Choosing a Multi-vitamin
Do you take a multi-vitamin?
Grocery store and pharmacy shelves are overflowing with generic vitamins that offer little nutritional value, so it’s important to do your own research when choosing the best multivitamins for your unique needs!
When you pick the best vitamins, you can be sure you’re getting the right supplements for your good health. But what makes a great vitamin and separates it from the pack?
Multivitamins typically are stuffed with fillers and cheap, synthetic ingredients that are poorly absorbed by the body. Many of these fillers are at best lacking in nutritional value and at worst harmful to your health!
Here are some things to consider:
Check the Daily Value (DV).
The Daily Value is the level of vitamin and nutrients that the product contains in relation to a 2,000-calorie diet. You’ll likely want to choose a multivitamin that provides as close to 100 percent of the DV as possible for the vitamins and minerals listed in it. If your typical diet is lacking in fruits and vegetables (good sources of vitamins A, C, and E), a 100 percent DV can help you reach the recommended intake in these areas.
If your diet is already balanced, avoid overdoing it with supplements, as nutrients can build up in the body and become toxic. These include fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. As an example, excess vitamin A built up in the body (often from animal products) has been shown to cause migraines or bone pain.
Buy based on your specific needs.
Nowadays, there are multivitamins made specifically for men, women, seniors, and children, adapted to fit specific needs according to body type, hormonal function, and healthy development. I always look at each client's personalized healthy history and needs. Reach out for a review of your supplements.
1. Women’s vitamins
Women’s dietary supplements will typically include calcium, as women can start to lose bone density in their twenties. Biotin is another helpful nutrient made up of water-soluble B vitamins that improve dry or brittle skin, hair, and nails.
During pregnancy, prenatal vitamins which usually include folic acid, iron, calcium, vitamin D, DHA, and iodine are recommended. These nutrients promote healthy growth and development and have been shown to prevent birth defects. Iron, in particular, is beneficial for when a woman is lactating after pregnancy.
2. Men’s vitamins
Men require a lot of vitamin D in order to produce testosterone, as well as to support brain health and maintain strong bones. Most supplements will include the active form of folate, an easily digested B vitamin, that supports red blood cell health, and vitamin K, which promotes proper blood clotting.
3. Senior vitamins
Older adults may benefit from a higher intake of vitamin D, supporting skeletal health and reducing injuries from falls. They may also need a boost of vitamin B12, since adults over the age of 50 may have trouble absorbing vitamin B12 from food. Potassium is another key nutrient that can aid in lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk for chronic disease development as one ages.
4. Children’s vitamins
Children’s multivitamins focus on healthy growth and development, and are especially helpful for picky eaters. One of the most crucial nutrients for kids is vitamin A, necessary for tissue and bone repair as well as a healthy immune system. Calcium is also key, as it is the building block of the skeletal system. Children’s supplements may also include vitamins B12 and D for optimal brain development.
Consider whole-food vitamins.
Your body thrives when you nourish it with products made from whole foods. If you have the budget, you may want to consider buying organic or whole-food based multivitamins rather than synthetic multivitamins. These vitamins are higher quality and free of chemicals that may be difficult for the body to absorb. Whole-food vitamins are condensed from real fruits and vegetables from which the nutrients are more bioavailable, meaning that the body has an easier time absorbing and assimilating the nutrients than from their synthetic counterparts.
Check for an industry seal.
You can check to see if your multivitamin passes industry standards by looking for an industry seal from U.S. Pharmacopoeia (USP), NSF International, ConsumerLab.com or UL. Vitamins approved by these organizations have been tested for contamination of arsenic, bacteria, and lead.
These types of tests can also help determine if vitamins will dissolve properly in your body. The USP, for example, immerses the vitamins in a simulated stomach acid solution to make sure that they will be effective as a dietary supplement.
