Although our soil is depleted with nutrients, and you are stressed, I do not recommend taking supplements in replace of a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle. The reasons are as follows. Lots of beverages, cereals, energy bars are fortified with vitamins and minerals; the supplement is a billion-dollar industry in the US, you are an easy target when “health experts” and some organizations promote their magic supplements. The truth is supplements sold in the US are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Lots of supplements are not tested. The claims on the labels are not clinically approved.
However, certain diseases do need supplements. For example, calcium and Vitamin D helps osteoporosis; iron improves iron deficiency anemia; Omega-3, CoQ10 lower cholesterol; digestive enzymes and probiotics alleviate irritable syndrome; Selenium, zinc, and iodine support hypothyroidism. If you are pregnant or want to conceive, prenatal vitamins are recommended. A good prenatal needs to have folate 800 - 1000 mcg to prevent neural tube defects. If you are vegan or vegetarian, Vitamin B12 is recommended as it is only found in animal products. Certain medications can affect nutrient absorption. For example, patients on antibiotics should take probiotics, B complex, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and Vit K. Patients on pain killers should take folate, Vit C, iron. Patients on antidepressants should take CoQ10, Vit B2. Patients on diuretics should take calcium, magnesium, potassium, B1, and B6.
Supplements are not the more the merrier. You only need supplements when there is a reason.
