Living Young Forever

So you don’t need a daily Vitamin? So that means you always have 6 to 8 servings of grains, 4 to 5 servings of vegetables, 4 to 5 servings of fruit, 2 to 3 servings of low fat dairy, and 6oz of meat, poultry or fish PER DAY? Really? And that just meets the very minimum standards for nutrition.

So you may want to rethink your option to take a multivitamin at the very minimum to supplement those missing servings. When shopping for a multivitamin look for whole food vitamins preferable organic for the best value and quality.

In the next blog we will look at those serving size and do some nutritional math that may surprise you.

Choosing the right vitamin can be a little challenging with the hundreds of brands and formulas available. A good place to start for a general nutritional boost is a Multi-Vitamin. We always recommend a whole food vitamin with an organic formula whenever possible for the best quality. The next step is to consider your personal life style and age to start to customize your choice.

Many of the formulas will give you a good idea by the label such as Multi + Stress Formula or 50 + Formula for older adults. Once you have narrowed your Multi-Vitamin choice closer to your personal needs you may consider adding additional supplements such as a b-12 complex for high stress situations. A protein shake is another great option for those times you can’t stop for lunch and want to avoid the fast food temptation.

Don’t be afraid to try different brands or formulas especially if you’re new to supplementing your diet with vitamins. Not everyone wears the same shoe size and not everyone’s body chemistry and needs are exactly the same so trying different formulas can get you closer to a more customized program. If you are still puzzled or overwhelmed, going on line or having a consultation with a nutritionist for more education on what vitamins best fits your needs is a great option.

You’ve probably heard tales – both true and exaggerated – detailing the finicky eating habits of pregnant women. There’s something about pregnancy that makes previously unheard of flavor combinations palatable. For instance, few people would pair and ice cream cone with a side of crunchy pickles. A pregnant woman might not even blink at such an offering.

By the same token, certain foods are much less desirable during pregnancy. It becomes difficult in some cases for women to maintain a healthy, nutritious diet. In order to supplement that diet and provide the vitamins and minerals essential to mother and baby, prenatal vitamins can make all the difference. They should be administered before, during and shortly after pregnancy.