Is my green juice equiv. to a multi-vitamin?

[JodyDFB]

Most days, for breakfast I have a green juice, plus a "seed shot" with 2-3 Brazil nuts or 3-5 walnuts.  ...Pretty much everything is organic.

My green juice takes about 15 minutes to make, and is made up of collard greens, kale, bok choy, cilantro, tomato, pineapple, papaya, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and sometimes an apple or a pear.

The "seed shot" is raw pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds.

When people ask me if I take a multi-vitamin, I usually say that I think my green juice, seed shot, and a few nuts, are my multi-vitamin.  Am I right?  Is there realistically anything I'm missing from that combination of foods, that I'd get in a multi-vitamin?  (The only vitamin or mineral I anticipate someone saying is B12...but I get adequate amounts with the rest of my diet.)  Just curious.  I always prefer natural food over synthetics.

[Paxiled]

Nobody needs vitamins in theory, they are just insurance except for those who are malnourished in some way.  But sometimes we don't digest certain foods well, and so we can be low on nutrients, or we can take too much of a nutrient that leaches out other nutrients, leaving us short.  An example is dairy, which is so high in calcium it leaches magnesium out of the body, as they have to be in proper electrical balance.  Too much of one leaches out the other.  I'd say your juice and your seeds are giving you a whole lot of nutrients, but only more thorough testing of your system over a period of time, which only some holistic nutritionists do, would be able to tell you if you're properly absorbing what you're eating.  I'd say if you feel good, you're obviously eating better than most.  I take supplements personally, but more as protection than as necessity.

[JodyDFB]

I agree with you, Paxiled.  I've also always viewed vitamin supplements as more "insuprance".  I prefer to get my vitamin & mineral needs from a healthy diet.  :D