Do you rush out the door with a piece of pizza in hand, or hit the local fast-food drive thru in the midst of your hectic day? You are most likely not getting the vitamins you need for optimal health. Besides providing you with nutrients you aren't getting from foods, vitamins regulate metabolic reactions, and assist enzymes that work within our bodies to transfer fats, proteins and carbohydrates. What you should look for in a supplement depends on your lifestyle, age and diet. Where do you fit in? Infant Vitamins These multivitamins come in drop-form, and provide babies with the minerals and vitamins they need. Many babies lack enough Vitamin D - especially breastfed babies or babies who aren't exposed to enough sunshine. This vitamin is added to baby formula. Children's Vitamins Most children's vitamins are chewable and come in tasty flavours that children will enjoy. The best thing you can do for your child's health is provide them with a variety of healthy foods. However, if you have a picky eater, vegetarian child, or want to ensure that your child is not defecient in important vitamins and nutrients, they might benefit from an added supplement. For example, omega 3 is needed for brain and nervous system function, but since it most often found in oily fish, many kids turn up their noses at the dinner table. Vitamin C, which is found in fruits and vegetables, is necessary for a strong immune system. Other essential vitamins for children are calcium for bones and zinc for the immune system. Adult Supplements A good multivitamin can provide adults with folic acid, omega 3, vitamins A, B, C and E. Poor diet choices mean an increased need for an additional supplement. Certain things like coffee, medications and even stress can increase the need for supplements. Women need calcium and magnesium for healthy bones, especially during menopause. Men should ensure they are getting enough zinc, which helps prevent and treat prostate enlargement. Prenatal Vitamins During pregnancy, a woman needs prenatal vitamins for her own health and the health of her unborn baby. Folic acid is necessary to prevent certain birth defects, while calcium makes up for the bone loss a woman could experience as her baby utilizes the mineral for growth. Also important is iron, vitamin A and D, and zinc. Look for a prenatal supplement that contains the daily requirements for all the minerals and vitamins you need, as there are a number of different prenatal supplements on the market. Senior's Vitamins Antioxidants are very important for seniors, and many don't get the amount they need from natural sources like fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help immune system and cell function, and keep skin looking younger. As healthy cells break down, seniors become more vulnerable to diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. A lack of Vitamin K has also been linked to Alzheimer's disease. Calcium and Magnesium will help prevent bone loss, while Vitamin D is imperative to the body's absorption of calcium.