A busy week or even a holiday overseas can wreak havoc with the diets of even the most faithful food pyramid followers. Then there are the fussy eaters, some are kids (however many are not), who believe “you don’t make friends with salad,” and that any meal without meat is not a meal at all.
While nothing can top a balanced diet, multivitamins can give you an important nutrient top-up if you’re receiving inadequate nutrients from your diet alone.
“The purpose of a multivitamin is to address dietary inadequacies or increased needs for important vitamins and minerals,” Pam Stone Director of Education for Blackmores said.
“Busy lifestyles often make it difficult to maintain a balanced diet and therefore both adults and children may not always get all the vitamins and minerals they need."
A survey conducted by the Australian Government found children and adults were not always meeting their daily fruit and vegetable requirements. More than half of the males (aged 12-44 years) surveyed, and around one third of the children (aged 4-11 years), had not eaten fruit or fruit products the previous day. Also, over 20% of children under 12 had not eaten vegetables or vegetable products on the day prior to the interview.
“Fruits and vegetables are an important source of vitamins and minerals and this research highlights the gaps in Australian children’s diets,” Pam Stone said.
It is also important to remember that as you move through your life, your circumstances, and also your nutrient requirements, will change. For example, the NHMRC recommends women attempting conception, or who are pregnant, should supplement with 150 µg of iodine and 400 µg of folic acid and that supplementation of iodine should continue during breastfeeding.
References available upon request