Is a multi-vitamin enough?

A multi-vitamin can be used daily as a safety net for vitamins and minerals that are missed in your diet. This country has a huge problem with mishandling and abusing supplements. Do Americans even realize that they are missing vitamins and minerals that are necessary for good health? In history, people used fresh foods for proper nutrition; today, people rely on fast foods and supplements. It takes a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, minerals and vitamins for proper nutrition. People just need to accept reality and understand that the best way to achieve this balance is to eat healthy foods. The key is to find foods that provide the vitamins and minerals you need. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):

• Eat at least 3 oz. of whole grains daily
• Eat more dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, dry beans and peas
• Eat a variety of fruits
• Eat fresh, frozen, canned or dried fruits
• Go easy on fruit juices
• Choose low-fat or fat-free milk
• For those who can’t tolerate milk, choose lactose-free products
• Choose low-fat or lean meats and poultry
• Bake, broil, or grill meats
• Get proteins also from fish, beans, peas, nuts and seeds
• Oils from plant sources do not contain any cholesterol (vegetable and nut oils)
• Cut back on salt and sodium
• Eat organic, look for a USDA organic seal
• Eat less sweets, skip drinking sodas
• Don’t forget fiber in your diet

It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a multi-vitamin daily to act as that safety net, just remember it does not replace the vitamins and minerals you need in your diet daily.