What we do know is that we can’t get all of the nutrition that we need through food alone. What we also know is that vitamins alone can’t do it. So what do we do? Let’s be realistic here, nobody eats five to six servings of fruits and vegetables a day. It just doesn’t happen. Most of us are lucky if we can fit in one or two servings of fruit or vegetables a day.

To eat the recommended daily amount you’d pretty much have to be grazing all day long. Sounds funny, but true. Come on now , we all lead busy lives and a lot of us don’t even sit down to a home cooked meal except for maybe for three or four days out of the week.

So how do we make up for what our bodies are lacking? Vitamins of course. Now vitamins can’t do the work all on their own, that’s why they are called supplements. They are specifically made for that purpose, to supplement what you may be lacking in your daily diet. But, you have to help by eating sensibly and by trying to eat more fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Vitamins are not miracle pills, but they are essential in making up what may be lacking in our diets and to help keep us healthy.

We have to be smart about how we choose to supplement with vitamins. The first thing that we need to do is find a great Vitamin and Mineral supplement. From that point on we have to be aware of our own individual needs.

For instance, if you know that you don’t regularly eat dairy products or other calcium rich foods, you probably would want to take a calcium supplement. That would be especially important for post menopausal women at risk for osteoporosis. For those who don’t eat many nuts, seeds, whole grains or even much of any kind of vegetables, a good Magnesium supplement would be great.

Vitamin D is so important for people who don’t get enough sunlight on a daily basis. Vitamin D helps the absorption of calcium and a deficiency has been said to cause weak bones and now has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

My advise to people out there is to read, read, read. Just be informed as to what is out there so you can make a smart choice and get healthy with the benefits of vitamins.