Vitamin supplements - Do you really need them?

Not an easy question to answer

My first answer to this question is “it depends”. I’m not saying this to be awkward but taking supplements like vitamin pills is a very personal decision and really depends on your diet, exercise habits, general health and lifestyle.

In theory, you should be able to get all the vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients you need from real food. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains are Mother Nature’s vitamin pills and eggs her protein bars! If your diet is rich in these “live foods” then you should be well on your way to getting all the nutrients you need. However, this is not always the case. For example, canned goods, overcooked or excessively processed foods and those that are less than fresh can contain considerably fewer vitamins and minerals than fresh fruit and veg.

Secondly, the more active you are, in theory, the more vitamins and minerals you will need. Every energetic reaction that happens in your body is powered by enzymes which, in turn, are powered by vitamins and minerals. It stands to reason that if you are very active, you need more of these “sparkplugs”.

Finally, some supplements may have a specific role to play in energy production, exercise recovery, joint health, sports performance and brain function. Although it is possible to select isolated nutrients based on their functions and “self prescribe”, it’s better to leave this sort of thing to a qualified nutritionist.

Personal trainers are not doctors!

Some medical conditions can be helped or even hindered with vitamin and mineral supplements. However, as soon as we start talking about such big and important medically-related subjects, personal training advice must be replaced by medical advice!

So, if you do decide that you should be supplementing your diet, which ones should you choose? A good place to start is a one a day multi vitamin and mineral. These convenient and cost-effective supplements ensure that you are at least getting the minimum nutrients required for health and wellbeing.

If you are a regular exerciser, you may also benefit from taking a protein powder. A hard training session breaks down your muscles and protein is the ingredient necessary for rebuilding. While it is possible to get enough protein from your regular diet, unless you consume meat, fish or eggs at every meal this is not always convenient. A good whey protein shake will provide lots of essential protein which will enhance your post-exercise recovery. Many are also enriched with a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals.

Another supplement that has been well researched and used extensively for the last twenty years or so is creatine. Creatine helps increase your in-muscle energy stores which mean you should be able to exercise longer and harder than usual. Creatine works best for strength training and sprinting-type activities.

Choose your supplements wisely

There are literally thousands of different nutritional supplements you can buy – some good, some useless and some outright bad for you! It’s beyond the scope of a personal training article to sift through all of the options available but if you always remember this rule, you’ll usually be okay. The rule is; if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! If any supplement, vitamin, mineral or otherwise, promises easy health, effortless muscle growth, quick fat loss or anything similar, steer well clear.

So, you see, “should I be taking supplements?” is not as simple a question as it might first appear but at least now you understand why. If you do chose to take supplements, try to get the best quality products you can, get some qualified advice and don’t try and prop up an otherwise bad diet with a bunch of pills. That just won’t work!

Author Bio

Mark Darco is a Certified personal trainer with 15 years experience and has worked with hundreds of clients. He has successfully completed multiple certifications and continues to provide fitness training to clients of all ages in the NYC area.

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