Vitamins & Supplements- Should You Take Them?

In a perfect world we would get all the vitamins and nutrients we need by eating a healthy diet. After all, it’s nature’s tender way of taking care of us. Although I try my best to live a healthy lifestyle, it is far from perfect. Especially the weeks our cupboards are filled with on-sale twizzlers!

At the end of August, when I took my children in for their yearly appointment with the doctor, he sent us home with a list of his recommendations for children and adults. I thought I would share the list with you, as I would love to get your opinion!

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For Kids:

1.       Multi-Vitamin

2.       Vitamin C 250-500mg (in flu season)

3.       Calcium/Magnesium Vitamin D 400 units/day (if poor milk drinkers)

4.       Omega 3- children’s chewable 1/day

*Eat 7-8 servings of fruits and vegetables daily

*Drink Pomegranate Juice daily


For Adults:

1.       Multi-Vitamin (Female/Male- different)

2.       Vitamin C-500mg

3.       Calcium/Magnesium Vitamin D 800-1000 units/day (2:1 ratio Cal:Mag)

4.       Omega-fish oil (3-9) or flax oil-(3) (DHA+EPA= at least 1000)- 2 pills per day

5.       Co Q 10 (for heart)- (for 40 yrs & older)

6.       Glucosamine (1 pill) (for joints) – for athletes or all older than 30 years

7.       Probiotics – (for everyone) 1 tab/day

8.       Flax Seed (grind in coffee grinder and eat with cereal

*Eat 7-8 servings of fruits and vegetables daily

*Drink Pomegranate Juice daily

Currently, I personally am taking a multi-vitamin and vitamin D. I’ve had my vitamin D level tested and it is low. To tell the truth, I wasn’t all that surprised my vitamin D level was low living so far north. Our family loves to buy the big bottles of POM wonderful juice from Costco. Although I don’t drink juice often I might consider drinking a small glass of Pomegranate juice daily.

A week later I took this list to my doctor to get her opinion. The impression I got from her is that she thought they were all a good idea and it depended on the commitment you wanted to make. Taking 8 can be overwhelming for some. Her top 3 picks were the Multi-Vitamin, Vitamin D, and Omega-3.

As I sort through my thoughts, to figure out what direction I want to take, I would love to get your opinion.

Do you take vitamins and supplements? Do you give them to your children? Do you think they are a good idea, or something we are better off skipping?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below!