How effective are vitamins, and what's the best routine to follow?

[freewill39]

Ok…I’ve heard all kinds of opinions, both professional and lay, and none of them seem to agree. I’m a pretty healthy person who gets the appropriate 8 hours of rest per night, drinks lots of water, and has a pretty good diet that contains mostly the good stuff and very little ‘crap’.

To stay healthy, keep my immune system operating at it’s optimum potential, keep my energy levels up, etc…how beneficial would it be for me to take vitamin suppliments? And if it’s worthwhile for me to do so, what kinds should I take, how much, etc.? How much would be too much? Are there certain brands or specifications that are better than others?

Any information on the subject you care to offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! - Freewill39.

[Qadgop_the_Mercotan]

By your description, I would say it is not worthwhile for you to take vitamin supplements. A well-balanced diet provides all the vitamins you need.

QtM, MD

[CurtC]

QTM is right. Almost all Americans get all the vitamins they need from their food alone. From Quackwatch’s Twenty-five Ways to Spot Quacks and Vitamin Pushers:

It is falsely alleged that Americans are so addicted to “junk” foods that an adequate diet is exceptional rather than usual. While it is true that some snack foods are mainly “naked calories” (sugars and/or fats without other nutrients), it is not necessary for every morsel of food we eat to be loaded with nutrients. In fact, no normal person following the U.S. Dietary Guidelines is in any danger of vitamin deficiency.

[dolphinboy]

I’ve also read that the stress of modern day life can contiribute to poor or inconsistent eating habits and depletion of certain amino acids and minerals etc. that we need to function well.

You should probably ask your doctor about it, but taking a general purpose, “one a day” type vitamin is probably not a bad idea.

Although I get enough sleep and eat well I travel a lot and have a very stressful job. I have found from experience that taking vitamins helps keep me from getting sick while traveling, and in general feeling better than before I took them. YMMV.

[CurtC]

From my earlier link:

Suggestions that “stress vitamins” are helpful against emotional stress are also fraudulent.