Vitamins and wellbeing: what I've learnt about vitamin therapy

Most of us, if asked whether we'd take extra vitamins beyond a basic multivitamin, would hesitate. In this blog I'll share what I've learnt about vitamins, the story of the scientist who championed them, and how I use them with my bespoke wellbeing clients.

Why don't we hear more about this?

Nutrition rarely gets much airtime in a ten-minute GP appointment, and much of medicine is built around managing symptoms. I'm passionate about the other side of the coin: giving your body the raw materials it needs to look after itself.

Orthomolecular medicine

Vitamin therapy has a more medical name, orthomolecular medicine, coined by Linus Pauling in 1968. Pauling is one of the few people ever to win two Nobel Prizes on his own, for chemistry and for peace. His enthusiasm for vitamin C made him famous, and controversial, and I'd be impressed if you'd heard of him.

Other doctors from the 1940s and 50s, including William Kaufman, Abram Hoffer and the Shute brothers, explored using vitamins for everything from stiff joints to the heart. Their work is still debated, and mainstream medicine hasn't adopted it, but it makes fascinating reading.

Which vitamins?

Vitamin therapy doesn't mean taking large amounts of everything. Some vitamins, like A and K, are easily found in a good diet or multivitamin. These are the ones I find myself talking about most.

Vitamin B

Most of us have heard of B complex, all the B vitamins in one. B vitamins help your body release energy from food and keep your nervous system healthy, which is why I often talk about them with menstruating women and anyone feeling frazzled.

Vitamin C

I absolutely adore vitamin C. I take it every day, and personally I feel outstanding on it: fewer coughs and colds and fewer aches. It's vital for making collagen, which keeps your skin, blood vessels and joints healthy. And smokers need more of it than non-smokers.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells and keeps your skin and eyes healthy. It's one where more is definitely not always better.

Wild animals

Interestingly, most animals make their own vitamin C in their livers. We're among the few that can't, so we have to get it from food.

How do vitamins support wellbeing?

There are trillions of cells in your body, with billions of chemical reactions every second. Yes baby, you are a firework, a whole warehouse of fireworks! To keep that magic happening, your body needs the right nutrients, and processed food, alcohol and stress all make demands on them.

Why eating well still comes first

Never underestimate eating well; a daily vegetable juice is even better. But modern farming and processing mean our food isn't always as nutrient-rich as it was, so a good supplement can be a helpful belt-and-braces approach. It doesn't replace eating properly, fyi to all those faddy dieters out there! I see you...

Are high doses safe?

Not always, and this is why guidance matters. Some vitamins are fine in generous amounts, but too much of others, such as niacin (B3) or vitamin E, can cause harm. Vitamins can also interact with prescribed medicines. The NHS publishes safe upper limits for each vitamin, and if you're pregnant, take medication or have a health condition, check with your GP or pharmacist before starting anything new.

So how much should I take?

This is where a wellness practitioner like me comes in. In a Bespoke Wellbeing Consultation, I'll look at your diet and lifestyle and recommend what may help you, within safe limits.

Buy vitamins

I sell vitamins from Lamberts Healthcare, a good British company. Please get in touch if you'd like to order some.

Want to learn more?

I run a fantastic workshop on Body Healing, where I take you through the vitamins and minerals and what they do in our bodies. You can do it with me 1-2-1 or join one of my online evening courses.

Useful links

NHS: Vitamins and minerals · Linus Pauling