Daily Multi Vitamin?

We eat pretty healthy too, but there are times when I know the diet has tilted, and I feel better when I am able to give the vitamin. So, we have them, but are not consistent ;)

1) it's never 'that' simple. There are always other variables. Just as an example... Those who have .10 alcohol in their bloodstreams at time of impact usually survive auto crashes with minor if any injuries. Doesn't mean we should all drive drunk! Those who are married tend to live longer, doesnt mean hou should stay in an abusive relationship! (Btw... That's not 'happily' married, btw. The numbers are strictly surrounding 'marriage'.)

Did you know one of the most assiduous populations of taking their daily vitamins are drug users and homeless youth? Their early deaths will be pulling those numbers down. So will athlete/adrenalin junkies who are STRICT about their diets, but regularly plunge off mountains.

God, I love stats. They keep life amusing. Moving on:

Most multivitamins end up in the toilet. Aka peed out without ever being absorbed. I've read numbers that go as high as 90% and greater, and numbers in the 50 percents. Not necessarily a bad thing. If your body can't use a water soluble vitamin... It gets peed out. Whether in pill or food form.

Food is typically the most absorbable. Our bodies are designed to extract nutrients from food.

Great (food sourcing) if you can afford it. A lot can't. Either time or money.

What supplements really are is an insurance policy. Our bodies don't absorb them well, but they're better than nothing / can keep us from being deficient.

I give my daughter multivit b/c I think it does give her immune system a little boost. Her pediatrician did tell me a couple years ago (when she was 4 and I wanted to start giving them to her) that new studies are coming out that children who take vitamins show a higher risk of kidney stones when they're older. But in my case my daughter who used to get sick all the time when she was younger and end up in the hospital, (I think boosting her immunity weighs over the possiblity of a higher risk or kidney stones).
And of course most doctors I know would say skip the vitamins and eat healthy foods :)

I've never done the daily vitamin route. From "Day One" my husband and I have always been big on fruits and veggies - my kids just naturally grew up eating healthy so we didn't really have to worry about adding a vitamin.

If in doubt, I would suggest you talk with your doctor. My doctor saw no reason for vitamins BUT... on his suggestion, the ONLY thing we've ever given was a flouride tablet when they were really young because we had well water. Other than that, nothing!!

My kids are in high school now and are extremely healthy!!

Good luck!!

I have one great eater, one medium eater, and one poor eater. My good eater doesn't like the taste of the chewable multivitamins we have, and because he eats well I don't make him take them. My medium eater likes them, and I will give them to him. My poor eater doesn't like them, but needs them, so I'm usually forcing him to take them.

I have to go back to decent tasting multivitamins!

I give my daughter (4) multi vitamins with flouride. But I know she is not getting enough through her food.

If your kids are healthy then, I would just save them fo rdays they don't eat a balanced diet.

Good luck!

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I just had a complete blood test done to see what vitamins I was lacking. I was guessing that I would be low in at least 3 or 4 of them. The only vitamin I was low in was vitamin D. I eat lots of raw veggies and fruits.
I buy many of the them from farmer's markets or the organic section...especially apples, celery, potatoes, etc...
I make a Sun Warrior protein smoothie a few times a week---It's top notch pure protein !
I eat raw, organic nuts, too. At least 1 handful a day !
My kids take a multi-vitamin on and off. I will buy them only at a high qualty health food store.