The vitamin dilemma
Which multis should you take, if any?
TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? Some multis can deliver harmful doses of vitamins.
What could possibly be wrong with taking a daily multivitamin? Well, for one thing, there’s surprisingly little evidence that
the pills make any difference, especially if you’re under age 50. And some multivitamins aren’t even safe, because the government
doesn’t test dietary supplements for purity or potency. Independent tests, including one we reported last year, have found
that some multis don’t have what they claim, don’t dissolve properly, or are contaminated with toxins, such as lead. Also,
many multis come loaded with high doses of vitamins that are at best useless and, in some cases, possibly harmful. Here’s
a quick guide to multis, including a checklist of who needs them and how to shop for the best ones for you.
WHO REALLY NEEDS A MULTIVITAMIN?
If you’re a healthy eater, your diet probably provides nearly all the vitamins and minerals you need, not to mention healthy substances not found in multis like fiber and other plant-based substances called phytochemicals. So it’s clearly better to eat right than to rely on a multi to plug those nutritional gaps. On the other hand, a multi can make sense if your diet is a disaster. And you definitely need a multi if you:
If you’re a healthy eater, your diet probably provides nearly all the vitamins and minerals you need, not to mention healthy substances not found in multis like fiber and other plant-based substances called phytochemicals. So it’s clearly better to eat right than to rely on a multi to plug those nutritional gaps. On the other hand, a multi can make sense if your diet is a disaster. And you definitely need a multi if you:
- Are breast-feeding, pregnant, or trying to become pregnant.
- Have a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, such as colitis or pancreatitis, that impairs digestion, or a disease such as diabetes or cancer that depletes nutrients in your body.
- Are on a restricted diet.
| Click any of the links below for a selection of articles from the Spring 2007 issue of ShopSmart;) Editor's Letter Greetings from ShopSmart Editor-in-Chief Lisa Lee Freeman Five ways to shop smarter Online and off, these tips will help you get the best deals Great sites for gift givers Fun and funky presents to buy online for grads, dads, brides, and anyone else on your list How to order wine Order the right wine at any restaurant (even if you have no idea what you're doing) Online shopping The best shopping sites you’ve (probably) never heard of |
