There are numerous good reasons why you should take a multivitamin. The fact is, whether it be down to strict dieting, poor food choices or food allergy restrictions, most Americans tend to fall short of the essential nutrients they need daily.
Taking a one-a-day multivitamin supplement is a quick and easy way to ensure you are filling all of those nutritional gaps. But what is the best multivitamin on the market and how do you choose a supplement? Read on to find out.
- Includes 200 tablets of Centrum Adult daily multivitamin supplement for men and women
- Backed by over 35 years of nutritional science, Centrum is the most complete multivitamin, with Centrum's highest levels of...
- Age-adjusted for adults under age 50 with key nutrients to support energy, immunity and metabolism (2)*
- A complete multivitamin + Antioxidant vitamins C and E specially formulated to support the specific health needs of women
- Clinically Proven Absorption[4]
- A convenient alternative to hard-to-swallow pills.
- STAY HEALTHY, LADIES: Women Over 40 One Daily helps fill everyday nutritional gaps while promoting immunity and a healthy...
- SICK DAY, NO WAY: Take care of yourself with our Immune Health Blend including organic shiitake mushroom, whole orange, and...
- RADIANT IN MIND & BODY: Encourage radiance inside and out with the antioxidant-rich ingredients in our Rejuvenating and...
- MEN'S MULTIVITAMIN: This Alive! multivitamin for men contains 19 vitamins & minerals at 100% or more daily value in...
- ULTRA POTENCY: Potent, nutrient diverse men's vitamin formulated with high-potency B vitamins to help convert food into...
- FOOD-BASED: Premium formula blends include Orchard FruitsTM, Garden VeggiesTM, Daily GreensTM, and nutrients to support bone...
What is A Multivitamin Supplement?
A multivitamin is an easy one-a-day tablet or liquid which includes all of the essential micronutrients. You need around 13 essential vitamins according to a report from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Unfortunately, most Americans are seriously lacking in some of these super important micronutrients. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines states that calcium, potassium, vitamin D and dietary fiber are all at risk when it comes to inadequate intake in both adults and children in the US. A multivitamin should ensure you reach the recommended daily value (RDV) of all key nutrients needed for optimum health.
Although research is contradictory in regards to whether using multivitamins actually keeps disease at bay, many people feel better protected by taking a supplement along with a balanced diet. The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells us that more than 50% of Americans use dietary supplements with multivitamins being the most popular.
What To Look For When Buying Multivitamins
A trip down to the multivitamin aisle at your local health food store can seem like a pop quiz you didn’t prepare for. With such an array of choices, you’ll find yourself asking should I take a multi just for women? What is biotin? Do I need iron or vitamin D or both? Soon enough, what should have been a simple and quick purchase turns into a major headache.
So to help you out, here are a few things to consider when buying your next multivitamin.
Always Read The Label
The label will specify exactly which ingredients are included as well as the percentage of RDV (recommended daily value) for each ingredient. It is important to understand exactly what is inside a product you intend to ingest, especially on a long term basis.
Include The Basics
Make sure you get a supplement that includes a minimum of the 13 essential vitamins and 11 essential minerals: vitamin C, B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 ( niacin), B6, folic acid (B9), B12, B5 (pantothenic acid), biotin, A, E, D2 or D3 ( cholecalciferol), K, potassium, iodine, selenium, borate, zinc, calcium, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, beta carotene, and iron.
Check Percentages
You should ensure that all of the ingredients are as close to 100% of your RDV as possible. However, some minerals like calcium will never be at 100% as the pill would simply be too large to swallow.
Check Who It’s For
There are multivitamin formulas designed specifically for men, women and particular age groups. As we get older, our nutritional needs change. It is always a good idea to buy a formula specifically for your age and gender to ensure you are getting everything you need.
Check The Extras
Gone are the days of basic vitamins and minerals. Now many supplements contain extra ingredients such as antioxidants. If you don’t know what the ingredients are or what they do, steer clear. But in other cases such as pregnancy, opting for a prenatal blend with extras tailored specifically for mommy-to-be, these can be a great option.
Stick to The Instructions
There’s no need to over do it when it comes to multivitamins. As most ingredients will be offering 100% of your RDV, ensure to take them as directed by the label. There is such a thing as vitamin overdose and it’s something to be avoided.
What Are The Best Multivitamins?
I’ve taken a look at the multivitamins currently available on the market and have rounded up the top 5. I’ve tried to find options which cover all genders and ages to make sure there’s something to suit everyone. All of these multivitamins get a very high rating. I’d say they’re are the creme de la creme of vitamin supplements across the board.
Centrum
Centrum Adult Multivitamin Centrum are a long loved, trusted name in the multivitamin market. With a product for all genders and ages, they have everything covered. This product designed for adults is an excellent all round multivitamin. This product offers all of the essential vitamins and minerals needed for optimum health. It has a high level of vitamin D3, an essential vitamin many people are deficient in. These supplements are designed to assist heart, brain and eye health as well as bone health in women and muscle health in men. They are non GMO and gluten free. All round a great option for any adult, this is suitable for the entire household rather than purchasing separate vitamins for men and women.
Vitafusion
Vitafusion Women's Gummy Vitamins This product is a vitamin supplement designed specifically to meet all of women’s nutritional needs. What I like about this supplement is they come in gummy form. This is good news for anyone who finds swallowing pills difficult. Each daily serving includes 17 essential vitamins and minerals. The price is reasonable – great if you are looking to take them longer term. The only downside of these vitamins is that because they are in gummy form, they have a slightly higher sugar and calorie content compared to traditional supplements.
MegaFood
MegaFood - Women Over 40 One Daily For us ladies, we have more to consider when it comes to nutritional needs than men. Not only do we need to adjust our diet accordingly during pregnancy, we also need to do it as we get older, specifically once we hit menopause. It’s important to use a multivitamin which is tailor made to suit our needs. As well as vitamins like A, B Complex, C, D, and E, this supplement also has added antioxidants and carotenoids for improved skin and eye health.
Nature's Way
Nature's Way Alive! As we age, it is important to adjust our nutrition accordingly. Not only because we are getting older, but also because men and women need different things at particular life stages. This product offers over 50 men all the nutrition they could dream of. With over 23 vitamins and minerals, 26 fruits and vegetables, 14 green foods, 12 organic mushrooms and 12 digestive enzymes, these little pills pack a healthy punch.
our #1 rated
Pros
All essential vitamins and minerals
Supports heart, brain and eye health
Aids bone health in women
Supports muscle health in men
High levels of vitamin D3
Gluten free
Non GMO
Cons
Some find the tablet size large
our #3 rated
Pros
Gummy form, no pills to swallow
Great fruity taste
Includes 17 essential vitamins and minerals
Made in the USA
Excellent price
Cons
More calories than traditional supplements
our #4 rated
Pros
Contains vitamins D, E, C, A and B complex
One tablet a day
Non-GMO guarantee
Also contains antioxidants and carotenoids
Cons
Strong herb taste
Results not immediate
our #5 rated
Pros
Affordable price
Made in the USA
Dairy free
Raises energy levels
Specific blends to support different aspects of health
One pill per day
Prostate health boosters
Correct amounts of vitamins, especially A, C, E, and K
Cons
Large, uncoated tablet
May take a few weeks to see results
Conclusion
When it comes to multivitamin supplements, I hope that I’ve shared something for everyone in this post. If I had to pick one to recommend, it would be the Centrum Adult Multivitamin as it will suit most adults.
If you are looking for a multivitamin to aid a more specific problem, we have also covered many topics like multivitamins for hair and hair loss and multivitamins to give you energy, plus many more which you can find on our multivitamin hub page.
Of course, if there is any other specific benefits of multivitamins you would like us to research, leave us a comment below and I will do my best to cover the topic.
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