A multivitamin is often referred to as a nutritional “health insurance policy” among healthcare practitioners. But is it really necessary for everyone to take a multivitamin? It’s true that today, even with a nutrient dense diet, we can become deficient or low in essential vitamins and minerals. This can be attributed to soil depletion from modern day agricultural practices, which therefore produces our fruit and vegetables with less essential vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, calcium and potassium. Although it makes sense that we can all benefit from adding extra nutrition to our diet, a multivitamin may only be necessary in certain cases.
A multivitamin is most helpful under circumstances where your body requires additional nutrition, for example when your body is in a state of needing to “build”. This includes preparing for pregnancy, becoming pregnant or training as an athlete. Certain health conditions, such as digestive disorders may also require supplementation of a multivitamin to increase nutrient intake when the appetite is low and the rate of absorption is compromised.
Children are also in a state of “building” as they grow, and can benefit from the increased nutrition a multivitamin provides- especially if they’re picky eaters or have a diet high in processed foods. The same goes for teenagers or adults who don’t consume plant-based nutrient-dense foods on a regular basis. Those who drink or smoke in excess and are under intense periods of stress will also benefit from a multivitamin, as they are more likely to have nutrient deficiencies and become susceptible to illness.
But for the average adult who sticks to a diet rich in unrefined, whole foods, a multivitamin may not be 100% mandatory. Despite our soil becoming depleted, our food still contains essential nutrients that we have the ability to absorb. In addition, several health foods are now fortified with the nutrients we’re more susceptible to become deficient in, such as Vitamin D. This is not to say your body’s nutrients are guaranteed to be at optimal levels, but if you feel you may need an extra nutrition boost, you may only require the supplementation of specific vitamins and minerals which can be determined through testing by your healthcare professional. It’s worth mentioning that too much of any one vitamin, such as vitamin A or iron, can actually be toxic to the blood. As you can see, it highly depends on the individual and their unique nutritional requirements to determine whether or not a multivitamin is necessary. As an average healthy adult, taking a multivitamin isn’t likely to be harmful to your health- though it’s worth checking in with a qualified healthcare practitioner to determine your exact needs. If you’re considering supplementing with a multivitamin, it’s important to consider:
Dosage: The multivitamin should not exceed the DRI (daily recommended intake) for each vitamin and mineral. (Note: the DRI fluctuates with different variables, such as gender, age group, pregnancy and menstruation.) *Vitamin D is an exception to this rule in cooler climates, which can be taken in higher amounts than the recommended dosage. Generally, taking up to an additional 2,000 IU of vitamin D is considered safe, but should always be confirmed by your qualified healthcare practitioner.
Quality: Nutrients are best delivered in the form of whole food multivitamin complexes, which come directly from natural food sources. These nutrients can be easier for the body to effectively absorb and utilize. Vitasave carries a wide variety of only the highest quality multivitamins for all genders and age groups.