The Importance of Taking a Daily Multiple Vitamin

The Importance of Taking a Daily Multiple Vitamin

It is recommended by nutritionists to eat at least 5 to 7 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day in order to get the optimal daily nutrient intake. Sadly, only about one-fourth of U.S. adults eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Furthermore, the U.S.D.A. has reported that only 36.4 percent of U.S. children between the ages of 2 and 19 eat the recommended three to five servings of vegetables per day, and only 26 percent eat the two to four recommended daily servings of fruit. Additionally, fruits and vegetables that are picked prematurely may lack nutrients and the protection from antioxidants. Therefore, if the fruits and vegetables you eat are not picked ripe, and delivered to you fresh, you are most likely not receiving their full nutritional value, even if you eat plenty of them.

The Jou
al of the American Medical Association (2002; 287:3127-9) published a report by the Harvard researchers, Fletcher and Fairfield, stating that, “Most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins by diet alone. Pending strong evidence of effectiveness from randomized trials, it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements.”

The two Harvard doctors reviewed approximately 40 years of research and discovered that there was a link between vitamins and certain diseases. While this information has been believed by many health care professionals for decades, the proof is finally in the pudding. For example, these doctors reported “suboptimal levels of vitamins B-6 and B-12 are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon and breast cancer; low levels of vitami
D contribute to osteopenia (mild thinning of the bone mass) and fractures; and low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (A, C, and E) may increase risk for several chronic diseases.” You can protect your health!

Eating right by making healthy food choices is always best, yet it is not always practical for everyone. Many of us have busy lives that do not leave time for proper meal planning and preparation, which can help insure that our families and ourselves are getting the daily nutrients to prevent disease. Therefore, including a high quality multivitamin into our daily regimen can help us meet our recommended daily intakes of these nutrients helping to prevent disease and raise energy levels.

So which multivitamins are good ones to buy? Generally speaking, you pay for what you get. I suggest a vitamin made from whole raw foods meaning that they are more readily absorbed and used by your body. The majority of other multi-vitamins use synthetically manufactured vitamins that your body can only absorb a small percentage of and utilize even less. Additionally, there is a likelihood that ingredients many companies use may not have been thoroughly tested for purity and potency confirmation.

Taking high quality, complete and balanced nutritional supplements are the least expensive health insurance policy you will ever purchase!