Most nutrition experts agree that healthy adults can get virtually all the nutrients they need from a balanced diet. But not every body is the same, and these bodies may need more than the average body:
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When you’re pregnant, you need extra amounts of some vitamins, minerals, and protein to meet the needs of the growing fetus.
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Ditto for when you’re nursing your baby.
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Some medicines reduce your body’s ability to absorb and use certain vitamins and minerals. When your doctor writes a prescription, ask whether you need supplements.
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What? You still smoke? Then you need more vitamin C than nonsmokers.
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Are you a woman approaching menopause? Time for extra calcium to maintain healthy bones.
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Older men also need extra calcium.
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Is your diet strictly vegetarian – meaning no food of animal origin, not even milk and eggs? You need extra vitamin B12. You may also need extra calcium and iron.
