Canadians: a Vitamin-Friendly Bunch

Forty-two per cent of Canadians take vitamins every day or almost every day, according to a recent survey by Canada's Vitamin Information Service.

Reasons for taking them include, "To feel healthy or make me feel better," "To supplement my diet because I don't eat right" and third, "for energy or strength." Three-quarters of us believe vitamins have a moderate to strong impact on our overall health. Upwards of 80 per cent of Canadians think that vitamins help prevent diseases including degenerative disorders, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Multivitamins are the most popular choice, followed by vitamin C (28 per cent), vitamin E (22 per cent) and B vitamins (nine per cent). In BC 48 per cent take a vitamin supplement daily, while in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces only 40 per cent do so..

The federal government has decided to regulate natural health products including vitamins and other supplements. The new laws come into effect in January 2004. See last month's issue of alive or visit alive.com for more info.