Multivitamins or a more balanced diet?

sugarlemonpie

Currently I am eating minimum 1200 calories a day as per the MFP recommendations, plus the calories I burn working out. My question is, when on a restricted caloric intake how do you make sure you are getting the vitamins and minerals you need day to day? I eat a varied diet with many different fruits and vegetables, but I don't eat a lot of meat on a daily basis aside from chicken breast. I could be better about being more balanced, but red meat always shoots my fat intake way up over my goal even though it is iron-rich. Heart disease runs in the family very heavily, so I try to watch my fat, carb and sugar intakes. I eat other foods with iron, but not in large enough quantities. Calcium is also an issue.

I have also heard that with multivitamins you don't actually absorb a lot of the benefits from them as they pass through your system fairly quickly and you pee them out.

So what do you all recommend? What do you do to make sure you are treating your body right when on a calorie restricted diet?

Thanks!

LoupGarouTFTs

I am taking a multivitamin, but I'll probably stop soon. Vitamins have never sat well in my stomach and they don't seem to do much for me, health-wise. It's important, in my opinion, to eat a balanced diet rather than getting "balance" from supplements; however, I don't think it's necessary to hit a balance every day. As long as you eat a balanced diet overall, I would think it wouldn't matter too much if you miss balancing your meals on an occasional day or two.

sugarlemonpie

I am taking a multivitamin, but I'll probably stop soon. Vitamins have never sat well in my stomach and they don't seem to do much for me, health-wise. It's important, in my opinion, to eat a balanced diet rather than getting "balance" from supplements; however, I don't think it's necessary to hit a balance every day. As long as you eat a balanced diet overall, I would think it wouldn't matter too much if you miss balancing your meals on an occasional day or two.

Thank you! Yeah, that's what I was thinking as well. I just can't seem to form a habit of taking any sort of pill, it makes me feel uncomfortable because my parents have been taking handfuls of medications for years now and I don't want that life. Even though I know it's just a multivitamin, it doesn't sit well with me. I will strive to include more variety first!

fallingtrees

I take an inexpensive multivitamin (when I remember), along with what I hope is a good diet. I spent a lot of time tracking my food in detail on the USDA website, and found that I often came up short in a few areas, especially when I was at 1200 calories.

So I say, do both. Don't get carried away on the supplements, because they are probably unnecessary, but the multi is cheap insurance.

JoshD8705

If you use a multivitamin, just make sure it removes Iron from the ingredients. The Iron prevents proper absorption. Nature Made is my favorite, but you may have to try other types. I heard of people getting nauseated from it.

CA_Underdog

Almost every doctor votes for a more balanced diet if possible--supplements are an inferior replacement.

fallingtrees

If you have small children in the household, be sure to get a no-iron supplement. Iron toxicity is the most common childhood poisoning, and can be fatal. I learned this when my son was small, and got into his Garfield vitamins. Fortunately, they were iron-free.