Immune System Vitamins: Synthesized Or Natural? By Andrew Stratton At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

You are running late for work, skipping breakfast is a given. But that soreness in the throat when you call out to your hubby or that pain in the back as you try to settle in your SUV may be indicators of stress and a possible onset of fever. So what is the instant solution? Oh, just pop some antibiotics and some immune system vitamins, and you are all set to brace the devil.

Now it may save you the time it takes to peel and eat an orange or walk to the refrigerator to take a swig of flavored milk. Either ways, this trend of instant immune system vitamins has left researchers and doctors a little unhappy and worried.

* Synthesized vs Natural

Taking the supplements "just in case" is not an attitude to be cultivated. Research indicates that most of the vitamins in natural food are better contained than the ones found in synthesized extracts in a pill.

Another research indicates that a nutrient present in a food has a better effect on the body than when taken in isolation as a supplement pill. Besides, if you are meeting your daily nutritional requirement, what is the point of overdosing on it with supplement pills or powders?

* Go Shorty

However, doctors do recommend immune system vitamins as a short term measure. And then there are certain medical conditions that require you to take vitamin pills to aid the healing process. These include:

-A woman of child bearing age is advised to take folic acid to reduce possible birth defects in your new born and avoid complications during child birth.

-A senior citizen, say someone above 50 years of age is always advised to supplement their diet with multivitamins to improve the body's resistance to infection and reduce the risk of disease.

-If you are post menopausal, additional supplements are a must to avoid any health pitfalls that come with hormonal changes, including osteoporosis.

That said, if you happen to be a highly active person, say like an athlete, nutritional add-ons on a daily basis are a must as compared to an average person who has mild activity levels and has more of a sedentary lifestyle.

* Think Before You Pop

There are certain things that you do need to make point to consider before you go stack up your medi-box with vitamin pills and health potions.

On the top of the list is, continue with a healthy diet. The pills are called supplements because they work in conjunction with a healthy diet food and not alone. So skipping meals and popping pills is not a good idea. When going in for a supplement brand, check if it has been FDA approved and if it follows all FDA guidelines.

If you are pregnant or nursing or are on any medications, check with your physician prior to buying any brand. If advised by the doctor, ask for his or her recommendation on what is right for you. Find out what is the daily recommended dose. Overdosing due to ignorance can lead to health complications instead of improving your immunity.

The bottom line is, opt for natural wholesome food and a healthy lifestyle over synthesized extracts, and you'll keep up your resistance to infection for a long time to come.

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