Question about Vitamins (for women)

I am nearing 30 very quickly (ouch!), and several months ago, I started a new lifestyle change (diet and exercise). Now, I'm interested in supplementing my diet with a multi-vitamin (or individual ones!), but I'm confused about which to choose and overwhelmed at all the choices. So, if I can get some suggestions from other moms, I'd be great. What do you take and why (what are the vitamins for)? Thanks in advance!!

When I was dieting...I took the womens 1 a day vits and they were good!! I recomend those

If you think ther is a potential for having children in the next couple of years or so...you may want to just go ahead and take a prenatal vitamin. You can get them over the counter.
Just a thought.

you could take prenatals every day for the rest of your life. however, i'm a firm believer that if you're eating a healthy diet and getting some exercise, you don't need a vitamin. there are drawbacks to getting too much of certain vitamins - such as painful bonespurs from those calcium supplements the ads would have you believe you need to survive. if you're eating plenty of leafy greens and whole grains, drinking lots of water, i would skip it.

Right now, while I am still breastfeeding, I am still taking my prenatal and an iron supplement. However as Charlotte weans I will probably go back to my old vitamin regimen. Though I try to eat a decent diet, it doesn't always happen. :)

A lot of the multivitamins I've seen are generally the same. I personally don't take one specifically for women most of the time (unless trying to get pregnant, pregnant, or bf'ing of course), mostly because I do tend to get a lot of calcium from my diet and don't want to overdo it. I take a general multi two to three times a week, a 500 mg calcium + D each day that I don't get a lot of calcium through my diet (or have had an unusually high amount of caffeine), and an iron pill almost daily (I tend to have slightly low iron). That combo seems to keep me feeling my best.

That's just me, though, based on various conversations with my ob/gyn. I would consult with your doc, or maybe visit www.webmd.com, before starting anything.

I believe that the Department of Agriculture advises that you take a general multi-vitamin everyday. Our soil is depleted of vitamins and nutrients, so even if you eat well, I think you should still take a multi-vitamin. As a woman, I will always always take folic acid, in case I get pregnant. I don't think you need to take a full prenatal, unless you know you are pregnant (or nursing). I think folic acid is sufficient. A lot of people believe that all the extra calcium that is being pushed at us (women) contributes to hardening of the arteries. If you are low on energy then Vitamin B6 in high doses seems to help (25mg 4xdaily or 50mg 2x daily).

I take a pre-natal vitamin (Nature's Made brand), 2 cod liver oil pills (Omega 3), and 2 calcium chews each day.

The pre-natal vitamin I take does not have a whole lot of calcium in it and my mother has osteoporosis, so make sure that I get the needed calcium each day. The cod liver oil pills are for vascular health and also help with the development of eye retinas in a fetus.

Hope that helps you out