Are you getting all the nutrients you need through the foods you’re eating? Most medical experts suggest that most people cutting calories to lose weight should add a multivitamin to their daily regimen in order to replace some of the nutrients that might be lost due to decreased calories or portion sizes.

I, myself, have my own little vitamin routine (a ‘vitamin regimen,’ if you will) that I partake in every morning at breakfast time. I carefully researched what my body needed and know that the vitamins I take help contribute to and encourage my overall health. I even recently bought one of those little pill separators so I could ready (divide up) my vitamins on a weekly basis (easier than rifling through several vitamin bottles first thing in the morning). I got a good laugh as I shopped for a pill separator in the “Elder Care” section of my local drug store. Ironically, this tool for vitamin intake keeps me feeling young n’ healthy. Go figure.

Again, many nutritionists, doctors and educators agree that vitamins are essential for overall health – even when someone is already eating healthy and getting many of their nutrients from fruits, vegetables and other beneficial food groups. According to an article posted by Vanderbilt (link included below), “To put it plainly, if we did not consume adequate amounts of vitamins our bodies would not be able to function properly. Vitamins are essential to so many processes within the body that it would be very difficult for me to tell you all of the things vitamins are needed for. The fundamentals of cells depend greatly upon vitamins. Vitamins are responsible for keeping cells strong, binding tissues, fighting infections, etc. Without vitamins our cells would not function properly and thus our organs would suffer and eventually we would no longer be able to survive. Vitamins help regulate metabolism, help convert fat and carbohydrates into energy, and assist in forming bone and tissue.”

Although many different kinds of vitamins are available over the counter, it’s recommended that you discuss your individual needs with your personal doctor. Even “everyday vitamins” can cause trouble, depending on existing medical conditions or allergies. For example, most experts warn that if you’re past the age of menopause, multiple vitamins with Iron should be avoided because studies show this mineral to possibly be harmful for those individuals in excess amounts.

Sure, checking with your doctor means taking time to call or email your doctor’s office. But isn’t your overall health worth that little bit of time? Commit to your overall health and you’ll enjoy the benefits for years to come.

Here are a few helpful Vitamin Resources to help get you started:

For “The Who, What, Where, Why and How’s of Vitamins” (the Vanderbilt article mentioned above): Click Here

For tips on choosing a multivitamin: Click Here

For an idea of what kinds of vitamins to take and what kind to skip: Click Here

For more information about the health consequences of taking too many vitamins: Click Here