Do you really need a multivitamin? There’s more factors to consider than you think. To find out when a multivitamin can help, read more.

There is a lot of noise on the internet about whether multivitamins are even needed at all. The argument is that you can skip them all together as you can get everything you need from your diet.

While this is great in theory, it doesn’t consider all of the factors that influence the amount of vitamins and minerals either in our foods or that we absorb from our diet.

In fact, did you know that soil fertility is a major issue in Australia? Australian soil is known to have reduced levels of important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium. The reduction in these minerals correlates with a reduction in the foods we eat, an example being vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce and spinach which have a reduced magnesium content of up to 80–90%.

Vitamins are also very sensitive to heat and water. This means that cooking will impact the available levels of some vitamins, in particular the water-soluble vitamins, vitamins B and C.

In addition to reduced availability of vitamins and minerals in foods, the level of vitamins and minerals we absorb are heavily influenced by digestion and absorption which rely on good overall health, as well as good digestive and liver function.

A good number of vitamins and minerals are also not stored in the body so frequent replenishing is an important factor to ensure ongoing adequate levels.

Lifestyle factors such as stress and exercise also burn through vitamins and minerals faster, in particular magnesium and the B vitamins, so while you may not feel the increased demand, often not enough of these important vitamins and minerals will appear as physical symptoms such and fatigue.

In situations of a less than optimal diet, compromised digestion, or when there are extra demands on your body, this is where a multivitamin can be beneficial.

The bodies of men, women and children all have different demands, so it stands to reason they have different nutritional needs as well. To meet these needs, Herbs of Gold have created unique complex golden multivitamin formulas to support the specific needs of men, women and children.

Vitamin recommendations to include in your daily regime.

Herb of Gold Men’s Multi +  and Herbs of Gold Women’s Multi + are comprehensive multivitamin formulas specifically developed to support the individual nutritional needs of men and women.

Herbs of Gold Children’s Multi Care multivitamin provides key vitamins and minerals in a delicious chewable tablet to support children’s general health and wellbeing, including 75 micrograms of iodine to support cognitive function, brain health and thyroid gland health in children.

Top tips for getting the most from your food

1. Increasing good dietary fats helps to increase the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. So, don’t feel bad about adding in healthy fats from avocados or olive oil to your favourite dish.
2. Vitamin C helps to improve iron absorption from plants. This is especially important for vegans and vegetarians. Consider adding a lemon squeeze and/or a slice of orange to your spinach salad.
3. Phytates (phytic acid) in whole grains, seeds, legumes and some nuts can decrease the absorption of iron, zinc, magnesium, and calcium. If you consume a large amount of these foods, employing techniques such as soaking, sprouting and fermentation is recommended.
4. Coffee may decrease the absorption of several nutrients. Aim to drink coffee between meals, rather than with them.
5. Calcium requires vitamin D for optimal absorption into bone. Be sure to add in safe sun exposure as part of your bone care routine.

Conclusion

Considering the cost of groceries continually rising, lack of nutrient dense quality produce and being time poor for preparation we believe a multivitamin can be suited for many, if not all of us. 

All vitamins are never designed to replace a balanced diet, a multivitamin can be beneficial in assisting to provide good amounts of important vitamins and minerals when they’re needed.