Multivitamin Mania

You may try to eat well, but when life is busy and you grab easy meals on the go, it can sometimes be challenging to get all of the recommended nutrients. While the foods you eat can provide the best source to get the vitamins and minerals your body needs, when you fall short of your goals or need to supplement what you are getting through the course of your day, taking a multivitamin can be a good approach to fill in the shortfalls.

Real Food is Best

The truth is that multivitamins aren’t a complete substitute for eating well. The latest research reveals that the way that nutrients naturally occur in whole foods is in the format that will benefit your body most. And often it isn’t just the actual nutrients themselves but how they occur in conjunction with each other that provides the biggest advantage in a way that a multivitamin can’t quite replicate. Further, often a combination of the foods you eat can help improve your absorption of certain nutrients, making them even more effective. As a result, the experts say it is typically best to try to get as much of your nutrients as you can from the things you eat.

If not, though, you should look for a multivitamin or supplement that best meets your specific deficit, since even though this may not be the very best option, this can come in a close second in helping you to meet your body’s needs.

Taking Vitamins and Supplements

Even if you eat a very healthy, balanced diet, you may still benefit from taking certain supplements, depending on your age and health status. For instance, if you still menstruate regularly, you may need a vitamin geared specifically toward women that contains extra iron to make up for what you lose each month through your cycle. If you don’t eat red meat, you may also need to take a vitamin with iron to fill in for this need.

Most multivitamins offer a combination of vitamins and minerals that make it easy to take just one pill a day to get all of the recommended amounts. Just keep in mind that one exception to the rule comes in the form of calcium. The recommended amount is usually too big to contain in a multivitamin so you may need to take a separate calcium supplement for the best results. When calcium is taken in conjunction with Vitamin D, it helps increase the body’s ability to absorb the calcium efficiently so try to get these together for the best results.

Differing Needs

It’s also important to realize that not all vitamins and supplements are created equal. You should read the labels on any brand and type you are considering and see what best meets your specific circumstances, instead of just grabbing the first thing you see on the pharmacy shelf. Multivitamins particularly come in a variety of formulations, and some are specifically geared toward certain ages and health needs.

For instance, women who are already in menopause may have a bit different dietary needs than their younger counterparts. This is because as people age, they have more difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from food, so they may need to increase the amount they get in other ways. In addition, vitamin K can be helpful in preventing hip fractures. However, vitamin K can also interfere with some medications that thin the blood, so check with your doctor or pharmacist to find out exactly what is best for your specific circumstances and to avoid potentially dangerous interactions.

Learn More

To learn more about exactly what the different food groups and to find out exactly what vitamins and minerals you need to keep your body healthy and strong, you can visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org and see the dietary recommendations. You can also talk with your doctor about any concerns you have and if necessary, consult with a registered dietician for guidance in selecting the best fit for you and your lifestyle.