Do I Need to Take a Multivitamin?
There have been mixed messages in the media regarding the value of multivitamins. Some experts will tell you that they’re a waste of money and not needed to maintain good health. While it’s true that you can get a good amount of your daily vitamin requirements through food, to do so would require a diet rich in fruits and vegetables eaten consistently…every day. And, let’s be honest, not many of us are even able to get in the daily recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables.
On top of that, some critical vitamins, such as vitamin D, are not abundantly present in foods, making supplementation necessary.
But to be effective, the multivitamin you take should be tailored to your needs. When choosing a multi, you should consider:
1. Your age. Our nutritional needs differ in our 30s vs. our 60s. For example, levels of several essential nutrients naturally decline in our body as we get older like vitamins B6 and B12 and coenzyme Q10, possibly creating deficiencies you didn’t have when you were younger. You need to replenish those nutrients lost and a multivitamin is a great way to do that.
2. Your gender. The nutritional needs of men and women are different. Women traditionally need more calcium and vitamin D to protect their bones. In addition, a multivitamin can offer targeted nutritional support for gender-specific health concerns, such as prostate and breast health.
3. Nutrient forms. There are certain vitamins and other nutrients that are notoriously difficult to digest, like vitamin C and calcium. Unless a multivitamin uses a special, more absorbable form of these nutrients, they’ll likely end up getting stuck in your gut and expelled from your body, instead of to the tissues and cells where they’re needed.
In short, unless you’re eating a perfect diet every day, the right multivitamin is one of the most effective ways to ensure you’re getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals your body needs to function at its best.
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