Multivitamins at every age

Multivitamins at every age

Here's a big win for those of us who believe in the power of vitamins: A new study finds that our daily supplements really do make a difference--even in seemingly healthy young adults and middle-aged people.

Not that I needed any convincing--and I doubt you did, either--but the mainstream media just loves to bash vitamins. That's why you probably didn't see much coverage of the latest research, which found that vitamins can help boost vitality and mental sharpness.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study-- the gold standard of research--involved 215 healthy men between the ages of 30 and 55, randomly assigned to either a multivitamin or a placebo for 33 days.

The subjects were asked about their moods, stress levels and overall health... and then asked to complete some physical and mental tasks--such as counting backwards by threes or sevens, starting from a random number.

At the start of the study, everyone was roughly equal. Thirty-three days later, however, and they weren't so equal anymore.

In fact, those who took their daily multivitamins reported significant improvement in mental health, lower stress levels and better moods. They were even able to handle those tricky backwards-counting tests better.

They also had lower levels of "mental tiredness" and "mental fatigue."

Those on the placebo, on the other hand, had no noticeable changes, according to researchers from Northumbria University, where the study was conducted.

This study was funded by Bayer, which of course wants to sell you Bayer-branded vitamins. But don't let that sully the victory, because it's solid evidence of how vitamins can help make sure we get all the nutrients we need--and how much better we function when we do.

Despite all the recent vita-bashing, this study is also solid proof of the benefits of a multivitamin, even in the seemingly healthy people who mistakenly believe they don't need one.

You do--nearly everyone does. Just make sure you pick the right supplements for your lifestyle.

While it's important to get your nutrients from food, most of us can't--or don't--get everything we need with our meals. In addition, our nutritional needs can change as we age.

Talk to your doctor, ideally a good naturopathic physician, about choosing the right supplements for your lifestyle. In most cases, you'll want to start with a high-quality multivitamin, and then add specific supplements that match your individual needs.

Vitamin D is a great addition for most people, since even the mainstream readily admits that most of us are badly deficient, and most multivitamins don't contain nearly enough of it.

But while vitamins are getting a big boost from this new study, another branch of alternative medicine is coming under attack. Keep reading!