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We’ve all heard the back-and-forth chatter on weather a multi vitamin really works or not. Many people say that you just pee it out and the vitamins do not absorb. Other people say a multi vitamin is best in liquid form and others say capsules or tablets are acceptable.
My question is always, are the vitamins and minerals in a particular multi vitamin enough to satisfy my body’s needs? How do I truly know what my body needs to be taking?
In all, you unique vitamins and mineral need to support optimal health, so using a multi vitamin may not be enough for you. Someone with hair loss may find they are low in minerals, while someone with immune challenges may find they are low in antioxidants. I may need more B vitamins, and you may need much extra zinc.
However, the crux lies in addressing individual nutrient requirements tailored to specific health needs.
It can go either way. When I think about the benefits of taking a multivitamin. I do not take one. I prefer to take only the vitamins my body needs. In total, there may be some benefits of taking a multi vitamin if your overall vitamin levels are good.
But suppose you do what I do every few years and test my vitamin levels for vitamin deficiency. In that case, I learn exactly what amounts of each vitamin my body needs to function at its best.
Taking just a multivitamin can help improve memory, mood, energy, and the immune system. But the question is always, are these amounts good enough for you?
The first thought is if the multivitamin is absorbable or not. Then if someone does a vitamin deficiency test with us and we find they need extra B vitamins, we can add that on. If antioxidants are low, we can add that too.
A multi vitamin can work really well for someone that is in good health, to supplement an already healthy diet. But will a multi vitamin work for someone that eats the standard American food diet? Probably not.
As a certified, holistic nutritionist I believe people should take what their body needs or lacks. This will save you on time, money and energy.
There are a few vitamins that I never suggest a person take unless their bloodwork shows a need. Those are the minerals calcium and iron. If you unsure if you need iron or not, play it safe and get a multi vitamin without iron.
If you do not eat well and are looking to get a few nutrients into your body than an iron free multi vitamin may work well for you. But if you are wanting to know for sure what vitamins your body needs than look at this link describing my favorite test for vitamin deficiency.
Many Americans take multivitamins, but do they really make up for a poor diet or provide you with the necessary nutrients for good health? The answer depends on you and your health, illnesses, chronic conditions, and personal nutrient needs.
Let’s start with diet. When I meet with a client, our first conversation is about their daily diet and health concerns. Making smart food choices is the first step in improving your health. A multivitamin won’t be a surefire way to get all the nutrients that are missed in a poor diet. I understand that life is busy, but it isn’t too difficult when you know how to eat healthy food quickly. It is unhealthy, fast food that lacks nutrients.
Another way to look at this is if you are dealing with osteoporosis; for example, popping a multivitamin will not fix it. But taking a multivitamin, improving your daily diet, and increasing other nutrients you are low in may benefit your health and bones more.
Some of the pros to taking a multivitamin are:
Cons to taking a multivitamin:
This PDF helps you control your gut health. It provides personalized meals for an anti-inflammatory diet. It also gives deeper insights into your dietary choices.
I have been working in the field of holistic health and wellness for over 30 years. Nutritionally Yours has a functional medicine medical doctor on staff. Nutritionally Yours offers a wide variety of at-home blood test kits, nutrition test kits at, home health test kits, nutrition, naturopathic, metabolic and weight loss appointments Monday – Friday 9-4 EST.
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