I'll be honest. I'm not a big fan of multivitamins. I don't think they're a bad thing and I would never try to talk someone out of taking them. However, if you eat a nutritious and varied diet, popping a pill seems a bit redundant to me. Kind of like putting in your contact lenses and then putting on a pair of glasses to make sure you can really, really see.

Researchers recently found that, while multivitamins are unlikely to do any harm, supplements don't help older women fight off heart disease and cancer. The results seem to confirm other recent studies that say some supplements don't have the same cancer-fighting abilities as the vitamins do when found in food.

As with most studies, other researchers have stepped forward to point out flaws. Be that as it may, it makes me wonder if we're expecting a bit much from our multivitamins. Since when did multivitamins have to don their superhero suits and fight off all diseases?

Multivitamins are intended to be a part of a healthy lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and regular exercise. They aren't a free pass that gives you the option of eating nothing but junk and they aren't a magic potion that will ward off disease.

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Ugh, supplements. For a lot of people they're a "must have" for a healthy diet, and although I don't disagree, I'm also really bad at taking them because it's just so confusing determining what exactly I need -- the list of "recommended" supplements is at least a mile long it seems! But a nutritionally-complete diet is almost impossible to come by through food alone these days, and many supplements can give an extra boost of valuable disease and age-fighting properties to help fitness goals be that much easier to both achieve and maintain. But if you're like me and find yourself either overwhelmed or just generally intimidated by the prospect of taking regular supplements, this list of the 5 most valuable supplements compiled by experts for Natural Health magazine could be a big help! Here they are:

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Did you know worms live longer when they are unable to process the simple sugar glucose? Sure enough. And this finding, published in the October issue of Cell Metabolism, may mean for humans that glucose could have a negative effect on life span. Study of these little worms may have other human implications too.

Already, researchers think their findings cast some doubt on traditional Type 2 diabetes treatments, all of which target lowering blood levels of glucose by increasing the amount of sugar taken up by body tissues. Questions are also being raised about the widespread use of antioxidant supplements -- antioxidants and vitamins given to the worms canceled out the life-extending benefits of sugar deprivation.

While banishing refined sugar is definitely a wise idea -- surely, we all agree on that, right? -- no one recommends tossing the multivitamins just yet. I mean, we're talking worms here. Still, some good food for thought, don't you think?

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Are you a vitamin taker? If so, do you know why? Seriously, the isolated minerals and vitamins some people are used to taking don't perform at their best unless working with other vitamins and minerals in synergistic fashion.

Enter the multivitamin. These supervitamins generally have a decent dose of many vitamins and minerals that are given to the body at the same time. Result: enhanced effectiveness.

Ask your doctor at your next visit which multivitamin he or she would suggest for you, and why. Kids and women are more in need (in general) of multivitamins. That is, unless you live an incredibly healthy lifestyle with nothing but natural foods and water as your only beverage.

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