Supplementing can’t replace a healthy, well-balanced diet. Nor can it replace the flavour, enjoyment and social connection that food offers us. But, there are times when it can be helpful to supplement our diets with a multivitamin or individual vitamins to fill in any nutritional gaps.
Do I need to supplement with a multivitamin?
There are many situations when supplementing with vitamins can be health-promoting – and even in some cases it can be essential such as if we’re experiencing deficiencies caused by long-term poor nutrition or difficulties eating a healthful diet due to socioeconomic barriers, malabsorption issues and other limitations. Just remember, not all multivitamins are created equal - find out more here.
Common reasons it might be helpful to supplement with a multivitamin include:
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Being busy with work and caregiving and finding it difficult to eat a balanced diet.
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Travelling and not having access to healthful food.
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Having a poor appetite, making it difficult to eat enough food for adequate nutrition.
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Having increased nutrient needs due to high levels of exercise in order to support performance recovery.
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Following a restrictive diet with the goal of weight loss which may make it difficult to meet your nutritional needs.
Multivitamins vs. Individual vitamins
If you eat a healthful diet rich in nutrient-dense foods, it may be more helpful to look into specific supplements. For example, if you have iron-deficiency anaemia and need to increase your iron intake or osteoporosis and need more calcium, then it can be more helpful to tailor your supplements to your individual health needs.
Common reasons it might be helpful to supplement with individual vitamins include:
- You eat a well-balanced diet but are experiencing fatigue or other health issues.
- You’ve had blood tests done and are deficient in certain nutrients.
- You want to adapt the supplements you take depending on the time of the year. For example, it might be helpful to supplement with vitamin D in the winter if you live in a country that has little sunlight in the winter months. Check out everything you need to know about vitamin d here.
- You want to take different supplements at different times of the day. For example, you want to support your sleep by supplementing with magnesium.
- You want a higher dose of specific vitamins.
Multivitamins or separate vitamins: Which is better?
Ultimately, whether you opt for a multivitamin or separate vitamins will depend on your health needs, goals and lifestyle.
If you aren’t eating a nutrient-rich diet due to difficulties with work-life balance, lack of access to healthy options or confusion around what a ‘healthy diet’ actually means, going for a multivitamin can help fill in any nutritional gaps.
But if you have a specific health condition or nutrient deficiency, that’s where individual vitamins may work better for you.
Ready to shop?
Check out our range of high-quality multivitamins and vitamins here.
References
Should I take a daily multivitamin?
The Biological Role of Vitamins in Athletes’ Muscle, Heart and Microbiota
4 min read time
