I think of my multivitamin as insurance. Yes, it costs money. And yes, I know I am making expensive urine (peeing out any excess water-soluble vitamins). But I know I won’t be having any micronutrient deficiencies, especially in these child-bearing years of my life.
Just decades ago, plant foods (fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, etc.) and animal products contained more nutrients. Thanks to Big Agriculture and the corrupt government, the soil no longer holds the same amount of nutrients. Nowadays, you would have to eat quadruple the amount our grandparents ate to acquire the same nutrients.
While I love my plant foods, I can only eat so many carrots before my jaw suffers from exhaustion. The good news is there is a solution to the problem at hand: regenerative agriculture. If we stop the soil depletion practices, we will get some nutrient-dense carrots. There are great farmers out there making the switch from mass-producing farms to regenerative practices. These farmers are part of a movement that is both good for the human body and the environment.
You can do your part in supporting the movement by finding local farms that practice regenerative agriculture. https://regenerationinternational.org/regenerative-farm-map
Of course, the human brain prefers the path of least resistance. It’s much easier (and cheaper) to Instacart my groceries. It’s even easier to pop a pill, assuring I receive the majority of my micronutrients.
There are days when my meals aren’t as colorful as I would like. And that’s why we have insurance, to make sure we are covered when our day doesn’t go as planned.
Why I take THIS Multivitamin
I personally love the Phyto-multi by Metagenics because, along with my vitamins and minerals, I get my phytonutrients (AKA phytochemicals). These phytochemicals are biologically active compounds found in plants. You can think of phytochemicals as the color pigment in different plant foods. The reds, the blues, the greens, the whites are all different phytochemicals. Phytonutrients don’t contain calories, so they don’t give us energy. Also, they aren’t considered a vitamin or mineral. Phytonutrients provide significant benefits for the human body.
The Phytochemicals in my Multivitamin + benefits:
- Myo-inositol – improve mood, increase fertility, and
- Resveratrol – reduce blood pressure, longevity, brain health
- Lutein – eye protection from age-related macular degeneration
- Lycopene – improve heart health
- Zeaxanthin – eye protection from age-related macular degeneration
The list of benefits of eating whole plant foods is endless. Eat as many plants as you can! And don’t forget about the variety of colors in your diet. Each color is a different phytochemical; each phytonutrient provides a different benefit.
Eat your plants and take your multivitamin.