Ideally, you'd get all those nutrients from your diet alone, but for most busy moms, that's just not an option because of the time it would take to prepare every meal from fresh (and ideally, organic) foods with a great emphasis on vegetables.

Therefore, we take a handful of supplements each day to make up for the nutritional deficiencies that are widespread in the standard American diet, and to gain the disease-fighting benefits that researchers have found in many nutrients. For your convenience, we've created four options from products that are both very high quality and reasonably priced. (Of course, you can buy individual vitamins or other nutrients from The Supplement Warehouse below.) Every time you take one of these supplements, you'll be improving your vitality, preventing disease, saving money on future medical bills, and setting a good example of healthy self-care for your children. To your health!

The options are:

• The Complete Mother's Suggested Daily Values (MSDVs)

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Obviously, your first step should be to consult with your doctor, and none of the offerings here is meant to be medical advice for any specific health problem.

To augment the care of your licensed health care providers, we've pulled together nutrients that seem to have a generally beneficial effect on these important systems in your body (please see chapter 5 of Mother Nurture for a discussion of the research on these nutrients):

• Your Nervous System

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Robert: the pages that follow are for each of the four options of the foundation nutr; in other words, I envision four separate pages.

If someone clicks on the title of an individual supplement here, does that put it in their shopping cart, or just give them more information? People might like to be able to do either. . . . so how can we set that up?

Take 4 capsules twice a day, with meals

$36.50 for 1 month

Take 2 capsules once a day, with a meal

$12.95 for 45 days

Metabolic Maintenance Calcium Citrate [MMP03300]

$8.90 for 1-1/2 to 2 months

While we generally recommend the complete MSDVs, we know that some women will want a streamlined package due to cost or willingness to take numerous supplements daily. So here's a less optimal but nonetheless good alternative that will give you about 50% of the MSDVs - but still many more nutrients than a conventional "one-a-day." It costs about $38 per month.

Take 1 pack a day, with a meal

$33.50 for 1 month

Physiologics Iron Plex [PLS92685]

Also gives you extra folic acid

$12.50 for 90 days

Okay, you're healthy, eat well, and you don't even think you need a vitamin. Maybe you're willing to take 1 a day (or 2 or 3...). Here's our most minimalist package for under $18 per month.

Although we recommend 2 a day, even 1 a day will beat most "one-a-days." Take at a meal

$20 for 90 capsules

Take 1 capsule a day, with any meal (it's fine with other supplements)

$12.95 for 90 days

Also gives you extra folic acid

Take 1 a day, with food, but if possible at a different meal than the multis.

$12.50 for 90 days

Take 1 or more before bed

$8.00 for 90 days

If you are pregnant or are expecting to be expecting soon, this package is for you. Its cost is under $48 per month.

Take 4 capsules, 2 times a day with meals

$28.50 for 1 month

Take 2 with meals

$12.95 for 45 days

Metabolic Maintenance Calcium Citrate [MMP03300]

Take 2 - 3 before going to bed

$8.90 for 1-1/2 to 2 months

Take 1 or 2 before bed

$10.50 for 90 days

If you are not constipated, use:

Douglas Labs Magnesium Glycinate [DLB75751]

Take 1 - 2 before bed

$18 for 3 months