Many people take vitamins and other supplements to stay healthy, but can they really make up for a poor diet? The answer is no. Supplements are made to add to your diet, not replace healthy food. They cannot give you everything your body needs on their own.
Supplements Don’t Replace Real Food
Supplements are not a substitute for eating well. They are there to help if you are low in a certain vitamin or mineral. Labels on supplement bottles even say that they are not meant to replace a balanced diet. Whole foods give you a mix of nutrients, fibre and other natural compounds called phytochemicals. These help protect you from diseases like heart problems, type 2 diabetes and cancer. A supplement cannot provide all of these. Real food also contains vitamins in different forms. For example, vitamin E comes in eight forms in food, but a supplement usually has just one. This is why food is always better for meeting your daily needs.
Who Might Need Supplements?
Some people may need to supplement with vitamins and minerals, like the examples seen at https://www.vitortho.co.uk/supplements/, if their diet cannot give them what they need. For example, women who are planning to have a baby are advised to take folic acid, and people who do not get much sunlight may need vitamin D. Older adults may also need help if they have trouble eating or absorbing nutrients. Other groups that might benefit include people with digestion problems, vegetarians and those on very low-calorie diets.
Focus on Food First
Some people take a multivitamin just in case they are missing something, but this can lead to ignoring good eating habits. Supplements cannot replace the wide range of nutrients found in fresh foods. A study has found no strong benefit of taking multivitamins for living longer or avoiding disease.
The best way to stay healthy is to eat plenty of plant-based foods, be active, drink alcohol in moderation and avoid smoking. Supplements can help in some cases, but healthy food should always come first.
