Do we need added vitamins?
Do enough research and you'll find experts on both sides of the argument. A little does you good if you're not getting enough naturally, or your body struggles to process intake. Too much though, and problems can set in.
Take Vitamin D. Known as the 'sunshine vitamin', it's deemed to be really helpful in building bones, reducing the effect of the gloomy months on mental health, and generally adding to wellness.
But you can have too much. We have been warned that overdosing on Vitamin D can damage our livers, increase calcium absorption in the blood, cause heart problems, and effect our gastrointestinal health. I can even, paradoxically, weaken our bones.
So how much is the right amount?
There doesn't seem to be a clear answer. People living in countries with long winters or with skins less likely to absorb natural sunlight may benefit from Vitamin D supplements. In the UK many people take the vitamin during the cold and dark months, but absorb enough during the summer.