Even health-conscious women who pride themselves on eating a balanced, nutritious diet may benefit from taking a multi. Here are just seven of the many reasons why. How many of them apply to you?

1. You’re stressed or super busy

   Women whose lives are busy or demanding are often prone to skipping meals and eating on the run, which may lead to inadequate intake of some vitamins and minerals. While supplements shouldn’t replace a balanced diet, taking a multi helps give you the peace of mind that many of your nutritional needs are covered. This is particularly important during stressful times, because stress puts significant demands on your mental and physical resources, and consequently may increase your need for some nutrients – ironically at a time when it’s often harder than usual to eat well and look after yourself. Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is considered particularly important for supporting the body’s ability to resist and cope with stress.

2. You keep active

   Regular exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but may also raise your requirements for some vitamins and minerals. For example, profuse sweating may deplete levels of magnesium (best known for its vital role in muscle function), meaning you need to consume it in greater quantities to help offset the losses. Your muscles need a wide variety of other vitamins and minerals in order to function too, including vitamins B1, D and E, and the minerals iron, iodine and selenium.

3. You’re keen to look after your skin

   A healthy complexion requires adequate amounts of a wide range of nutrients, especially zinc and vitamin C (which are required for tissue repair) and silica, (which may help to maintain healthy collagen).

4. To support your menstrual health

   Taking a multivitamin that contains both zinc and vitamin B6 may help maintain a healthy menstrual cycle and reduce premenstrual symptoms. Choose a formula that also contains iron to help compensate for menstrual losses (ideally in a highly bioavailable form, such as iron glycinate) and herbs such as Shatavari and American Ginseng, which have traditionally been used to support women’s reproductive health.

5. You’re planning a baby

   Taking a women’s multivitamin helps to ensure you’re getting enough folic acid and iodine, which are vital to your baby’s healthy development. Ideally, supplements of these important nutrients should be taken prior to falling pregnant so that your levels are optimal when you conceive.

6. You need to stay mentally sharp

   Healthy brain function and mental processing (cognition) involve a smorgasbord of nutrients, including folic acid, vitamins B1, B3, B6, B12 and E, and minerals like iron, zinc and iodine. Topping up your diet with a daily multi helps ensure your brain has the nutrients it needs.

7. Your diet may be low in key nutrients

   Recent research from the Australian Bureau of Statistics has shown that many women’s diets don’t provide the recommended amounts of iron, folic acid, iodine or vitamin B1. If you’re concerned you may be affected, taking a daily multivitamin can supplement your dietary intakes of these vital nutrients. Many women’s diets are also low in calcium, which may help to reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis as you get older, and is best taken as a separate supplement due to the large daily doses required. (Tip: Look for a calcium formula containing highly bioavailable sources of calcium such as calcium glycinate and calcium citrate, ideally accompanied by vitamin D).

Mr Vitamins recommends

Fusion Health Women’s Multi Advanced

A nutrient-rich daily multivitamin and mineral, specially formulated to support women’s health needs and demanding lifestyles. It’s packed with 36 high-potency nutrients and herbs, including Shatavari to promote sexual vitality, Dong Quai to support reproductive health, and American Ginseng to enhance resistance to stress and relieve mental fatigue. GET FUSION HEALTH WOMEN'S MULTI ADVANCED HERE (Find out more about Fusion Health Women's Multi Advanced here) Fusion Women’s Multi Advanced teams well with Fusion Health Calcium Advanced to support bone health and help reduce osteoporosis risk, and FusionHealth Women’s Balance to support healthy menstruation and relieve PMS symptoms.