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Do I Need A Multivitamin If I Eat a Healthy Diet?
Multivitamins are one of the most commonly talked about supplements, but if you’re wondering if you need a daily multi if you eat a healthy diet, you’re not alone. Many people question whether or not a healthy diet is enough to meet all of their nutritional needs or if it’s worth spending the money on a daily multi.
We’re sharing more about what you need to know, plus the benefits of whole food supplements vs. synthetic options.
Here’s Why We May Need a Daily Whole Foods Multivitamin Even if We Eat Clean
While a healthy diet is central to optimal wellness, and a whole food multivitamin should only be used as a supplement to clean eating, there are a handful of reasons why a whole foods supplement may be a great addition to a healthy routine.
Here are just a few reasons why a multivitamin may be a good idea, alongside a healthy and wholesome diet.
#1 Soil Depletion
The truth is that the food we eat is really not the same food our ancestors ate. In fact, with issues such as soil depletion, we may not be getting nearly as many nutrients in some of the most nutrient-dense foods today as compared to those same foods years ago.
A 2004 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, conducted by researchers from the University of Texas, found that there have been “reliable declines” in various nutrients in fruits and vegetables from data analyzed in both 1950 and 1999. They noted a decline in iron, B2, protein, calcium, and vitamin C. The researchers concluded that this may be linked to agricultural practices used to improve things such as growth rate as well as pest resistance. (1)
So, even if we are eating all of our fruits and vegetables, this study shows that we may not be getting as many nutrients as we once were. Supplementing with a whole food multivitamin may be great insurance that we are filling in any potential gaps.
#2 Lack of Food Variety
For many of us, this is a big issue. Having a lack of food variety may be a big reason to consider adding a whole food multivitamin to your routine. We can all fall into the trap of eating the same foods day in and day out, but without variety, we may be falling short of some important vitamins and minerals.
#3 We May Also Be “Undernourished”
In addition to the soil depletion issue we are seeing, and a lack of food variety in many of our diets, Functional Medicine Doctor Chris Kresser states that “Americans are well-fed but undernourished.” (2) Much of this has to do with the foods that we find in the Standard American Diet. Unfortunately, so many Americans rely on these foods as their primary nutrient sources.
The problem here is that these processed and heavily refined foods are void of many important nutrients the body needs to thrive and full of inflammatory ingredients we want less of.
Benefits Of A Whole Food Vitamin
While a whole food multivitamin may be a great complement to a healthy diet, one very important thing to keep in mind is that not all supplements are the same. When we’re talking about multivitamins, we’re talking specifically about a whole food multivitamin, which is much different than synthetic varieties.
Here are just some of the perks of choosing whole food supplements.
- Whole food supplements are sourced from exactly that (whole foods) - The key here is to select supplement products from reputable brands that are transparent about their ingredients to be sure that you are getting true whole foods and nothing artificial.
- Nutritional Variety - When you choose whole food supplements vs. those chock-full of artificial synthetic vitamins, you may get the benefit of nutritional variety. When you choose whole food multivitamins, you’ll also reap the benefit of things like antioxidants and even phytonutrients alongside the vitamins and minerals found in these whole food-based products.
- Quality - Last but certainly not least is quality. While not all companies abide by the same manufacturing protocols, whole food supplements are often free from at least some of the common artificial ingredients found in synthetic vitamins. When selecting your whole food vitamins, be sure to check the label and avoid anything artificial, including artificial colors. Avoid anything that’s labeled with FD&C followed by a color and then a number, and avoid artificial fillers like corn, soy, wheat, and dairy.
The goal is to choose a supplement product of superior quality as what we put into our bodies is of the utmost importance, and this includes our daily multivitamin.
Supplementing a Whole Foods Nutrient-Dense Diet With a Whole Food Multivitamin
Research shows that soil depletion may be affecting the vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables, and the truth is that many of us may not be getting enough variety in our diets. So, while a wholesome and nutrient-dense diet should be first and foremost, a whole food multivitamin is a great way to supplement and make up the difference for anything that may be missing.
If you’re looking for a new whole food multivitamin supplement to add to your healthy routine, be sure to check the label to avoid any artificial ingredients and select something that’s made from concentrated fruits and vegetables.
