How Effective Are Multivitamins?

Multi Vitamins can be somewhat effective if your diet is void of whole foods and essential nutrients. As a health coach, I always try to insist that my clients eat real food (not processed) with an abundance of organic fruits and vegetables. It is a fact, however, that due to busy life-styles and compromised soil, we are not always able to benefit from good quality food. Therefore in some situations, a good quality multi vitamin may be beneficial. There are, however, important facts to know and be aware of before making a purchase.

How to select the correct multi-vitamin for you

There are many choices when it comes to multivitamin supplements, and they can vary greatly in quality. For this reason, it is essential that you take the advice of a health practitioner that you trust who knows and has experience with all the different brands on the market. Even if you shop at a specific natural health food store, he or she may be trying to sell you the trending product that week or something that is on special.

Synthetic Supplements

Do not get fooled by the word “natural“. All supplements are synthetic unless they are made from concentrated, dehydrated whole foods. Most supplements on the market today are synthetic. They can be taken in pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid and are made to mimic the way natural nutrients act in our bodies. Synthetic or artificial supplements are also usually in an isolated form, meaning they are not combined with other essential nutrients that our bodies need for optimal absorption. For example, calcium in isolation is not recommended. It needs magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and other electrolytes to be absorbed efficiently. Our body works synergistically, not in isolation. Compare this to eating real food. When you eat vegetables, you are not consuming a single nutrient, but rather a whole range of vitamins, minerals, co-factors and enzymes that allow for optimal absorption. This is a perfect example as to why you must be careful when taking synthetic supplements that lack the ability to be absorbed EFFICIENTLY by our cells.

What is A Vitamin RDA?

The RDA (recommended daily allowance) that is written on the bottles of all supplements is simply that, a recommendation. Everyone is different and depending on what the deficiencies are that they are experiencing, or how much stress they carry, may require a different amount. This is another crucial reason as to why it is important to work with a health advisor.

Are multi -vitamins needed and are they effective

There is no blanket answer to this question. Each person will have a different nutrient need and deficiency. As I mentioned above, real food is always recommended first, but with the declining soil and food quality and increasing presence of chemicals that can block nutrient absorption in our environment, it may be necessary for supplementation. Do your home work. It may be an added expense to check in with a professional, but you will save money in the long run by purchasing the right products for you and taking the right dosage!