If you’ve ever tossed from the fridge weary vegetables that never made it to your plate, you’re not alone. Despite our best intentions, healthy eating habits sometimes go astray. According to the American Dietetic Association (ADA), nearly 50 percent of adults use a daily multivitamin to pick up the nutritional slack in their diets. Most dietitians favor improving food choices over popping a pill, but they also understand the safeguarding benefits of a multivitamin. “Food and supplements are not mutually exclusive,” says Marie Dunford, Ph.D., R.D., the author of Nutrition Logic: Food First, Supplements Second, who believes a multivitamin can “insure” you on days when healthful habits slide.
Yet, deciding if you need a multivitamin, or which one fits your needs, can be confusing. You should be able to get all of your nutrients from your diet, however, you may benefit from taking a multiple-vitamin and mineral supplement. Take this screening quiz to help you decide if you need supplements. I have tried many different vitamins but personally the Men’s Performance Daily Multivitamin AM/PM has worked best for me. If you have any medical conditions, you should speak with your doctor before taking any dietary supplements.
How are you with your nutrition, do you take a multivitamin?
Also see Balanced Diet
37 users commented in " Multivitamin or Not "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackThanks for posting the quiz! I usually take an essential fatty acid and a mult-vitamin every day, as well as a calcium/magnesium syrup. Hopefully all of that + eating mindfully adds up to a healthier me π
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@Jenn, It looks like you have a good grasp on it!
-Mark
I take a multivitamin on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I once had a nutrition professor in college say that if you have a healthy diet you don’t need one every day, and you’re just paying for nutrient-rich pee. A tad graphic, but it stuck with me! lol.
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FBG Jenn, I have heard similar comments. Personally the multivitamin works for me. Thanks for your feedback!
-Mark
The prevailing opinion in the scientific community on multivitamins seems to be a resounding “maybe”. Studies show benefit from certain vitamins such as D and folate, etc. There is also evidence that you can cause harm by taking too much of some, such as A, D and iron in men.
Of course we all know that nothing takes the place of a balanced diet, but I take a multivitamin just to be safe. I would advise caution on taking megadoses however.
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@Dr. Hubbard, A balanced diet is the key, unfortunately for me, personally some foods go missed(fish)in my household and the vitamin has been a good supplement. I appreciate your insight and medical perspective.
I take fish oil capsules and a multivitamin every day just in case I miss something in my diet that day!
@Fat Fighter, thanks for your feedback!
-Mark
I buy multi-vitamins a lot, but always forget to take them. =( I’m not quite sure why. I have a total mental block when it comes to taking vitamins. I know I need to. I really don’t eat enough veggies at all. My tastebuds just never grew up!
@Shanna, I certainly do not eat enough veggies either! π
Our whole family takes Juice Plus – not a supplement. Just concentrated fruits and vegetables. Our results have been GREAT! Kids haven’t missed school from sickness, I haven’t lost my voice 2X a year from allergies, etc. Best part is, we’re paying closer attention to what we eat, how much water we drink, and overall health.
@Cheryl Smith, Great news that you and the family are going strong! I agree that paying closer attention to our eating habits is very important. Thanks for your feedback!
I don’t take any multivitamins- I’m a little wary of anything like that. I might take one if I could find one without Vitamin A (I usually eat much more than the required amount anyways, I think), but those don’t seem to exist. I’d rather go the old fashioned route of just trying to get in all my nutrients from food.
@Sagan, If possible eating a balanced diet is definitely the way to go!
I take a Viactiv chocolate multivitamin most days (when I remember). I save it for when I’m craving something sweet. I know it’s a lot of chemicals, but at least I’m getting a few nutrients instead of giving in and indulging in dessert!
@Laura, Great point!
I do take them. One piece of advice my doctor told me was to break them in half and take half in the morning and half at night. This way you are allowing your body to slowly absorb nutrients throughout the day and night!
I take a multi, calcium/magnesium, D, C and B12.
…. It seems, these days, that food does not have the amount of nutrients it did in the past. Fruits and vegetables are covered in chemicals. Who knows how much you are actually getting from your food?
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@Tigerlilly, It does seem that the response is definitely mixed. I can tell you that I can feel the difference when I have been taking the multivitamin for a steady duration of time. The advice to “break them in half and take half in the morning and half at night” is exactly why I take the vitamin I do..it is easily digestible and has both am and pm. Good feedback!
Thanks for linking to that quiz! I’ve always wondered if I’m neglecting something by not taking a multi, so the quiz came in handy. It said I should be fine (although I’ll definitely be sure to ask my doctor next time I go).
@Gena, Always a good idea to check with your doctor!
-Mark
I have severe chronic anemia, so iron supplements are mandatory for me. Yuck!
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@Mama Zen, Thank you for yor feedback!
-Mark
I read a book a long time ago that influenced my decision. I remember reading that although a multivitamin will help fulfill all the needed ‘vitamins’, everyone’s body is different. Therefore, we all need a different amount of nutrients, vitamins, minerals. And that the multivitamin pill may help with some of your replacement, the fact is, most of that pill is excreted due to you having enough or too much of certain types of vitamins.
Great post.
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@Strong One, Very good points!
-Mark
Multi-vitamin, garlic supplements and fish oil. Daily. Forever. I have soft skin and feel great……has to help. I hope. LOL!
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@Claudia, Great feedback!
-Mark
I’m horrible about remembering to take them everyday, and am now trying a new system of laying them out in a daily pill box. That said, I take:multivitamin, fish oil, CoQ10, DHEA, Calcium, Magnesium, baby asprin
I’m currently trying to lose weight which I’ve found is a real challenge, but it has gotten me to be more conscious of what I eat which means I try to incorporate more veggies, fruit, whole grains, etc. I even add pomegranate juice to my nightly vodka tonic, which not only tastes good, but is good for you! ha!
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@Suzanne, Pomegranate Juice was #1 on the healthiest list of drinks http://tinyurl.com/5v78t2
-Mark
I eat well. I do take a daily multivitamin, just in case.
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@Vered, Thanks for the feedback!
-Mark
Multivitamins can be harmful if you take the wrong ones. For God’s sake do your research before you put them in your mouth!
This advice comes from a nice mix of medical knowledge and personal experience.
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@Gabrielle, Always good to do research and check with your doctor prior to taking vitamins…great advice!
-Mark
Well, for the last 3 years I have been either pregnant or nursing so I take a prenatal vitamin. Once I get done nursing my son I guess I will need to look into something to better suit my needs. I think I eat fairly well but just to cover all my bases I like to take a vitamin too.
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@Rachel D., Thanks Rachel!
-Mark
It is best to consult a physician prior to taking anything, really. I am still taking prenatal, although, it’s time to give them up since I am now done with the whole baby thing. I will continue to take a multi and omega because my diet is not as perfect as I would like it to be. Also, we sometimes destroy the nutrients in some of our food just by cooking or freezing so I play it safe. Great post.
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@spindiva, Great advice, thanks for the feedback!
-Mark
I buy multivitamins; I rarely take them. π I took one tonight, though, and will start taking them again, just in case.
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@Cammy, Thanks for the feedback! π
-Mark
I do take a multi vitamin and mineral supplement, but I take it approx every other day, not daily. I tend to think that there is almost enough fruit and veg and variety in my diet, but the extra vits + mins on alternate days will make up for any slight shortfall.
Not entirely sure why I don’t take them daily — partly the cost (hey, it’s much cheaper spacing them out!) or also the fact that I don’t want to end up “over” dosing on some of the vitamins that I believe it is possible to take too much of.
All of this is done (by me) without any real scientific knowledge, just pure rank amateur guess work !!!
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@goodbyetoallfat, Great feedback! π
-Mark
I take a multi-vitamin every day. Not to sound obnoxious-but I truly have a hard time eating. I’ve never had much of an appetite-so most days I know I don’t get all the nutrients I need.
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@Tipper, Thanks Tipper! π
-Mark
Hey Mark,
Thanks for the comment on my blog. I’m glad you left a comment, because it led me to YOUR great blog. I’ll be back for sure.
@ChocolateCoveredVegan, Thanks for visiting!
If I remember, I take a multi + antioxidant. The research that I’ve read says that even if you think you’re diet is SUPER, you are still missing key nutrients.
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@FitMom, I definitely am not getting all that I need in my diet, the multivitamin works for me. Thanks for your feedback!
-Mark
I take vitamins.
I see a nutritionist and she hooked me up.
She also got me on natural thyroid medication which is now reducing my allergies.
She said allergies are sometimes related to thyroid. I had no idea!
But the proof is in the pudding.
Doctor is lowering my medications for allergies… and says I might get off of them by next spring.
@Kate, Thanks for sharing!
-Mark
The way I see it, even if you are just creating expensive urine, I like to have it as a health insurance back-up policy. If it doesn’t work oh well. But I for one will continue to take my daily multivitamin.
@John, I am on the same page as you.
Thanks for your feedback!
I do take a multivitamin – Centrum Silver (even though I’m not over 50!). It was a recommendation I picked up from Men’s Health. I do try to eat pretty healthy.
My wife and kids also take a daily multivitamin – but I don’t remember which ones they take.
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@Lance, Do you feel that those digest well? I like the cost…
Thanks for the feedback!
-Mark
My screening came out pretty good, however it would be helpful. Thank you for the quiz and the review. Once I am done reviewing the Sam-E vitamins I’ll let you know what I found out, and then see if I need to look into anything else!
Take care!
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@Suzanne B. (Crunchy Green Mom), Thank you for your feedback! I look forward to your review!
-Mark