It is best to get all your nutrients from the foods you consume. In a perfect world this would be possible but, we do not live in a perfect world. It is recommended that you get 2 1/2 cups of various vegetables and 2 cups of fruits throughout the day. Do you meet these requirements everyday?? (and no, fruit-on-the bottom yogurt and blueberry muffins don't count)
Not many people do; that's why it is so important to be taking a good multivitamin. Supplementing with vitamins can help support specific areas of the body including, vision, joint, immune and cardiac health. Most people do not take in the right amounts of vitamins and minerals needed to maintain their health, especially women! Symptoms of vitamin deficiencies range from fatigue and irritability to hair loss and digestive disturbances. Not to mention that your immune system becomes weakened, making you more susceptible to illnesses.
A daily multivitamin supplement ensures an adequate intake of several micronutrients that are not always present in the diet in optimal amounts: Folic Acid, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D and Iron
(iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide and a significant problem in the US.)
All multivitamins are not made equal though! Do a little research before you buy! If you are buying a multivitamin for your children or adolescents; make sure that the multivitamin is tailored toward them. Children and Adults require different amount of nutrients so you do not want to give a child a multivitamin for adults (this can cause toxicity). Read the label to make sure your brand contains the complete list of vitamins and minerals, with the exception of vitamin K, which is not often included in multivitamin formulas. Make sure that all the B-complex vitamins are in there as well.
You should also make sure a multivitamin has the U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP) label printed on it. USP develops pharmaceutical standards for dietary supplements. A multivitamin that bears the USP label has been tested and meets the five criteria of quality for dietary supplements that the organization has set in conjunction with various agencies and health professionals.
I recommend Nutrilite Vitamins because they are farmed organically, well absorbed, and use live plant nutrients. I personally use the Double X vitamins. I am a Nutrilite distributor and their products can be purchased through my website: http://agauthier4.qhealthzone.com
In my next few posts I will be discussing the food pyramid and individual vitamins and minerals.
