Recently, there has been some negative media attention and multivitamins.  This has left many people wondering whether or not a multivitamin improves health, or has any benefit at all.  First let me start by telling you the “research” was done on a commonly sold over the counter multivitamin.  I’m not here to put down or build up any brand, I’m just going to tell you facts.

• All vitamins are not regulated, so there’s no guarantee what is on the bottle is in each pill.
• GMP vitamins do follow FDA standards for regulation, are tested to ensure they do contain what is on the label.
• Not all vitamins are made from natural ingredients, and if your body sees something as foreign, it’s harder to absorb.
• Not all vitamins are chelated and bio-available sources, and if you can’t absorb it, you flush it.
• Medications deplete you of vitamins and minerals.
• Stress depletes you of vitamins.
• Lifestyle factors, like soda, deplete you of vitamins.

This may sound like I don’t recommend vitamins.  On the contrary, the opposite is true.  I personally take, and see a huge need for vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins.  I personally take all of these, as well as a probiotic.  I believe each persons needs are different, and medication, lifestyle, diet, health concerns and health goals need to be considered in creating the ideal nutritional protocol for the individual.

We have more vitamin deficiencies now than ever in America.  It’s very common to see Vitamin D, CoQ10, Magnesium, Fish Oil, B12 and Iron deficiency just to name a few.  Our food sources now have 40-50% less vitamins and minerals than 20-30 years ago.  So supplementation if more important now than ever.  Taking supplements is a multi-faceted approach and many factors need to be considered.