There are many differing opinions on whether multivitamins are a hoax/ needed, so I figured I’d share some thoughts on it.

In short, I’m definitely in support of taking a high quality multivitamin. I will write a follow up post on what to look for in a quality multivitamin.

Below are some factors that I take into consideration when forming my opinion. All the following issues affect our micro nutrient status and most of us have multiple factors at once.

• Farming practices have changed
  • Due to the over farming of soil, the micronutrient density of our produce has vastly decreased. Studies show on  average, calcium levels in 12 fresh vegetables dropped 27 percent; iron levels 37 percent; vitamin A levels 21 percent, and vitamin C levels 30 percent
  • Read more about the soil depletion and farming practice changes HERE
• Our produce isn’t fresh
  • Produce starts losing its nutritive value as soon as it’s harvested. So unless you are truly eating fresh picked produce, the nutrients have already been drastically depleted. By the time you actually eat that “fresh” spinach, it’s probably a week old! Buying frozen produce is one great way to avoid this problem, as micronutrients aren’t affected by the freezing process. Growing your own and buying locally is also a good way mitigate this issue
• We aren’t eating enough nutrient dense foods to meet our nutritional needs
  • 8-10 servings of veggies per day is what’s recommended for optimal health. Obviously that’s alot, even if you’re striving to eat a produce rich diet. Quality (grass fed, pasture raised, wild caught) seafood, meats and eggs are also more nutrient dense than their conventional counterparts
• Stress
  • Who’s not dealing with a significant amount these days? Stress burns up many key nutrients, such as B vitamins
• Digestive function
  • Many people have less than perfect digestive capabilities, leading to decreased absorption
• Medications
  • Almost all medications deplete certain micronutrients
  • Acid blockers are very common and can easily lead to micronutrient deficiencies due to lack of nutrient breakdown and absorption via decreased stomach acid
• Genetic factors
  • There are many genetic factors that can make it difficult to utilize or absorb certain micronutrients
• Exposures to toxins and heavy metals
  • Our environment is constantly bombarding our systems with toxic chemicals, which burn up antioxidants like vitamin A, C, and E, zinc and magnesium

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