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Expert Q&A

	By Allison Gamble Nutritionist/Diet Technician Highland Park Hospital, Illinois

With all the vitamins on the market today, how do I choose the right one for me?

Let's face it; most people's diet lacks the adequate servings of fruits and vegetables -- the best sources of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals. So taking a multivitamin is probably not a bad way to cover your bases. I would suggest selecting a multivitamin rather than a multitude of specific pills, since all vitamins and minerals have essential roles in the body. Just a reminder, the supplement should never be thought of as a replacement for fruits and vegetables. If your diet is lacking in that area, then try boosting your intake, along with taking the multivitamin. Your supplement doesn't have to be the most expensive either. Chemically, there can't be significant difference between a brand name multivitamin and a generic brand. Ask your pharmacist for their opinion. Just be wary of vitamins that have mega-doses. Stick to the kind that will supply at least the RDA in addition to your dietary intake.

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