Many Americans take a dietary supplement, multivitamin, or herb on a regular basis or at least a few times per year. I take a few myself!
You want to be sure that supplements contain the actual ingredients stated on the label!
I am a believer in supplements as part of a complete wellness routine and I recommend them to most of my patients. While eating a wide variety of nutrient dense foods and a “rainbow” of fruits and veggies is a great way to get vitamins and minerals, the truth is, it’s hard to get everything you need consistently.
Zinc is an essential mineral and one of the most important micronutrient deficiencies worldwide in addition to iron, iodine, and Vitamin A. Good sources of zinc include meat, chicken, nuts and lentils. Even though many cereals are fortified with zinc, nearly ½ of adults have a zinc deficiency.
Since Vitamin D is not readily available in many food sources other than fish and fortified foods like milk and cereal, we need exposure to the sun to synthesize the fat-soluble vitamin through our skin.
Vitamin supplementation is a topic frequently asked during visits with the doctor. What vitamin should I be on? How can I get tested for vitamin deficiency?