Some dieticians do not like the idea of taking pills to replace a healthy diet. Vitamins should not be used as substitutions for a healthy diet, but rather as supplementation. Experts do not recommend vitamins in pill form despite the beneficial effects; this is due to the fear that people will use them to replace healthy eating habits.
Most Americans do not eat ideal diets. According to a national survey, over half of all Americans do not drink a glass of juice, each one serving of vegetables, or eat a piece of fruit daily. Only 40% eat 3 to 5 servings of vegetables daily, the recommended amount. Only 20% eat the recommend 2 to 4 servings of fruit each day. For those not eating properly, supplementation is better than nothing. Vitaguide.
I know as nurses that either we are up all night and sleeping most of day or working inside all day and sleeping all night - so we hardly ever get to see the sun. Do you take vitamin D supplements? I don't but have wondered what my vit D levels are.
And each time that I prepare my morning meds for my patients and see the vitamins I have to give them (Vit D, multivitamins, B12, Iron, etc.) I'm reminded of my own forgotten bottles in my cupboard, gathering dust and getting closer to their expiration date
I know that most of us, esp during night shift, do not eat healthy, well balanced meals due to either time constraints or being too tired to cook meals.
What daily supplements do you take? And have any of you taken a blood test to find that you're low on some vitamin or mineral? I'm thinking about doing that one of these days.
P.S. I started taking fish oils a few months ago and I noticed a difference in my nails. I tend to have really dry skin where the nails around my cuticles actually tear and bleed - and now they are so smooth and soft. Love it! I haven't noticed a difference in my hair or skin though.
