What are vitamins?

Vitamins are organic compounds that are necessary to maintain normal body functions. They are either found naturally in foods or can be produced synthetically, and can help to prevent nutrient deficiencies and provide missing nutrients.

Why take a multi-vitamin?

There are various reasons why people choose to take a multi-vitamin, but the main reasons are:

1. To improve nutrition
2. To make up for nutrients missing in diet
3. To decrease the risk of acquiring disease or the severity of a disease
4. To increase energy or improve performance

It is important to note that although vitamins provide essential nutrients, they are not a substitute for a well-balanced meal because they cannot replace the fighting properties found in fruits and vegetables. In addition, over consumption of vitamins can be harmful to your health, so it is important to not exceed daily requirements.

Selecting a multi-vitamin

The following are considerations to keep in mind when choosing a multi-vitamin:

• Provides 100% of daily value of vitamins A, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6, B12, vitamin D and folic acid
• Provides 100% of daily value of minerals including copper, zinc, magnesium and iron
• Clear expiration date that is far enough in the future to ensure full use of product. Certain vitamins lose their potency over time so it is not recommended to consume products after their expiration date
• The price of multi-vitamins isn't necessarily an indication of a quality product
• Read labels carefully for potential allergy causing ingredients such as soy or wheat.