice...)
...yes, the basic info is there. But in past, I have tried many times have conversation or ask about possible need for particular vitamins/minerals/supplements. And health professionals have never shown interest to that direction and round about answers are always..'well it doesn't hurt neither'...never mind trying to get them to do any testing..
One doctor I talked about, she had never even heard of CoQ10...and that is something every statin user would benefit from!
Not even diabetic doctors/nurses have ever mentioned possible needs for supplements...and yet when one start look upon relevant info, it is mentioned that those who are on certain medications would benefit with certain supplements.
The way our veg are grown, most of the time with man made fertilizers, little care is done to look after the soil, all the chemical sprays....I'm entirely convinced that our shop bought greens are not that nutritionally rich that they could/used to be. Soil erosion and robbing of nutrients with modern farming methods are well documented fact.
Not only that, many of us have wide variety foods we don't consume..for one reason or other...so that will limit the best possible intake of vitamins.
I do agree....'to many supplements are as bad as too few'...and that's why we all need to assess our needs carefully knowing the safety levels of supplementing.
Personally supplementing, particularly certain things at different times of my life/health has been beneficial..some has been huge help for PCOS issues....and no thanks for doctors, I was able to sort those issues out!
Knowledge is power!
