Who needs a multivitamin?
Eating a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds, wholegrain foods and healthy sources of protein should provide us with a good balance of nutrients, but not many of us eat this well. Only around a quarter of adults in England ate five or more portions of fruit and veg a day in 2015, according to a survey by NHS Digital. Furthermore, nearly 50% of adults ate less than three portions a day, with adults aged 16 to 24 being the least likely to eat the recommended five portions a day.
And even if you do eat plenty of fruit and veg, chances are you won’t be getting as many vitamins and minerals from these foods as you would have a century ago. An ongoing study by McCance and Widdowson found that nutrient levels in fruit and vegetables have declined significantly over the past 70 years, with modern farming methods and new plant varieties believed to be the cause.