WHY VITAMINS?
Something that I have found interesting, even fascinating since I have been in the Philippines, is the way people are encouraged to take vitamin supplements all of the time. Nearly all of my Filipino friends, especially the younger ones in their 20’s, all ask me, are you taking your vitamins, or they will tell me that they must take their vitamins, for general well being and for preventing the oncoming of all kinds of illnesses.
When my friends have been to the Doctor due to illness, if they require a prescription, that prescription is ALWAYS accompanied by vitamins.
My friends tell me very earnestly how important it is to take these and even if they are struggling financially to put food on the table, they will always try to find enough to purchase their vitamins.
On the television, on the radio, in magazines and shop windows and on billboard posters, vitamins are advertised everywhere. They will prevent sickness and illness and will help keep you strong and full of vitality.
I find this attitude towards vitamin and mineral supplements interesting and to be honest a little worrying too. Indeed, in the West, such things are advertised and encouraged to a degree, but some people here in the Philippines seem to have absolute blind faith in these products, as though they are some kind of miracle preventative or cure.
I have been a qualified nurse for more than 20 years and I have learnt about nutrition, growth and development, illness and disease prevention and all about vitamins and minerals. Now, the advertisers and some of the less ethical doctors will not like me saying this, but this belief surrounding vitamin and mineral supplements is somewhat a false one. People are being mis-led into purchasing so many of these products when they really don?t need them.
Now of course, I understand the Western diet is totally different from here in Asia, I know to take into consideration the economic climate, ability or difficulty for people to purchase a wide variety of healthy foods, availability of products etc etc. But the truth is, the people who really do need a vitamin supplement, are the ones who probably can not afford to buy it.
While from time to time, we may lack in some of the trace elements and minerals that the “experts” say we need to maintain good health, in general, if a human being is able to consume some meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and fibre, they really are not going to go wrong. For those who have a really poor diet, and do genuinely have a lacking of a vitamin in their body, or they have some kind of medical condition or illness requiring supplements, then they will for sure be displaying symptoms that will indicate this. If there is nothing seriously wrong with an individual, then a diet of regular fish, meat, fruit, veg and fibre and of course water will certainly keep you alive and healthy.
How many people actually know that there is a difference between these supplements and natural vitamins anyway? The ones you buy in tablet or liquid or powder form in a bottle from the shop, are chemically produced, they are not the natural product and there is a big difference. You will never be able to effectively replace the vitamins and minerals you get from fresh fruit and vegetables by taking a tablet. Some have traces of natural product “extract” in their powder or tablet, but this is absolutely minimal and the majority of what you are ingesting is a chemcial reproduction.
The human body can not store vitamin c, so if you take more than the daily recommended amount, you will simply excrete the rest out of your body anyway.
Many vitamin and mineral supplements have an impact on your internal organs too, such as your liver and kidneys, causing them to work over time, therefore, if you are required to take something, it should be taken alternative months, one month on, one month off. You could be causing more damage than good if you don?t.
I have tried to explain these facts to many of my friends, but to be honest I don?t think I have got through to them, I can see it in their eyes, a fear almost, that if they don?t take their vitamins, they will fall foul of sickness and disease. They seem to be indoctrinated and I do blame the advertising industry, and to some point the medical profession too. These doctors who are prescribing all these vitamin supplements to the innocent and naive are not doing their patients a good service at all. Unfortunately, as in the West too, medicine and vitamins are big money and that is when ethical behaviour tends to go out of the window.
I just hope some people will read this, and maybe take just a little bit of it away with them, even if it just makes them think twice about taking those tablets to prevent flu and fever or any other ache or pain that they think may be inflicted upon them.
If you are able to afford a sensible diet that consists of the main food groups, you drink plenty of water, take some regular exercise and are able to maintain a sensible sleep pattern then you should be ok.
Try to think of your health and don?t line the pockets of the unscrupulous advertisers who really don?t care what you do to yourself.
My aunt who lives in the US takes all sorts of vitamins and the reason I’ve started taking a few (mainly vitamin C & E) is because my aunt looks very young for her age ;p
I didn’t know the body couldn’t store vitamin C. There were times I took double dosage just because I felt like it.
I completely forgot taking vitamins, supplements, medications and others have an effect on the liver and kidney. Thanks for the reminder!
Hi John, what I learned: if we live and eat “healthy”, we don’t need to take any “additional” or food supplements. It’s a long story and depends on everybody’s personal health.
Hi Razielle, I also learned that Vitamin E “makes women (?) more beautiful”. But I guess it’s also a good promotion text to increase the sales of Vitamin E products. Being pretty or handsome or not might have plenty other reasons.
Hello john..how are you …”People are being mis-led into purchasing so many of these products when they really dont” absolutely agree of what you’ve said.. when my daughter was like 2yrs old, i’ve asked her Pediatrician to prescribe the best vitamins, but the Doctor said, as long as she is taking healthy food then she will be fine. (THank GOD my daughter loves vegetables esp the green ones)….
But now my daughter is taking some suplements esp these days (got sick for awhile and no appetite), BUT the Doctor clearly emphasized, that she should finish this vitamins (with Iron) FOR ONE Month only..
I myself is not taking any vitamins — i believe that
Healthy food = Good Health
Thanks for this post john i am going to share this to my friends…
interesting. i never put much thought to my parents infatuation over vitamins. and yes, i do hear “have had your vitamins today?” question a lot. i don’t take any but that’s just a preference.
i thought it a family quirk or a generational thing. now that you mentioned it, i realize that there is a different attitude to vitamins supplements in the Philippines and it does seem related to pharmaceutical marketing.
you’ve got some good insights here and it’s good to hear it from a qualified nurse.
i still think vitamin supps can be a good thing if needed. still, with so much natural nutrients available in fresh fruit and produce in the philippines, it does seem like a peculiar thing to be fixated on by so many.
I must admit, that while I do take some supplements, I’m generally skeptical about their effectiveness. I’m currently taking Vitamin C, Glucosomin-Chondritan, and another supplement (well, it’s actually got a number of different ‘ingredients’) for prostate health as I’ve got a family history of prostate cancer. I will say that the Glucosamine really seems to have helped me with some knee problems. I take an annual hike up a mountain not too far from our home and in past years, I could harldly walk after the hike as my knees were so sore. This year, after having taken the Glucosamin for 8 or 9 months prior, my knees never felt better after the hike … so, while I’m still generally a skeptic, I’m a believer for this particular supplement. I guess targetted use for particular conditions is where I’m at.
Hi John- I don’t think people taking vitamin suppliments is such a bad thing as long as they do it in the knowledge that they are a suppliment and not an instead of.
Here in the UK its also become common place for people to take vitamins and suppliments such as omega oil, iron and vitaminC along with mineral extracts to word off anemia, prevent colds and brittle bones etc. Its no diffrent from when our parents used to tell us that fish gave us brains and carrots enhanced your eye sight and an apple a day kept the doctor away. My mother always insisted on me taking a codliver oil capsule ever morning when I was younger and eating liver or kidney once a week for iron. Where I’m coming from is people nowadays get their vitamin and suppliments from a bottle as opposed to good diet as was done before for reasons best known to themselves.
Hi John, I agree with you 100%.
Most if not all double-blind studies negate or at best are neutral to what these supplemental vitamins allegedly supposed to do.
This is a marketing phenomenon and a very successful one indeed. Some even are pyramid schemes and making a lot of people rich even here in he U.S.
Good show.
Hello John! I AGREE with you 101% .
NO Need to Take VITAMINS SUPPLEMENT. Beacuse following the GO, GROW, and GLOW VARIETY OF FOOD YOU WILL BE HEALTHY.
Peoples’s always believe that Vitamins it Help for thier Body. BUt Eventually its ONLY a PLACEBO EFFECTS.. and soon your body will be dependent in the Vitamins Supplement.
Thanks for the info John. I thought only drugs adversely affect the liver and kidneys but not vitamin supplements. I have been taking at least 5 different supplements everyday for years because I’m not eating balance diet. Maybe now it’s the time to force myself to eat the right foods and do away with artificial stuff.
the vitamin/supplement is BIG business in the western world. It is important to educate those around you about supplementing your diet with vitamins, etc.
It is all about making an informed decision and ensuring you get the best advice you can from reliable sources.
I am more concerned about the prescribing of medications to treat the symptoms, without looking into the root cause of the problem.
Hi John
Another angle that maybe a reason why Filipinos are into there vitamins and minerals is the fear of sickness and huge hospital bills. Even though they may realise that a healthy diet would have all the nessecary vitamins and minerals. They are just taking them for extra insurance.
Afterall the Philippine diet is terrible the fat they eat on the pork there and too much salt.
With the polution in the Philippines one vitamin i would take is E, vitamin C no point with the abundance of fresh fruit and veg there. Also a good reason do take vitamin E is becuase the use of chemicals used to produce fruits and veg and fish that are caught in poluted waters. When i return i would source Organic Goods i think there are quite a few organic farmers in the kidapawan area? Also i think there is a health shop near G Mall? read it somewhere!
Vitamin D no need enough sun there!
Selenium, well here in the UK soils have been overused so natural selenium from plants have decreased over the years. I eat brazil nuts, natural source.
For mens health i would eat pumkin seeds for extra zinc.
I would always seek natural foods over vitamins and minerals, as i say if i took just one vitamin there i would take E.
Can anyone tell me the vitamins and minerals that are for sell there, are they of good quality? Are they imported from the states?
Good health all…..
Graham