Vitamins make me better because they make baby better. I knew when I was asked to write about this topic, my knee-jerk reaction was to write about vitamins for baby. Why? Because even though prior to baby I kept a multi-vitamin in my cabinet, I was never good at actually consistently taking it.
As a dietitian, I pride myself on having a very balanced diet. Taking a vitamin every day didn’t seem as necessary until I starting growing a little person inside of me. You see, when you become pregnant your need for folic acid increases to 800 mcg/day instead of the 400 mcg/day that is needed during childbearing age. When I wasn’t pregnant, I was confident that I received enough folic acid in my diet and would just take a multi-vitamin now and again. But then, when I was newly pregnant, I became very nauseous, started to have less of an appetite / enjoy different foods, and started to realize just how important those little prenatal vitamins really were.
Now, you may be asking yourself what’s the deal with folic acid? Well, folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects in pregnancy, such as spina bifida and anecephaly. Foods that are naturally high in folic acid include dark leafy green like spinach, broccoli, asparagus, and citrus fruits, which are coincidentally some of my favorite foods! Folic acid is also commonly fortified in bread products, cereals, and flours. So what does all this mean? To get enough folic acid from food while pregnant, you would need to eat 13 oranges (~800 mcg) as compared to the previously recommended 400 mcg, which would be ~7 oranges. Sounds tough right? This is why a prenatal vitamin is so important and why they make me better.
Not only do prenatal vitamins contain folic acid, but the Nature Made Multi Prenatal vitamin contains thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 + B12, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins A, C, D3 + E. Plus, they are gluten-free!
Interested in searching for your own vitamins and supplements? Make sure you talk to your health care professional — your doctor, dietitian, or pharmacist would be suitable!
I’ve been talking about why prenatal vitamins make me better, now why do vitamins make you better? What, if any, vitamins do you take?
Disclosure: I’m making this post in the Nature Made Blogger Team Contest, and I got some cool free stuff from Nature Made for participating. Vote for my entry at www.facebook.com/naturemade between 9/20/11 and noon (PT) 9/26/11.
I too believe that a multivitamin is worthless. I do take Chondroitin/Glucosamine and swear by it. It definitely helps me. When I was pregnant I took a prenatal vitamin AND folic acid. It is interesting that a medical professional is for taking a multivitamin or against it. This seems to be a personal opinion issue with the professionals I have had the pleasure of consulting. Of note: If your blood work is within normal limits, what justification can you give me to take a multivitamin? Are all multivitamins worthy?
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Katie @ Healthy Heddleston Reply:
September 18th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
I believe some people need multivitamins and some people not at all. If all your blood work is good and no deficiencies are found, a multivitamin usually isn’t necessary. I’m more of a proponent of taking a specific vitamin when needed — such as fish oil (which most people should take) and vitamin D for most people living in climates without much sun (of course a blood test can show you your vitamin D level.) All this being said, some people find assurance taking a multivitamin even when their diet is great — and that’s find too — they’re the one paying for the vitamins (even if they are peeing most of it out)
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Dynamics Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 3:07 am
Fish oil is another topic. Is it good for the heart or is it good for losing weight? I just read to take Krill oil instead. This is all fascinating to me. There is so much info for and against.
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Katie @ Healthy Heddleston Reply:
September 18th, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Oh, forgot to answer one of your questions. No, not all multivitamins are worthy. Some provide over 100% or 100% of basically everything — which means you definitely would be peeing a lot out because you are eating some vitamins!
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I agree that vitamins are especially helpful during pregnancy because mom and baby both need appropriate amounts. Even when not pregnant, try as we might, our busy lifestyles do not always allow us to eat the way we know we should and vitamins can be helpful. As a Physician Assistant, I often recommend them to my patients.
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That’s a good point, Katie. I’m really inconsistent about taking my calcium pill and multi-vitamin every day so it’s good that you have an excuse to be consistent. Have you been setting alarms or anything as a reminder or has baby been enough of a reminder that you just remember?
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Katie @ Healthy Heddleston Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
The baby has totally been enough of a reminder — no alarms needing to be set at all
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I like your orange analogy – very helpful article!
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I take GNC Women’s Ultra Mega Active. I am most worried about getting enough calcium and iron since I am not a milk drinker or red meat eater. I do make sure I have appropriate daily servings of yogurt and cheese to get calcium (and since I love both). Cannot speak about pregnancy though since I have never been and will not be for quite some time.
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I take a Target version of One A Day for Women, which have a nice balance of all the good stuff you are supposed to get in a day. I hate to say it but I can’t really tell a difference between when I take them versus not taking them. I am pretty good about remembering though, so it’s not like a take an extended break from them when it would be noticeable.
My husband did buy me a bottle of folic acid pills recently. Talk about a hint!!
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Katie @ Healthy Heddleston Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Haha, I LOVEE that Hans brought you home folic acid. You did just finish running a race — maybe it’s time now
Heart you friend!!
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I have been taking more Vitamin C now as I have been feeling sick this week but usually I stay away from vitamins unless they have been recommended. Just because someone takes a vitamin does not mean that it will be absorbed by the body.
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Katie @ Healthy Heddleston Reply:
September 19th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
Great point — same goes for vitamins in foods, not all will be absorbed by the body. Hope your sick feeling goes away!
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Interesting article. I take vitamins daily as part of my overall approach to a healthy lifestyle. I think they help me.
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I think it’s very interesting how much folic acid pregnant women need! Do you know if fish oil (Omega 3-fatty acids) is really important for pregnant women as well?
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Katie @ Healthy Heddleston Reply:
September 27th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
YES!!! Omega 3-fatty acids/fish oil/DHA is sooo important for pregnant women as well. Pregnant and lactating women should eat/take a supplement that gives 300 mg of DHA daily.
Why so important?
Omega-3s are essential for neurological and early visual development of the baby. Increased intake of EPA and DHA has been shown to prevent pre-term labor and delivery, lower the risk of pre-eclampsia and may increase birth weight and gestational weight. Omega-3s are also used after birth to make breast milk.
Hope that helps!
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I take vitamin C regularly and I think it helps me stay well especially during the winter months.
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