Why do we take vitamin and mineral supplements?  Are there any benefits?

When I was a child, my parents gave me chewable Flintstones vitamins.  These early experiences set in stone the idea that supplementing my diet with pills was necessary for health (even though those chewables were full of dyes and artificial flavors).

I don’t make my children take daily vitamins.  I don’t take them every day myself. Why?

I want to trust in our diet. I want to trust in our natural cravings to decide what we are needing more of in our nutrition. Craving oranges, avocados, carrots, etc. are all signs of deficiencies.  Craving chocolate, potato chips, and ice cream…hmm, not so sure.

The truth is our diets, even if carefully made from whole foods, may not be balanced. The truth is we often have children that are picky eaters and may not eat what their bodies need. The truth is our dietary needs change as we age. The truth is we have learned not to trust our bodies when it comes to eating…eating on a schedule of meals, eating what is convenient, eating for other reasons like boredom and emotional support rather than for survival.

Do we need supplements and vitamins?

I am not a medical doctor. I can’t give you advice, but my approach to supplements is the same approach I try to use for eating…listen to my body. When I remember to take supplements, then I must be needing them.

According to Web Md, there is actually no “convincing scientific evidence of any true health benefit” to taking supplements.

In fact, most Americans take supplements for the same reason I do…we believe it will improve our health not because of a doctor’s recommendation. Only 23 percent of supplement takers are doing so under the advice of health care professionals.

Nearly half of U.S. adults use dietary supplements, Bailey noted, and supplements are a $30-billion-a-year business.

“People have very strong beliefs about these products and I don’t know where they are getting their information,” Bailey said. “It’s not from the doctors. The majority of scientific data available do not support the role of dietary supplements for improving health or preventing of disease.”

Another expert said supplements can be expensive.

“A multivitamin might cost $20 a month. Why not spend that on more fresh produce?” said Marian Neuhouser, of the cancer prevention program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in Seattle. “If someone is eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole grains — a wide variety of foods — they should be getting all the nutrition they need.”..

It’s hard to tell whether vitamins actually improve health, because “adults who use dietary supplements tend to report more healthy lifestyles,” Bailey said. “They report better overall health, more exercise, moderate alcohol consumption and are more likely to [have never smoked] or be former smokers.”((http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/news/20130204/with-benefits-unproven-why-do-millions-of-americans-take-multivitamins?page=2))

The truth is, most of us, even those who try, probably aren’t getting all the nutrition from our food we need because we occasionally cave into cravings for potato chips, chocolate, and ice cream.

Supplementation, when done safely, can’t hurt, but not all supplements are created equally.  Malabsorption is common, and many supplements contain harmful artificial additives like colors.

I prefer Rainbow Light multivitamins.  I discovered Rainbow Light when I was pregnant with my first child.  I took their prenatal vitamins through two pregnancies and four and half years of breastfeeding. We were sent samples of their line for the whole family.

I never gave my infants vitamins. I felt breast milk did the job.  I would be concerned with this product that the powder is fully mixed into something so that it is not inhaled by those tender young  lungs.

Rainbow Light NutriStart Multivitamin Dietary Supplement Powder Packets for Children 6 Months to 4 Years

Give your children the nutrition they need with Rainbow Light NutriStart Multivitamin Powder. Specially formulated for children ages six months to four years, NutriStart Multivitamin Powder helps supplement your child’s diet and support healthy growth and development.* Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants work together with wholesome foods and vegetables to provide advanced nutrition and immune system support.* The powder can be mixed with liquids or soft foods, like yogurt and applesauce, so picky eaters might not even realize they are eating it. Easy to digest, NutriStart Multivitamin Powder has no artificial additives, is gluten-free and is guaranteed to be free of common allergens like dairy, yeast, nuts, eggs, fish, and shellfish.

• Nourishing vegetable juice complex and essential nutrients for healthy growth*.
• 15 Million CFU probiotics support normal digestion and promote immunity*
• Complete, bioavailable formula of essential vitamins and minerals*.
• 100 natural and free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, and preservatives
• Allergen SafeGuard: free of gluten, yeast, milk, eggs, soy, nuts, fish, and shellfish

Rainbow Light Active Health Teen Multivitamin

• Provides targeted nutrition with high potencies of key vitamins and minerals
• Vegetable juice complex includes nutrient-rich kale, spinach, and spirulina
• DermaComplex Herbal Blend promotes a clear complexion from the inside out*
• Probiotics, plant-source enzymes, and ginger promote digestive health*
• Vitamins B, C, and D support energy, immune, brain, and stress support*
• Contains no artificial additives or gluten

Rainbow Light, Men’s One Multivitamin

• Comprehensive, one-a-day nutritional support for heart, reproductive, and prostate health.
• Contains potent vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, B-complex, C, D3, zinc, and selenium.
• Men’s strengthening blend of saw palmetto, lycopene, and organic spirulina Vegetable juice complex with kale, spinach, dandelion, and beet for natural energy.
• Gentle on the stomach with plant-source enzymes and 25 million CFU probiotics No gluten, dairy, wheat, and yeast.

Rainbow Light, Women’s One Multivitamin

• Comprehensive, one-a-day nutritional support for bone and breast health includes B-complex, vitamin D3, and iron.
• Women’s nourishing blend of dong quai, organic spirulina, and red clover for stress and hormone balance.
• Vegetable juice complex with kale, spinach, dandelion, and beet for natural energy.
• Easy to digest with plant-source enzymes and 25 million CFU probiotics.
• Free of gluten, dairy, wheat, sugar, soy, nuts, eggs, fish and shellfish, and yeast.