If you think taking vitamin C will stop you getting the flu, think again. In fact when if comes to taking vitamins, an Australian dietician suggests you may be taking more than you need to.
Accredited practising dietician Lisa Renn says if you eat a healthy and balanced diet there is not a great need to take vitamin supplements.
“Basically if people are having a healthy diet and eating a wide variety of good foods then they shouldn’t need to take a multivitamin,” she says.
Renn says thinking vitamins will boost your immunity is a misconception if you are already getting all the nutrients you need from the food in your diet.
“It would be a misconception if you are having a healthy diet, which would include two pieces of fruit and five vegetables per day, lean meat and whole grain breads. If you do, you should be getting enough vitamins,” Renn says.
When it comes to boosting your immune system with vitamin C to avoid the common cold, Renn says there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that boosting your vitamin C intake will stop a common cold.
So who should take vitamins? Renn says there are certain groups of people including pregnant women and vegetarians, who need to add vitamin supplements in their diet.
“If you’re pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant then foliate or folic acid is recommended prior to conception and during the first three months of pregnancy, to decrease the chances of spina bifida,” Renn says.
“Being a vegetarian is a healthy way of living, however if people are not eating well then they are at risk of not getting enough protein.
“Iron, zinc, vitamin B12 and calcium are good for those following a vegetarian, particularly a vegan diet.”
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