Confusing media messages about taking vitamins lately. what should a normal healthy person take each day?

No proof: Unless you are having a documented vitamin deficiency, there is no proof that taking extra vitamins help. Most folks in the usa are deficient in vitamin d. Dr. Linus pauling suggests huge doses of vitamin c per day, but there is no real proof. Good diet and exercise is probably more helpful. Cut back on sugar, especially high fructose corn syrup. If you are overweight, avoid fructose for now.

Salad = mulitvitamin: You're right- lots of confusing messages about vitamins. The final word hasn't been written yet either so there will likely be more info coming. In the absence of a specific deficiency (ie iron for iron dfcy anemia), for pts who are wondering if they should take a multivitamin "just because" i usually recommend they eat a colorful salad every day and consider that their multivitamin.

GOOD MULTI IS WISE: There are no quality studies on the long term effects of multivits(there are some studies but they are very flawed-see www.Nutraingredients-usa.Com/research/multivitamins-and-mortality-seeing-what-you-want-science)but hundreds of good studies showing benefits from many vits & minerals. It is best to get nutrients from our diet but a quality multiple is good insurance, as few have an optimal diet.