What Vitamins Do I Need To Take?

It would be nice to think we get all we need in our diets, but that can be challenging. Eating a diet with all the required micronutrients is difficult in our busy lives. Luckily, we have supplements that can provide the basics including three essential micronutrients: vitamin D, calcium, and a multivitamin. This week on Fox 17, Dr. Bitner discusses the essential vitamins our bodies crave, particularly during the sun-deprived winter months, and how they contribute to our overall well-being.  

Fact #1: 

Vitamin D is critical for bone health and immune function and is vital to cardiovascular health. During winter months, anyone living north of Atlanta won’t get enough vitamin D from being outside, even on a sunny day. You’d have to drink 100 glasses of Vitamin D milk to get enough in one day. The recommended dose for a normal-weight adult is 2000 IU per day. 

Fact #2:

A multivitamin offers iodine and other minerals that support:  

• Thyroid function
• Digestive enzymes, metabolism, and energy
• Immune function
• Bone health
• Muscle health
• Brain function 

Take your time reviewing brands, but don’t overthink it! Most are adequate but some offer more longevity antioxidants. To avoid stomach upset, take your vitamins with food.

Patient Story: 

Jane wanted to regroup after a busy summer and, because of longer, darker days, knew she needed to take Vitamin D for her bones. She heard that multivitamins were a waste of money but needed to see if she was getting what she needed from her diet. She worked hard to exercise, build muscle, and keep strong bones while raising three boys, all in high school. We discussed getting a regimen of vitamin D with her coffee, adding the multivitamin with her protein shake on the way to work, and making sure the calcium in her diet added up to 1200 mg.

Health Tip of the Week: 

Keep it simple: Take 2000 IU of Vitamin D in the morning, multivitamins with your first meal and include calcium-rich foods in your diet. These include dairy products, leafy greens, beans (legumes), and almonds. The goal is to consume 1200 mg of calcium per day. Cover the basics, and your body will thank you with good energy and bone health.

Watch the full segment.