We all know our As, Bs, and Cs – but should we take them daily in pill form too? A multivitamin is a preparation intended to serve as a dietary supplement – with vitamins, dietary minerals, and other nutritional elements. As a kid, popping a single chewy, sugary multivitamin alongside breakfast was easy.
First of all, should healthy adults be taking a daily multivitamin at all? It’s important to understand the difference between vitamins and vitamin supplements.
A vitamin is defined as a natural substance usually found in food that helps your body be healthy. A dietary supplement is defined as a product taken orally that contains one or more ingredients, such as vitamins or amino acids, that are intended to supplement one’s diet and are not considered food.
Though you should definitely strive to obtain a variety of nutrients every day, including vitamins and minerals, it isn’t recommend to take a routine ingestion of vitamin supplements to achieve this goal. (Stated in an article from huffingtonpost)
“You can get the majority of vitamins and minerals you need by eating a healthy, balanced diet” Amy Gorin stated in an interview (she is registered dietitian nutritionist in Jersey City, NJ).
“Nutrition needs are very individual, and taking such supplements may certainly benefit your health,” she said, especially if you have nutrition deficiencies. “However, this should be determined on an individual basis,” she explained.
