Do You Need to Take a Daily Multivitamin?

Your doctor, the Internet, and weight loss experts agree that it’s important for you to take your vitamins. But does that mean you have to take a pill every day, or can you get your vitamins from your food? And which vitamins does your body need most? Find out more about getting your body the vitamins it needs to function properly.

Vitamins are classified as either water soluble or fat soluble, which describes how they are absorbed by the body. In order for water soluble vitamins to be properly absorbed by the body, you must be getting plenty of water. Fat soluble vitamins, however, require sufficient fat intake to be absorbed. Water soluble vitamins include B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, biotin, B6, B12, pantothenic acid, and choline) and vitamin C. Fat soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Do you need to take a daily multivitamin?

Not necessarily. Both water soluble and fat soluble vitamins can be obtained through a well balanced diet, but it’s important to include a variety of foods in your diet if you want to ensure you’re getting everything your body needs. Water soluble vitamins can be found in whole grains, meats, eggs, legumes, and fresh fruits and vegetables. Fat soluble vitamins can be found in dairy, eggs, and dark green or orange vegetables. A diet that will allow you to get all of your vitamins, then, must include:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Lean meats
• Dairy
• Legumes
• Water
• Healthy fats (from dairy products, eggs, avocados, seeds, nuts, olive oil, or vegetable oil)

Take a look at your weekly menu, and determine if all of these food groups are represented. You may need to consider taking a multivitamin or adding some variety to your diet to give your body everything it needs.