Even if you eat a healthy diet and live a healthy lifestyle, sometimes your body may lack what it needs to function at its best. For some people, taking vitamins and supplements can help meet their body’s needs.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately 64 percent of women in the United States take at least one supplement or vitamin daily.
Mei-Hui Wang, MD, a primary care physician at the Women’s Health and Wellness Center in Pittsford, explains how vitamins and supplements can benefit a woman’s body and which ones she should be taking.
What are the best vitamins and supplements for women?
Vitamins are little nutrients that help your body function better by improving your eyesight, strengthening your bones and immune system, helping your blood clot, etc. Vitamins are often referred to as a letter and a number (e.g. Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, etc.).
There are two types of vitamins: fat-soluble and water-soluble. Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K) are stored in the body in the liver, fat, and muscles. Water-soluble vitamins (vitamin C and all the B vitamins), with the exception of B12, do not stay in the body and are excreted through urine.
The best types of vitamins and supplements for women will vary depending on their stage of life. Vitamin C Citrus fruits help boost immune function and keep your skin healthy, and they are a great way to get enough Vitamin C into your body.
Folic acid and iron It is effective when taken by women of childbearing age who still have regular periods.
As women approach menopause, calcium and Vitamin D It helps strengthen bones and teeth, which promotes dental health and also helps prevent osteoporosis.
“While taking vitamins and supplements is beneficial, the best way to ensure your body gets the vitamins it needs is to eat plenty of vegetables and fruits that contain those vitamins and minerals,” Dr Wang said.
If patients are being treated for kidney disease or undergoing dialysis, they should talk to their doctor about taking vitamins and supplements. Water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C and B12 cannot be processed by the kidneys and can be a problem.
Multivitamin for Women’s Health
If you are not getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs from your regular diet, you may want to consider a multivitamin. This is important for young women who need to get folic acid, iron, calcium, and vitamin D.
But be sure to read your multivitamin label carefully: Some over-the-counter multivitamins and supplements are not monitored as closely and may contain ingredients that aren’t listed on the label.
In general, Dr. Wang recommends talking to your doctor before taking any supplements or vitamins. There may be a more helpful medication that can be prescribed for your health without risking something else happening.
“Drugs and supplements have risks and benefits,” Wang says, “but with medications we have the historical data and we know how to monitor them.”
