No one is looking forward to dropping dead. So we fight our terminal fate by exercising, eating right, and enjoying life. But there is one more thing that you can do: take some vitamins, minerals, and supplements. When you were younger, you could take one Dino chewable, and that would give you the extra health boost you needed… but now that you're older, your needs are a bit more complex. We encourage you to move out of Bedrock and learn about the proper vitamins, minerals, and supplements that we grown-ups need.

Here's a quick note, though: we're not talking about ginko bilboa, testicle-of-rabbit, or any other herbal remedies. We're talking about scientific vitamins. So while herbal remedies are becoming the quick fad, there will always be a place for vitamin C and calcium right here in this SYW.

1. CONSIDER A MULTIVITAMIN

First off, we're going to change the terms we're using. While vitamins and minerals are different stuff, they are often grouped under the term "dietary supplements" (that is, anything intended to add something to a person's diet). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses this term, so we will too.

Food is the preferable way to get all the healthy stuff you need because in eating it, you are also getting a ton of other good-for-you things such as phyotchemicals and antioxidants (which have been rumored to prevent the aging of cells). But most of us have irregular eating habits and don't eat a balanced diet, so some kind of added bonus can only do us good. In case you're wondering what a perfectly balanced diet entails, take a look at this list.

A multivitamin is a good way to start, because it includes most of the stuff you need in one little pill. When choosing a multivitamin, look for one that provides 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of the following vitamins and minerals:

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin B
  • Vitamin B2
  • Niacin (Vitamin B3)
  • Vitamin B12
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin D
  • Vitamin E
  • Copper
  • Chromium
  • Iron
  • Selenium
  • Zinc

The multivitamin supplement should also contain at least 10% of the RDA for magnesium. If you can't remember all of these different items, at least try for a multivitamin that contains 20 or more vitamins and minerals. However, it is important not to go too far over the 100% RDA for each nutrient. Vitamins and minerals can be toxic at certain dosages.

While multivitamins are a great way to start attaining proper nutrition, they don't target your specific needs and deficiencies. It's like putting a patch on your jeans instead of just buying a new pair. So our recommendation is that you start out with a multivitamin and then back it up with any supplements that you particularly need.