When it comes to a balanced diet, many of us know the types of things we should be eating, but that doesn’t mean we’re actually eating them—especially in the right quantities.

Our bodies need a balance of foundational nutrition: lean proteins, healthy carbohydrates, the good kind of fats and plenty of vitamins, minerals and plant nutrients. They all work together to perform hundreds of roles in the body to sustain life.

Getting a healthy balance of all those is a great goal, but we know the reality is different. Think about how many servings of fruits and vegetables you consume each day. Is it anywhere close to between 3 ½  – 5 cups of fruits and vegetables combined as recommended by U.S. Dietary Guidelines?  Likely not. In fact, research shows that only about 1 in 10 adults meet the recommendations for either fruits or vegetables.

That’s why many people look for the benefits of taking multivitamins to help them reach their goal of getting all the nutrients their bodies need.

What is a multivitamin?

A multivitamin is a supplement that contains a combination of various vitamins and minerals our bodies need, whether it’s a few of the essential nutrients or a large portion of the 45 different vitamins and minerals our bodies use each day.

Vitamins and minerals help build our DNA, make proteins, support our immune system and carry out a slew of other important functions.

Benefits of daily multivitamins

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is the best way to achieve the targeted amounts of vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients our bodies need, but many people have challenges meeting all those requirements in their diets.

Poor sleep, occasional stress, and our environment can interfere with our appetites and preferences or how our bodies absorb some nutrients. Athletes who push their bodies to the limit can benefit from additional nutrients. Nutrients are key to children’s growing bodies. And some nutritional needs vary by gender.

Are multivitamins worth it?

Our busy schedules don’t leave a lot of room for the planning and preparation needed to ensure we hit all our nutrient levels each day. Families are being pulled in too many different directions to cook healthy meals. Picky eaters likely only allow one or two types of produce on their plate rather than the full, colorful array of fruits and vegetables available to them. And there may be an over-reliance on convenient, processed foods over healthier, nutrient-filled options.

So unless you have a personal chef who ensures you are getting every single nutrient your body needs in the recommended quantities every single day, the benefits of taking multivitamins can provide you some peace of mind that if you have any nutritional gaps, they are being taken care of.

Multivitamin safety and testing

And you can feel extra secure when you choose vitamins or supplements with quality ingredients so you know exactly what’s in your vitamin and how it was made. Every product goes through a nine-step traceability process that includes thousands of tests and quality checks to ensure the safety and integrity of the final product when it reaches a consumer’s hand.

Also, these products are tested and certified by NSF International, which confirms that our products contain the ingredients on their labels, are safe, and meet the highest standards possible. Every aspect of the product’s development is thoroughly evaluated by NSF—from extensive product testing and material analyses to unannounced plant inspections. Just look for the seal!