In today’s fast-paced and modern lifestyle, ensuring optimal nutrition for our bodies has become increasingly challenging. Dr. Ashok Sinha and Dr. Satyajeet Kangle, both experts in dermatology from Adon Hair Care, strongly advocate the use of multivitamins to bridge the nutritional gaps and maintain our overall health. Their perspective sheds light on several factors contributing to the necessity of multivitamin supplementation.
1. Three Changes in Our Lifestyle: The doctors highlight three key changes in our daily lives that have led to a decline in essential minerals and vitamins. Firstly, our dietary habits have shifted, with sugar replacing healthier alternatives like jaggery, resulting in a loss of six vitamins and eight minerals from our daily intake. Secondly, the use of refined table salt instead of mineral-rich sea salt or “sendha namak” further reduces our intake of essential nutrients. Lastly, modern water purification methods, such as RO water, strip away approximately 30 minerals that were previously present in our drinking water.
2. Declining Soil Quality: The advent of industrialization has negatively impacted the quality of soil due to the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and various industrial wastes. Consequently, the nutrient content in fruits and vegetables grown in such soil has significantly decreased. As an example, in comparison to 1920, where one orange provided a certain amount of vitamin A, today we would need to consume eight oranges to obtain the same amount of vitamin A due to soil depletion.
3. Inadequate Consumption of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: The doctors emphasize that the average Indian consumes only 280 grams of fruits and vegetables per day, falling short by 120 grams of the ideal recommended intake. Furthermore, the quality of fruits and vegetables available in the market has also diminished, further compromising our nutrient intake.
4. Antibiotic Overuse: The doctors refer to the State of the World’s Antibiotics 2021 report, which highlights that Indians now consume 30% more antibiotics compared to the previous decade. This excessive and indiscriminate use of antibiotics not only disrupts the natural balance of our body’s microbiome but also hampers vitamin production within our bodies.
5. Double Burden: India faces the issue of a double burden, as recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). This refers to the combination of an imbalanced diet followed by an increasing consumption of unhealthy and junk food. The result is a poor intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, leading to further nutritional deficiencies.
Considering these factors, Dr. Sinha and Dr. Kangle firmly believe that the reduced mineral and vitamin content in our diets has resulted in a multitude of health issues, which are often overlooked. Therefore, they advocate for the regular use of multivitamins as a necessary supplement for every Indian. Multivitamins help bridge the nutritional gaps and support overall health in the face of modern challenges.
It is important to note that while multivitamins can be beneficial, consulting with healthcare professionals is advised to determine the appropriate dosage and ensure compatibility with individual health conditions or medications. Additionally, maintaining a balanced diet comprising fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-rich foods remains essential for long-term health and well-being.
