When taking vitamins may be a problem

Despite the fact that recent research is now advocating that every adult, take a multi-vitamin to reduce the risk of disease, we often hear of many experts, including doctors who oppose nutritional supplements. This leads many people to wonder, are dietary supplements safe? This concern has grown as fast, asthe industry promoting nutritional supplements has. The bottom line is that there are some reasons, when taking vitamins may be a problem, and if you are considering taking a vitamin supplement they are important to know beforehand. So here are some of the reasons to be hesitant about nutritional supplements-

• When they are used as a substitute for a healthy diet-Many people assume that they can use nutritional supplements, as a substitute for regular medical care, a good diet, or other important health habits. The reality is that everyone should see a practitioner regularly, and no pill can replace a good diet, and exercise. Nutritional supplements are a good health habit, just do not use them as a crutch, for bad health habits.
• When they can be overdosed, provide drug interactions, or be poor quality-Some people are extremely cavalier about extreme dosages. Mega dosing is rarely a good idea, and should only be done under the care of your doctor. In addition, there are several herbal supplements that have interactions with drugs that are not yet well understood. You should be completely honest about any prescription or over the counter drugs, you are taking before beginning any nutritional supplements. This way your health care professional can help you determine if there will be a potential for drug interaction. Every consumer should be aware that they have been toxins, and even other drugs, that have been found in supplements that were purchased, from second-rate manufacturers. However, keep in mind that this is a problem that is easily dealt with. You should always make sure you are taking a pharmaceutical-grade multi-vitamin, and tell your healthcare providers about any other supplements you are taking.
• When they come with hard to believe claims-Nutritional experts advise that anyone considering nutritional supplements, should be highly skeptical of any "miracle" claims that are attached to the product they are considering. This is because there are ridiculous claims, made for bogus products, such as weight loss pills. In addition, some patients think herbs, or other supplements, can cure serious diseases like cancer. Often time's legitimate products are associated with these bad practices, and it becomes the consumer's job to sort out truth from fiction.
• When you or your doctor do not have the nutrition information you need-Studies show that the average consumer is very under-informed when it comes to the significance of taking vitamins.Surprisingly your doctor may not know much more then you. Research indicates that most medical schools, fail in nutritional instruction. Doctors in general,tend to underestimate the importance of nutrition. This is not surprising considering the fact thatmost doctors receive only a few hours' nutritional training, in med school, and lack adequate time to keep up on the latest research. This problem is further compounded by the fact that most medical practices are based on disease screening, not prevention, with an emphasis on drug therapies, not nutrition. Because of this some doctors naturally think, that nutritional supplements have little therapeutic value. However recent trends show that this is changing, especially among recent medical school graduates. Even oncologists at leading cancer institutes are advocating vitamin supplements for their patients. The bottom line is that if you want to be an informed consumer of vitamins, it pays to do some research on your own.