Have you ever wondered if you should be taking a daily multi-vitamin supplement?  If I close my eyes, I can still hear my mom calling out from the kitchen, “Kids, don’t forget to take your vitamins.” So, even though mom almost always served a well-balanced menu with lean meats and fresh produce (lots from our own backyard), I swallowed that morning pill like a good girl, gagging as it sometimes got stuck on the way down, but complying none the less. Ironically, I stopped taking a multivitamin in college and my early twenties, a period when my nutritional intake was . . . how shall I say . . . less than ideal.

Well, I’m back on multivitamins and have been for years. Any nutritionist you ask will say that eating a variety of fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products is the preferred way to get your daily dose of vitamins and nutrients to keep your body functioning at its best. However, even with the best intentions, it is not possible to “eat clean” all the time or even wolf down large enough portion sizes that would give you the complete Daily Recommended Value (DV) for every vitamin, mineral and trace nutrient you need. That’s why I think taking a daily multi-vitamin is like an insurance policy; an inexpensive and easy way to proactively safeguard your body against the expected wear and tear along with any unforeseen damage!    As a competitive runner and CrossFit enthusiast, I rely on a daily multi-vitamin to help by body perform . . . and recover!  A product I have really come to like is the Vitafusion® MultiVites, read on!

Modern Me: Vitamins keep me healthy and strong!

I will point out that I supplement with a few other vitamins, based on my life stage and activity level. A well-rounded daily dose like that found in the Vitafusion® MultiVites is a good place to start; however it is so important to educate yourself on what types of vitamins, minerals and trace nutrients YOU need, rather than just blindly swallowing (or chewing). For example, a pregnant woman has unique nutritional needs, starting in the first trimester, to ensure that the baby develops properly. Active and older women (and I’m putting myself in both categories) benefit from increased calcium, which can help prevent bone loss and fractures. Vegetarians also can benefit from taking extra calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins B12 and D.  Oh, there is so much more . . . it’s a huge topic!

So back to my favorite daily dose, Vitafusion® MultiVites. I originally stocked up on this product because I thought it would encourage my older kids to partake in their daily dose – and it worked! The company also makes a product portioned for younger children called L’il Critters.  Because I was already familiar with the brand, I was more than happy to give them a review after being sent a complementary bottle. Featuring naturally-sourced colors and flavors like berry, peach and orange, taking these chewable gummy vitamins seems almost like a treat – you only get two per day, kids! For sure a great tasting alternative to hard-to-swallow pills (you don’t even need water); but the best part of Vitafusion® MultiVites is so much of the percent DV has been addressed to help fill in any gaps in my diet.

Vitafusion® MultiVites offers plenty of perks for the body, but here are a few of my favorite:

•  Provides 200 percent DV for vitamin D3 which is as much as 3 ounces of salmon
• Provides 50 percent DV of antioxidant both vitamins C and A
• Supports immune health
• An excellent source of vitamins B12, B6, folic acid and pantothenic acid
• Provides as much vitamin A as one cup of broccoli

Vitafusion® MultiVites are gluten-free and made in the USA. You can find them nationally at drug grocery and mass merchandise stores for about $11 for 150 count jar. Heads up, I get mine in a 250-ct jar at Sam’s Club and it’s a great deal – only a couple bucks more than the 150-ct container.

www.gummyvites.com