Survey: Taking Vitamins Encourages Healthy Habits

BOCA RATON, Fla.Nearly two-thirds of consumers associated a vitamin regimen with improving other healthy habits, a Vitacost survey found. In the survey, consumers said they make healthier choices, such as eating more fruits and vegetables, smoking cessation and exercising more regularly, when they start taking vitamins.

More than 1,000 consumers responded to the survey on VItacost.com, an online health and wellness retailer. In addition to learning that vitamins are a "gateway" to other healthy behaviors, Vitacost discovered information about vitamin and supplementation habits. Seventy-three percent of the respondents said they take vitamins daily, and consumers were twice as likely to receive vitamin education from the media compared to doctors. Two-thirds of those surveyed said vitamins and supplements strain their budget.

In March, Vitacost renovated its content strategy to include new websites and expert content blogs.