Derived from the Latin word, vita, which means “life”, vitamins are essential for normal growth and development of an organism and play a major role in maintaining a healthy body. Most importantly, women need these micronutrients in very small quantities for gaining optimal health and nutritional benefits that are required by the body to carry out its function accurately.
Even though, a wide variety of healthy foods like organic fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts can provide you with adequate levels of vitamins, poor eating habits and processed foods have made synthetic vitamins the best alternative for fighting vitamin deficiencies and their associated health problems.
What are the most common liquid vitamins used by women?
Available either as a single vitamin or as a combination of different vitamins like vitamin A, B complex, C, E and minerals like calcium and magnesium, liquid vitamins are taken sublingually by placing them under the tongue for a faster absorption into the bloodstream.
Fat – soluble liquid vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins namely vitamin A, D, E and K remain in the body for a longer duration of time than water-soluble vitamins, namely vitamin B complex and vitamin C, which are filtered through the kidneys in a matter of hours.
As a result, deficiency of water-soluble vitamins is relatively far more common in women than fat-soluble vitamins. Hence, the recommended daily allowance of water-soluble vitamins is generally much higher than fat-soluble vitamins and has been reported to be effective when taken in slightly higher dosages, twice a day.
Herbal or Natural Liquid Vitamins
Undoubtedly, vitamins found in whole foods are processed with a much higher efficiency than synthetic vitamins, due to the synergetic effect shown by other phytonutrients, organic compounds, oxygen and enzymes found in foods. Hence, it is advisable to purchase herbal or liquid vitamins containing whole-food based analogues to mimic the role of vitamins that are naturally found in dietary sources.
Liquid vitamins Packed with Natural Preservatives And Less Sugar
Also, as opposed to natural preservatives, certain liquid vitamins are packed with chemical preservatives like tin, silver, gold, etc., which, over a period of time can damage the kidneys and liver to a great extent. In addition, most liquid vitamins are made more palatable by adding a certain amount of sugar to give them a sweet taste.
Hence, it is important to check the sugar content in the list of ingredients and avoid liquid vitamins with high sugar levels, if you are diabetic or if you prefer to restrict your sugar intake.
Furthermore, nutritional supplements like liquid vitamins do not require an approval from Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and so are not scrutinized thoroughly, before being placed on drugstore shelves. Hence, the importance of consulting a doctor and staying vigilant about the exact required dosage of liquid vitamins cannot be emphasized enough.
Why do Women need Liquid Vitamins?
Owing to the rise in the workload and stress levels in this fast-paced world, women hardly manage to find time to keep a track of their food habits to obtain all the nutrients required for running their complex bodies. Moreover, researchers have shown that the soil that vegetables and other foods are being grown in, in today’s world, are severely devoid of all the essential nutrients and vitamins that our bodies need for leading a healthy life.
Use of pesticides and fertilizers for increasing crop yield, inadequate storage facilities of perishable foods like fruits and vegetables and long-distance shipping of foods have significantly lowered the quality of food by rendering it devoid of all the essential vitamins and minerals that a women’s body needs.
Women undergo hormonal fluctuations all throughout their life span that makes them more vulnerable to vitamin deficiencies and increases their need for vitamins to lead a happy and a healthy life. In general, women require more amounts of B-vitamins than men since they help them beat the symptoms of mood swings associated with pre-menstrual syndrome, stress, nursing, mood and anxiety disorders and post-menopausal syndrome.
Also, pregnancy can deprive women of many vitamins, especially vitamin B6 or folic acid, whose deficiency can lead to neural tube defects in the fetus. In fact, birth control pills can reduce the levels of folic acid in the body, making women even more susceptible to vitamin B6 deficiency. Consequently, women have their own unique needs for vitamins and minerals that differ to a great extent from those required by men.
What are the advantages of Liquid Vitamins Over Solid Vitamins?
Our digestive tract is not capable of absorbing solid, synthetic vitamins as quickly as vitamins obtained naturally from plant and animal based foods. Hence, recent years have witnessed a transition from solid vitamins in the form of pills, tablets and capsules to liquid vitamins, which are directly absorbed into blood stream by bypassing the digestive system. Besides, liquid vitamins serve as an easy way out for people who have problems in swallowing tablets or capsules.
What are the consequences of Liquid Vitamin Over Dosage?
One should bear in mind that any vitamin in excess can lead to serious adverse effects like teeth staining, stomach upset and disturbances in heart beat that can be fatal, if left undiagnosed and untreated.
Vitamin C Toxicity
Overloading your body with liquid vitamin C, in an attempt to strengthen your immune system can elicit many side effects like diarrhea, flatulence, nausea, kidney stones and stomach cramps.
Folic Acid Toxicity
Surplus amounts of folic acid supplements during pregnancy can lead to the appearance of rashes, hives, swelling of the face and neck, nausea, diarrhea and difficulty while breathing.
Herbal Vitamins Toxicity
Taking herbal vitamins in large quantities can cause considerable blood thinning and worsen your condition. In fact, some synthetic vitamins can negatively interact with other prescribed medications like anti-coagulants or drugs used for treating hypertension.
In addition, some people experience allergic reactions like rashes, itching, redness and hives on consuming liquid multi-vitamins.Certain multi-vitamin formulas go beyond the minimum daily requirement of vitamins and hence it is mandatory to familiarize yourself with the tolerable upper limits of vitamins that are sufficient to make up for your vitamin deficiencies.
Moreover, taking a single vitamin or a wrong blend of vitamins can cause an imbalance in your body. Therefore, it is important to consult a medical practitioner, before taking any vitamin supplements to help you select a good formula and determine its correct dosage, to meet your body’s requirements.
How to avoid Side Effects Associated with Liquid Vitamins?
Even though, most women consider liquid vitamins as a more convenient mode of administration than their pill counterparts, liquid vitamins can elicit serious side effects if they are not consumed in the right way. The most common side effect that has been reported so far is stomach upset, since liquid vitamins are directly loaded into the bloodstream.
Hence, it is recommended to dilute liquid multivitamins in water or juice and take them as per the recommended dosage to avoid vitamin toxicity due to over dosage. To sum it up, considering the advantages that liquid vitamins have over solid vitamins, women can overcome vitamin deficiencies and their related long-term deleterious effects through the intake of an appropriate dosage of multi-vitamins, as suggested by a professional health care practitioner.
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.