Multivitamin

Studies done by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services show that the typical American diet does not provide a sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals. Okay, that comment falls under the common sense category; however, even people who eat the right foods can suffer from nutrient deficiencies. Those same studies indicate that 92 % of American’s are deficient in one or more nutrients under the Recommended Daily Allowance(RDA). The levels set under the RDA are the minimum levels needed to prevent rickets and scurvy. They are far from what is needed for someone to feel even 50% healthy.
The vitamin deficiencies I’m talking about don’t cause acute diseases like scurvy and rickets but the chronic type of diseases. These are the types of diseases that sneak up on you over the years because you basically feel fine. These diseases include: blindness, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia, and more.
The best place to start in preventing these diseases is a high quality multivitamin. It’s very confusing since there are many choices out there. Some of the essential things you want the multivitamin to have are mixed carotenoids, which include lutein and zeaxanthin, as well as at least 400 mcg of folate and a mixed B vitamin-complex. You also want to look for a multivitamin that comes from whole food sources. This is a new concept in the industry which involves not separating the vitamins and minerals from their food source. In this way, the body can absorb nutrients the way it is meant to.
There are many good multivitamins on the market. I take “Nature’s Way Alive Whole Food Energizer.” This doesn’t have the mixed carotenoids. I get those through another supplement, “Nature’s Plus Ultra Source of Life Liquid with Lutein.” I order both of these through vitacost.com. If you know any other good multivitamins please let me know so I can pass it on. So far, these are the ones I have used. They have worked well for me.