While we would love to live in a universe where we eat every color of the rainbow at every meal, that is sadly not the case. I mean, who among us hasn’t resorted to a bowl of cereal for dinner, am I right?
That’s not to say we shouldn’t try to eat as many nutritionally-rich foods as possible. When our good intentions fail, though, there are supplements and vitamins to help pick up some of the slack. Since not all vitamins are created equal—according to the Food & Drug Administration, they’re “not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed”—we reached out to seven nutritionists to see whether they take vitamins, and if so, what kinds. Their responses ranged from the more obvious (multi-vitamins) to the obscure (adaptogens).
Obviously, everyone’s body is different and needs different things, and just because a nutritionist does it doesn’t mean you should too. But if you’re looking for some nutritionist-approved multi or prenatal vitamins, this is a place to start.
Multi-Vitamins for Overall Health
“I really try not to depend on daily vitamins or supplements to meet my nutrition needs; however, when I feel sluggish, I always go for Olly Women’s Multi-Vitamin gummies. These supplements provide the general vitamins and minerals that are needed to promote overall wellness. Second, I’m not big on swallowing pills, so being able to chew and enjoy your supplements in a gummy form is always a plus for me.” — Charmaine Jones, Food Jonezi
“I prefer Rainbow Light Women’s One which is whole foods-based, with no sugars or fillers, and only requires one pill per day.” — Taylor Johnson of Roots Reboot
Probiotics for Gut Health
“Probiotics (and prebiotics) are so important to your immune system especially as we move into ‘sick season.’ I love how we’re seeing probiotics in foods like Farmhouse Culture’s line but if you want to take a supplement, try out a variety to see how the work with your body.” — Carlene Thomas of Healthfully Ever After
“I use a professional-grade line called Designs for Health. I take probiotics because they help keep my gut flora in balance.” — Danielle Omar, Food Confidence
“I take probiotics daily to keep my gut populated with good bacteria that not only aids in the digestion of the food you eat and protects your body from infection, but is also linked to boosting your mood—talk about literal happy pills! An excellent, non-dairy brand is Dr. Ohhira’s premium broad-spectrum probiotic supplement containing 12 strains of friendly bacteria.” — Taylor Johnson of Roots Reboot
Adaptogens for Stress
“I’m loving Ashwagandha which is an adaptogen. My favorite is Gaia’s line, which is made in the US and lets you track your specific batch from seed to shelf with a code.” — Carlene Thomas of Healthfully Ever After
Curcumin for Inflammation
“When looking for curcumin capsules, check the label closely for black pepper because when combined with turmeric it increases the body’s absorption by up to 2000 percent of this inflammation-fighting spice.” — Taylor Johnson of Roots Reboot
Collagen for Joints and Skin
“I take collagen-based protein powder for the joint and skin benefits.” — Danielle Omar, Food Confidence
Prenatal Vitamins for Pregnancy
“When I was pregnant and needed supplements (particularly for folic acid but also just to ‘cover my bases’ for my baby’s health), I was taking Deva Vegan brand prenatal vitamins. The reason I chose that brand though is because supplements are not a regulated industry! That means that I can claim I’m giving you 100 percent of various vitamins and minerals but that may not actually be what’s in my pill. So, I did some research. If I were going to start taking a multivitamin, I would stick with that brand.” — Kate Gardner Burt, Kate Gardner Nutrition
Magnesium for Bedtime
“I take magnesium at night for its calming effect.” — Danielle Omar, Food Confidence
Correction: A former version of this post said that dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA.
Caroline Cunningham joined Washingtonian in 2014 after moving to the DC area from Cincinnati, where she interned and freelanced for Cincinnati Magazine and worked in content marketing. She currently resides in College Park.
