Bibliography
For my research assignment I will be examining if multivitamins are useful or not. Studies show that a third of American adults take a multivitamin on a daily basis. Separate studies in 2009 and 2011 also indicate that multivitamins have no positive effects on an individual’s health. With that said, we can see how people can end up wasting hundreds maybe even thousands of dollars a year.
But what could bring about such an oversight? Wouldn’t the companies that produce these products know that they are not effective if they are in fact useless?
The reason researchers and nutritionists are finding these multivitamins useless is because they say we get all of the nutrients and vitamins we need from the foods we eat. Granted these days there are much unhealthier, less fortified foods available, the foods we cook and eat at the dinner table provide all the nutrients we need according to researchers. Therefore, they feel that any extra from a supplement would result in an excess amount.
Vitamins: What to Take, What to Skip
Background: It is becoming more and more common knowledge that we get all of the vitamins and minerals we need from the foods we regularly eat. However, this article expresses that we should be getting them from the right foods. Leafy greens, fruits, and fortified foods are always good. There are a lot of foods that gives the minerals we need but a lot of foods have extra chemicals and preservatives that are a detriment.
How I used it: This article will shed light on the difference between fortified foods and foods that don’t have much nutritional value. These days food is produced cheaper and faster meaning we eat a whole bunch of refined grains and processed foods. This document they say we get all we need from foods but which ones?
Experts: Don’t Waste Your Money on Multivitamins
Background: This article focuses on specific studies that indicate multivitamins do not boost a person’s well-being. However, vitamins and mineral supplements have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. So this will also help me to examine the difference between these types supplements.
How I used it: To show that there is a difference between multivitamins, vitamins, and mineral supplements. Once I show the difference in these supplements I can explain why they work differently. Some are certainly more effective than others.
More evidence that routine multivitamin use should be avoided
Background: This article expresses how consumers of these supplements are being deceived. This leads to the population spending billions on useless products. Not only are they useless but that are actually known to cause damage.
How I used it: To show that the more we buy into these companies the larger they get. The prerogative of these companies is to make money so they are not concerned with the well-being of the population. Also to prove that if we have a nation that believes so strongly in something that is dangerous, what will the future of health look like.
Multivitamins – Benefits, Side Effects & The Best Multivitamin Brand
Background: This article provides general information on what a multivitamin is. This specific document however feels as though multivitamin use can be beneficial. This is the popular belief that they are good for mineral deficient diets. However recent studies show otherwise.
How I used it: To begin with knowledge on my topic. I will explain general functions of a multivitamin. What they are supposed to do and what they actually do. They certainly do not do what people would like to think.
Vitamins: The Good, the Bad, and the Useless
Background: This article focuses on what vitamins are in which foods. It consists of slides and each slide describes a different vitamin or mineral. This is helpful to allow us to switch up the foods we eat thus having a wider variety of nutrients.
How I used it: To prove that the good food choices provide all the nutrients we need. Expensive, futile pills are an unnecessary excess. This mean they can actually be detrimental to our health.
Vitamin Supplement: Healthy or Hoax?
Background: This article expresses the importance of good foods. However, the author feels as though only if there is a deficiency is a supplement of any kind needed.
How I used it: To show which vitamins if any are useful or needed.
Background: As you can probably tell from the name, this article is against the use of vitamins. This can be any kind of supplement as well as a multivitamin.
How I used it: To show how a growing number of experts and consumers alike are realizing the short comings of multivitamins.
Background: This article expresses that multivitamins are perfectly fine. This is a company that produces multivitamins so they will bring a different perspective.
How I used it: This piece will show that there are parties that believe multivitamins are useful. Or perhaps this is false information intentionally published.
Background: It provides a definition and general facts about a multivitamin. This definition is biased toward neither side.
How I used it: To give general education to the reader on the topic of multivitamins. It would be hard to understand the argument if it is unclear what a multivitamin is for.
Vitacost; Vitamins & Supplement Reviews
Background: This is a website that compares the best vitamins and their prices. The reviews come from consumers who have obviously used them and have positive or negative things to say about them in reviews.
How I used it: To give my paper a relatable edge to draw the readers in. This will make the information more concrete and reliable.
Why Multivitamins Might Do More Harm Than Good
Background: This article understands that multivitamins are essential. However they also express that there are negative effects or cons to them.
How I used it: To show that some people have different views even though multivitamins are useless. This can be and has been proven.
Background: The author of this article feels as though multivitamins are completely worth the money.
How I used it: To give general facts on the topic of multivitamins but also to show how people felt about these supplements before this recent research
Top Vitamins You Shouldn’t Take
Background: This article shows that different types of vitamins can have many different functions.
How I used it: To explain that some multivitamins can be worse than others
Why you should not stop Taking your Vitamins
Background: The author of this piece seems to think that the scientist conducting this research are confused on its conclusions.
How I used it: As a different scientific point of view
Background: This article expresses that multivitamins can have a special use
How I used it: To show what some supplements are “said” to help
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Counterintuitive Spring 2024 
Look just above the Reply box, moneytrees: Hey! You Forgot to Categorize!
This is a perfectly good start, moneytrees. No doubt you’ve already decided that multivitamins are overkill, mostly wasteful, sometimes even potentially harmful in small ways for susceptible bodies or in people who really overdose. So, that’s too easy and not very interesting.
Challenge yourself to ask a really intriguing question that would be more fun to research (and read about!). I don’t know: survey some classmates to record what they eat for a week. Figure out what vitamins they’re getting from their college-student diet. And prescribe for them the vitamins their diets are deficient in. Then decide whether for those students, multivitamins would be a worthwhile purchase or not. Do a good job of that, and you could get yourself published in a health magazine.
That specific idea is just a nutty suggestion, maybe, but wouldn’t you rather spend the next few weeks actually enjoying your experiment (and learning about the subject matter in the process), not to mention crafting a really compelling argument, than gathering the opinions of a bunch of writers who already got their stuff into print?
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I think this is a very helpful comment Prof. Hodges. Especially about the part of getting into a health magazine. I will consider your suggestions for my paper. Thank you
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