Ideally, we should get all the vitamins and minerals we need from the food that we eat. We tend to absorb nutrients more effectively if they’re in our food, rather than taken via a tablet. However, due to modern farming methods causing a depletion of micro-nutrients and our hectic lifestyles it may be difficult to obtain all the vitamins and minerals we need to obtain an ideal diet. Supplementation to our diet therefore becomes necessary to maintain good health.

With the supplements available at shops today, it’s possible for any of us to exceed the recommended daily intake of many vitamins and minerals. But beware: more doesn’t always mean better. If you take supplements, you need to know what you’re taking, and the possible consequences. Research suggests, for example, that having more than 1.5 miligrams of vitamin A every day over a period of years could make your bones weaker and more likely to fracture. Taking large doses of vitamin C can cause stomach pain and diarrhoea. With many vitamins and minerals, little evidence exists on the long-term benefits or harms that may come with large regular doses.

There are circumstances, though, in which specific supplements are recommended. Pregnant women are advised to take:

- 400 micrograms of folic acid a day, to reduce the chances of birth defects.
- A daily vitamin D supplement. This is also recommended for breastfeeding women.

For information about vitamins, please click on the vitamins page:
here.

We also have a Mineral Information page here:
here.

For details of all our range of supplements, vitamins, herbal remedies and natural bodycare products:
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