Multivitamins: Necessary or Evil?

The topic of multivitamins and whether or not it is important to take one is one of the most frequently asked question in my office. Unfortunately, there isn't always one direct answer to that question. The answer is very dependent upon an individuals dietary choices, health, additional medications, energy expenditure, and lack-there-of in each of the above categories.

Although it is a fantastic concept that "if we eat properly, we should have enough nutrition and not require additional vitamin supplements", it often ends up just that: a concept. In today's world of food processing and shipping, many foods are either A.) not left to ripen naturally long enough to develop their full potential of vitamin and mineral content, and/or B.) they have been stripped of much of their original contents in the packing and processing plants. Needed quantities of B Vitamins, Vitamin E, Chromium, Iron, Zinc, Selenium, Calcium, Magnesium, and Essential Fatty Acids are just a sampling of some of the common nutrients lost in the procedures mentioned above.

In addition, with the active lifestyle of many professionals and athletes, the so-called "average recommendations" can change along with changing metabolism and stress levels which are affected by fluctuating hormones and enzymes in the body. In overweight individuals, the metabolism of glucose and other nutrients can have an even greater degree of fluctuation and handling/absorption deficiencies. Likewise, medications can affect the completion of digestion processes with the foods we eat. Overall, ensuring complete nutrition is more of a case of "You are what you absorb" rather than simply "You are what you eat".

My recommendation for anyone over the age of 15, and even for many children, is to at the very least get yourself in the habit of taking a good clinically researched multivitamin such as the Nutrilite Basic Daily Vitamin or the DoubleX MultiVitamin/MultiMineral for those under high stress or high physical activity demands. I would recommend getting the kinds in the Women's or Men's Packs for ease of use, but a single multi is a great, cost effective baseline and starting point. Last, and most importantly, if you have any health conditions, talk with your health care provider about additional recommendations to meet your specific needs, or about getting a basic blood panel to help point out any deficiencies that may be an underlying cause of your stress or health conditions.