Ask Dr. Gourmet

Can I substitute vitamins for vegetables in my diet?

I have been taking 'multi-vitamins and minerals' tablets, which contain 100% RDA of many vitamins e.g. Vitamin C, Iron, etc.. does that mean that iIdon't need to take in any veggies and will it do any harm to me if I took the tablet with orange juice which might give me over 200% of DRA?

 

Dr. Gourmet Says...

The recommended daily allowances (given in percentiles called % Daily Values on the labeling) are a good guideline and are usually set to give people an "average" idea of how much of certain nutrients are necessary for optimal health. In this case, it is advisable that you take a multivitamin and eat as healthfully as you can also.

If you are currently in good health and have no medical problems, I suggest you go ahead and have your orange juice and whatever other healthy foods you want. However, remember that vitamins are just a supplement and do not replace good food nor do they ensure good health.

Also, try not to use vitamins that supply higher than 100% RDA's for its ingredients. That's a good baseline since you're hopefully eating healthy foods, too.

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet