A multivitamin and multi mineral supplement provides the essential vitamins and minerals for health. But do we really need it to be healthy?
Most health professionals advocate for a healthy diet providing most of the nutrients a body needs. However there are several reasons as to why a multivitamin may be a good idea to include in addition to a balanced whole foods diet:
Our diet is less nutritious
As the standard American diet becomes the norm in Western countries, we are seeing a shift in nutritional status as well as a rise of chronic diseases. With the convenience of fast and packaged foods, most of the food we eat today is lacking any nutrition.
Including a variety of fruits and vegetables as part of our daily diet will provide a range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants shown to protect against chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
According to studies, diet and lifestyle changes could prevent about 50% of type II diabetes, 10% of heart disease, and one-third of cancer cases (1).
According to a report by the CDC in 2015, only 1 in 10 adults met the federal fruit or vegetable recommendations.
And approximately half of the American population have at least 1 chronic disease that is reversible by diet and lifestyle changes (3)
And Canadians aren't doing that much better, with an emphasis on fat, salt and sugar and lack of fruits and vegetables in their diet (4).
The nutrient density of food is declining
Even if you are following a balanced whole foods diet, it may not be enough. Research is showing that compared to decades ago, the nutrient density of our food is not the same.
Why is this? Soil depletion is a rising concern that is affecting the vitamin and mineral content of fruits and vegetables (5)(6). The modern methods of farming and agricultural practices have stripped our soil of many nutrients while focusing on less nutrition but higher yields (7).
This is why fruits and vegetables are less nutritious today than they were decades ago and why we simply cannot obtain all of the nutrients we need from food alone.
Certain vitamins and minerals can be difficult to obtain from food
It is always best to obtain vitamins and minerals from food however this is not always possible. And certain nutrients can be harder to get from food sources than others.
Some of the most commonly deficient vitamins and minerals in humans today and that are lacking in the typical daily diet include vitamin A, vitamin D, magnesium, calcium, zinc, vitamin B12, folate, and iron.
These can be tricky to obtain from food in adequate levels, especially if you have diet restrictions such as vegan or vegetarian.
In addition, as we age nutrient deficiencies represent a higher risk and therefore should be supplemented accordingly.
Choosing a multivitamin and multi mineral supplement
It's important to choose a quality vitamin and mineral supplement to ensure you are getting a bio available form of the nutrient that the body can recognize and utilize.
Vitamins and minerals provided in their whole food form also supply beneficial co-enzymes and co-factors that improve the absorption and utilization of these nutrients in a form that is recognizable by the body.
Natural Factors Whole Earth & Sea provides a whole-food formula featuring bioenergetic vitamins and minerals in a nutrient-rich base of organic plants grown on Natural Factors farms. Plants are harvested at their peak and immediately raw processed at our facilities using EnviroSimplex® to retain all of their vital minerals, vitamins, enzymes, phytonutrients, and antioxidants.
Many of the vitamins and minerals in this nutrient-packed formula are sourced from plants such as amla, lichen, algae, kelp, natto, garlic, tomato, and sunflower, with food-source nutrients more easily absorbed and used by the human body.
The processing temperature always stays below 48 °C (118 °F) resulting in raw nutrition from whole plants that captures all the vibrant energy and goodness of nature.
Natural Factors Whole Earth & Sea multi-vitamin and multi-mineral is available in formulas designed for men and women of all ages, including a 50+ line.
About the Author
Laurence Annez
