What is the easiest and fastest way to dramatically improve your nutrient intake? A high-quality multivitamin.



But what is a high-quality multivitamin? Or put another way, how can you pick out low-quality multivitamins, so you don’t waste your money on them?





I know what it takes to build a quality supplement, and I know how supplement companies cut corners too.



I ran a nutritional supplement brand for one of the top fitness companies in the United States for several years. During that time, I designed a line that was “bulletproof” in quality and efficacy. I trained and educated the company's fitness professionals, and kept my eyes on new research to ensure the supplements stayed leading-edge.



I also worked for a year with one of the most-respected nutritional products manufacturers in the world. I designed and formulated products, and have been “behind the scenes” in the supplement manufacturing world.



I understand how some companies can cut corners in the quality of their products to drive up margins, or to sell products at highly-inflated prices.



In this article, I’ll share with you why (in my opinion) almost everyone needs to take a high-quality multivitamin. You'll also understand why a high-quality multivitamin is the first of my "Foundational Five," the five supplements I recommend for every nutrition program.



Why You Need a Multivitamin



When I refer to a “multivitamin,” I’m really talking about a multi-vitamin, multi-mineral supplement, or a supplement that includes most, if not all, of your essential micronutrients.



Micronutrient: essential vitamin or mineral that must be consumed through diet or supplementation to maintain normal cellular and molecular function.



If you don’t use a multivitamin today, here’s three reasons why I believe you need to start.



1. Vegetables and Fruit Contain Fewer Nutrients



Vegetables and fruit are not nearly as nutrient-dense as they once were. Farming today creates produce that grows bigger and faster, and is more resistant to pests and climate challenges.



Unfortunately, these super-sized vegetables and fruit lack the nutrient-density of their smaller, more fragile ancestors. On top of that, soil has been depleted of nutrients over the past several decades. Since the soil is less nutritious, the plants that grow in it get less nutrition, too.



Research shows that today’s produce has less protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin, vitamin C, magnesium, zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin E, and vitamin A than in the mid -1900s.



As one study put it, you’d need to eat eight oranges today to get the same amount of vitamin A that a single orange contained when our grandparents were young.



2. Today’s Lifestyle Demands More Vitamins and Minerals



We encounter more oxidative stress, emotional and physical stress, pollution and other toxins than ever. We also get less sleep, movement, and time outdoors, which hampers your ability to recover from those stresses.



Vitamins and minerals play important roles in helping us deal with these stressors, and in helping us maintain normal metabolic function.



3. The Average Meal is Calorie-Rich and Nutrient-Poor



Since you’re reading this article, I suspect you eat healthier than the average person.



Even so,