The germs, they are a-spreading. It’s flu season, and more and more of us are going to be getting sick. Our first line of protection is bundling up when we’re outside and washing our hands frequently, but a close second is none other than the daily multivitamin.

Many of us take multivitamins just because we know that between classes, homework, clubs and parties, there isn’t enough time make sure we’re eating right. Surely a diet of buffalo chicken wraps, Baked Lays and light beer does not fully meet our daily nutritional needs.

In recent years, though, multivitamins have gotten a bad rep from experiments showing a correlation between high doses of Vitamin A and osteoporosis. Too much of anything is not a good thing, and this goes for junk food, alcohol and, yes, apparently even vitamins. But still, it’s important to know what you’re putting in your mouth and what it is you’re actually making up for.

First off, it’s probably best to know what a vitamin actually is. Vitamins are organic compounds needed by the body to carry out basic metabolic function. When you consume enough vitamins, either through your diet or through dietary supplements, your body functions optimally.

Important vitamins found in your usual multivitamin include Vitamin A, which promotes healthy bones, regulates the immune system and prevents night-blindness; B3 and B6 for energy; B12 for a healthy nervous system and red blood cells; C, of course, to avoid scurvy; D for calcium absorption; and K for proper blood clotting.

Evanston’s CVS pharmacy manager David Stoklosa said that he doesn’t see as many students buying multivitamins as he should. “It’s usually older people, and health-conscious people: people who jog, people who watch their diet,” Stoklosa said.

When polled, half of Northwestern students said that they take multivitamins. Of the ones who do, half said they sometimes forget to take them.

“It is not detrimental if you don’t take them every day, but it takes months for you to see results. There is increased energy because of the B vitamins, and there are other things you’d have to test for like [improvement in the function of] the liver,” Stoklosa said.

If you do miss a day, don’t double up the next day. An overdose of vitamins can be harmful to your health, as each vitamin has its own Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) and Upper Limit, which dictates when you are at risk for toxicity. That said, there are some multivitamins that contain well over the RDA of certain vitamins, even with a single dose. With some vitamins, like Vitamin C, the excess is just excreted in urine. Other vitamins, especially those that are fat-soluble, however, can accumlate in the body and have harmful effects when consumed in large quantities, so be sure to check whether your multivitamin is actually providing you with more than you need.

If you’re afraid you might fall victim to this scenario, you might want to opt for something a little easier to swallow. Many students, like Medill freshman Christina Salter, opted for a tastier alternative to the horse-pill-sized vitamins most students hate to choke down. “I take GummyVites. My mom sends them to me in the mail,” she said.

In addition to tasting better, these nutritious gummy bears are made for children, so they have a lesser dosage of vitamins. But if you keep a fair share of fruits and vegetables in your diet, chances are you won’t need the 833 percent DV of Vitamin C provided by GNC’s Ultra Mega GOLD multivitamin.

Other alternatives to adult multivitamins include Airborne and Emergen-C, which, instead of being taken daily, can be taken as soon as you feel a cold or the flu coming on.

Still, Stoklosa said he would like to see more students taking care of their bodies by stocking up on multivitamins. “[Northwestern students should take multivitamins] because they’re young, and they need it to help with their studies because it helps them concentrate, helps their acuity and memory,” he said.

Though it has its benefits, keep in mind that taking a daily multivitamin will not make up for an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.

“You can’t solely live on multivitamins,” Communications sophomore Rucha Mehta said. “Some people think that by taking multivitamins they can eat unhealthily which is not true. You have to combine it [with a healthy diet]. It’s not a replacement; just an addition.”