How Do I Know If I Need a Multi-Vitamin

I used to think a good diet was enough. For several years, I thought our family could get all of the vitamins and minerals we needed from food alone. We ate an even more stellar diet than we eat now, but it still wasn't enough. If you haven't yet, you can read my story here.

Diet is very important. Supplements are just that -- supplementary to a good diet. I can see my family benefiting from the vitamins we take. What about you? Do you need a multi-vitamin? Good question. From my observations, I rarely meet someone who is getting all the necessary nutrients from today's depleted food sources. Here are a few questions that might help you find the answer to that question:

• Are you like nine out of ten Americans who don't eat the recommended five-a-day of fruits and vegetables?
• Have you been pregnant or nursing in the last year and a half? If so, your body is still rebuilding!
• Do you eat convenience or fast foods because there isn't enough time to use all whole foods?
• Do you eat any "artificial" foods because they are low in fat, reduced calorie or just plain cheap?
• Do you purchase conventional foods because organics are too expensive? Keep in mind that organic foods contain 4-40% more nutrients than conventional foods.
• Do you eat any white flour or white sugar products?

If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you might benefit from a high-quality nutritional supplement. (I have to say "might" because I am not a health professional... nor do I pretend to be one online :) )

For my previous thoughts on supplements take a look at these posts:

• What's In Your Vitamins?
• Lead in Supplements?
• Statistics on the Insufficiency of the Standard American Diet
• Which Supplements Have I Selected?