"Gender, age and lifestyle factors are critical to consider when choosing a multivitamin and nutritional plan, and consumers are recognizing this," said Carroll Reider, MS, RD, Nature Made. "Most people lack essential nutrients and specially formulated multivitamins are a good insurance policy for maintaining health."
In addition to a multivitamin being part of the foundation of a healthy diet, Ms. Reider offers these tools for meeting the variety of nutrition needs in an average household:
Women of all ages need a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D to maintain strong bones. Milk, cheese and other dairy products are an excellent source of calcium and provide vitamin D as well.
For men, maintaining prostate health is particularly important with a diet rich in lycopene. Cooked tomatoes and red fruits and vegetables are great sources of lycopene.
For optimal health, Ms. Reider suggests everyone add vibrant hues to the dinner plate like steamed carrots, peppers and red cabbage. "Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables will help maximize nutrient intake and many provide essential antioxidants," Ms. Reider said. "It's even better to take a multivitamin with your dinner to better absorb the nutrients and ensure you are getting all the vitamins and minerals you need."