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Myth: If I eat a well-rounded diet, I don’t need to take supplements.

Certainly, eating healthy foods is the best foundation for good nutrition. But experts say that for a variety of reasons it’s almost impossible to get enough key nutrients from diet alone.

A handful of large studies reveal that marginal nutrient deficiencies exist in about half the U.S. population—and are as high as 80 percent for certain nutrients in certain age groups, says Michael Murray, ND, director of product science and innovation for Natural Factors. Even the relatively conservative new Dietary Guidelines for Americans identify potassium, dietary fiber, choline, magnesium, calcium and vitamins A, C, D and E as “shortfall nutrients” for many people. The guidelines suggest supplementing with vitamin D, especially during colder seasons or if you use sunscreen, and consuming 250 mg daily of the omega-3s EPA and DHA—found in fatty fish, a food most Americans eat in woefully inadequate amounts. Read more.