Dear Savvy Living,

"Lately I've noticed some funny tingling in my hands and feet. I don't feel sick, but a friend was telling me that I might be missing some vitamins and minerals in my diet and suggested I start taking vitamins. Is she right, and if so, what kind should I take?"

Dear Terri,

A healthy diet and a daily multivitamin can go a long way toward meeting your daily vitamin and mineral needs. But, in some cases, multivitamins don't contain enough of a certain vitamin or mineral to meet the daily requirement, so a supplement is needed. Before you start taking new vitamins, be sure to talk to your doctor. Some vitamin supplements can interfere with prescription medications, while some popular medications can rob you of vital minerals and vitamins. Here's a rundown of some of the vitamins and minerals you need to know about.

Vitamin B-12: Over time, our bodies produce less hydrochloric acid, which is needed to digest food and properly absorb key nutrients, causing B-12 deficiency that could lead to anemia and damage to the nervous system. In most cases, a multivitamin can take care of this, but you can also beef up your intake by eating meat.

Vitamin E: It has been estimated that 68% of men and 71% of women do not get enough vitamin E daily. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps protect us from heart disease, cancer and cataracts. Vegetable oils, nuts, and green leafy vegetables are the main dietary sources for vitamin E. Supplement your diet with between 200 - 400 IUs (international units) per day in addition to your multivitamin.

Calcium and Vitamin D: The single best dietary combination to prevent osteoporosis or brittle bones is a calcium supplement that contains vitamin D. The daily recommended amount is 1,200 milligrams of calcium and 400 IUs of vitamin D. This supplement should be taken in addition to your daily multivitamin when you eat, so your body can properly absorb it.

Fish Oil: If you had to take cod liver oil as a child, your mother knew what she was doing. Omega-3 fatty acids help prevent heart disease, as well as memory loss, depression, help with digestion woes, inhibit cancerous tumors, ease pain and inflammation and help prevent Alzheimer's disease. Eating fish helps too, but you'll also need a supplement containing 1,000 milligrams.

Selenium: Selenium helps protect healthy cells against heart disease, arthritis and various types of cancer, including prostate cancer. Make sure your multivitamin contains 200 micrograms.

Lutein: Best sources are green vegetables – collard greens, spinach and kale – and egg yokes. This nutrient protects eyes from the effects of ultraviolet rays, which can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration. Look for 250 micrograms in your multivitamin.

Magnesium: Required for more than 300 bodily functions, this mineral works with calcium to support bone strength. Magnesium is found in nuts, legumes, rice bran, whole grains, pumpkin seeds and some antacid tablets. Women need 320 milligrams daily and men 420 milligrams. In most cases, your multivitamin can take care of your magnesium needs.

Savvy Living is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of "The Savvy Senior" book. The articles are offered as a helpful and informative service to our friends and may not always reflect this organization's official position on some topics. Jim invites you to send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.