When you first start to consider vitamin supplements, you will likely come across an age-old question: at what age should you begin taking vitamins? Because age-related conditions such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease are often associated with aging, it’s natural to wonder when it’s the right time to start taking your daily vitamins. However, the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might expect. Let’s take a look at how old is too old for vitamin supplements and why it matters.
Taking care of yourself is important, even if you’re young
At any age, it’s important to take care of yourself. Living an active lifestyle and
consuming a healthy diet can help make you feel better and reduce the risk of disease. Vitamin supplements can help fill in nutritional gaps in your diet and increase the effectiveness of whatever supplements you may be taking already.
Are younger people less likely to be deficient?
In developed countries, the younger a person is, the less likely they are to be deficient in key vitamins and minerals. However, in poorer countries where there are often fewer available resources, children and adults alike can suffer from malnutrition.
Is it safe to take vitamins when you are pregnant or breastfeeding?
It is safe to take vitamin supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. While not necessarily required, there are a few vitamin supplements that might be worth taking during this time. These include calcium and DHA supplements. Calcium intake during pregnancy helps prevent dental problems such as tooth decay and having enough DHA may help your baby's brain develop properly. The specific requirements will vary depending on what health care provider you speak with so it's best to check with yours before adding any new vitamins to your routine.
Should children take vitamins every day?
A healthy diet should be balanced with a variety of foods, including those that contain the vitamins and minerals we need. Getting enough nutrients on a daily basis can come from food alone, but there are some vitamins and minerals our bodies don't produce themselves. To make sure your family has all they need, you might want to consider adding vitamin supplements as part of their daily routine.
Can you take too many vitamins and put your health at risk?
There's no hard and fast rule that you need to stop taking vitamins at a certain age. Rather, your vitamin requirements will change as you get older, meaning that what you need to take now might not be the same in 10 years' time. Plus, it's unlikely to give yourself too many of the vitamins by accident - if you're eating right and drinking enough water then it's unlikely that you'll overdose on your supplements.
What happens if you get too much calcium from your diet?
It's possible to get too much calcium from your diet and supplements, causing problems like kidney stones and high levels of calcium in the blood. When you take in more than 1000mg of calcium per day, it may cause issues with kidney stones.
Are there any other reasons why some people shouldn’t take supplements?
Some reasons why a person might not want to take vitamin supplements would be if they have any of the following conditions: obesity, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, any type of bleeding disorder, ulcers in the stomach or small intestine, or kidney disease.
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