In the quick-paced daily grind of college, students find themselves making hasty choices when it comes to their nutrition—often this choice may not supply a full range of valuable nutrients needed for success. From the high calorie dining options, to an increased caffeine intake and alcohol consumption, students often make health decisions that strip their body of nutrients.
So you should take vitamins, right? Well, here’s the catch: when one’s dietary intake fails, it is commonly misconstrued that vitamins can be used to compensate for the lack of nutrients, and many students may fail to recognize that supplementing one’s diet is not a simple task.

1) The More the Merrier: For those students looking to supplement their seemingly inadequate diets with mass amounts of vitamins, Marquette Health Educator Becky Michelsen cautions students. “Fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, and K are stored in the body and can accumulate and become toxic,” Michelsen said. “For instance, too much vitamin D can cause nausea, constipation, heart trouble, and kidney stones.”
2) Quick Fix: Although some students may believe that taking a multi-vitamin will immediately impact their health, Michelsen says this is not the case. Students can take a multi-vitamin in addition to regular healthy eating, which is helpful. But in order to be nutritionally sound, one must be eating the recommended servings of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and healthy fats. “Taking a multi-vitamin isn’t going to necessarily change a person’s energy level or boost a person’s immune system,” Michelsen said. “However, taking a multi-vitamin may help a person’s overall health throughout their lifespan.”
3) Cheeseburger with a side of supplements: Although a supplement can be advantageous in addition to healthy eating, according to Nicole Fasules, Milwaukee Board Certified Sports Dietitian, students must be health conscious in all facets of life. “Vitamins don’t necessary impact ones overall health and function if the individual is still not leading a balanced lifestyle,” Fasules said. “Clean eating, as clean as possible, and physical activity is what impacts health and function. A vitamin can be helpful to prevent deficiencies, but won’t necessarily make a person ‘feel’ better.”
4) Mission Impossible: Eating Healthy: Sam Polhemus, biology major and vitamin enthusiast, says that while students may be tempted with unhealthy options, it is not impossible to make good choices. “I think it’s definitely difficult for students to find all the needed nutrients,” Polhemus said. “Because we’re tempted with dessert and greasy foods all the time, we need to try to mix and match better eating options.” Despite the fact that students are often drawn to pizza and ice cream, each dining hall offers salad bars and fresh fruit, including bananas, apples and oranges. Students must be conscience of what they’re eating and where they can improve, Polhemus said.
5) Scarce Vitamin Education: Students may feel that it is difficult to locate information regarding their nutritional intake, but there is a simple fix. Students can call and make an appointment with Student Health Services, which has registered dieticians on staff. Fasules says that students should avoid all vitamin stores, as the products in those stores are not all safe or well tested and might not contain what they advertise. At times, the staff is often severely lacking in any proper nutrition training, Fasules said.