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Daily multivitamin - yay or nay?

withypoll
withypoll Posts: 47 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Do you take one, what type, and why? I currently take a wholefood daily multi and per my neurologist's order B2, B12, and D (for migraines and deficiencies). I'm thinking of cutting out the multi. I eat a balanced diet of lean meats and tons of fruits and veggies most days of the week. I should be getting all my needed vitamins from these foods, right?

Replies

  • Ruatine
    Ruatine Posts: 3,424 Member
    Personally, I take a One-a-Day Women's multi because I know I don't reach my micro-nutrient needs with what I eat (I'm a pretty picky eater). If you feel confident that your diet provides all the vitamins/minerals you need, I don't see why you'd need to take a multi - just makes for some expensive pee, since your body won't absorb them.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I take a men's one a day. I can get most of my nutrients from food, but there are some things that are just lacking and the multi-vitamin takes care of that...and I eat a crap ton of fruit and veg, but not necessarily enough variety to hit on every single vitamin and mineral. Other than that, it's a relatively inexpensive "insurance" policy really.
  • withypoll
    withypoll Posts: 47 Member
    edited January 2016
    Ruatine wrote: »
    just makes for some expensive pee, since your body won't absorb them
    Right?!
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Other than that, it's a relatively inexpensive "insurance" policy really.
    The vitamins I purchase are kinda pricey, unfortunately. That's why I'm debating whether to cut them out or keep taking them.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    edited January 2016
    Based on the research I've seen, a daily multi-vitamin is unnecessary and mostly driven by marketing. Unless you have a specific deficiency, in which case you'd be taking a supplement specific to that.
  • aylajane
    aylajane Posts: 979 Member
    You could cut them out and ask your doctor for a yearly panel to check for specific deficiences, then just take what you need. The bigger issue though, is that some nutrients take a few months/years to deplete reserves, so by the time it shows up as deficient, you would already have some symptoms and may not be able to quickly reverse it.

    I am in the camp of a cheap insurance policy. If the ones you take are expensive, find a cheaper version you can live with that may not be as complete, but still keeps the basics covered?
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