Choosing the Right Multivitamin

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If you are a healthy person, aren’t overweight, and eat a balanced diet filled with lots of fruits and vegetables, you probably aren’t going to need a multivitamin. However if you are like most people and you don’t eat as many fruits and vegetables as you should, a multivitamin is safe and easy way to give your body the extra nutrients it needs.

What should you look for in a multivitamin? You want to check the label and make sure you have the essential or core vitamins which are vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C and folic acid. You want to look at the daily value for each of the vitamins and make sure it’s 100%. Unless you have been advised by a doctor there is no need for more than 100% of any vitamin in a single day.

Next you want to check the label for the essential or core minerals which are, copper, iodine and zinc. The daily value for each of these minerals should be 100% and not more. You may find your vitamin also has calcium but this value is going to be much less than 100%. To get 100% of your calcium from a multivitamin you would have to take a tablet that would be too large to swallow or take multiple tablets throughout the day. For most people the amount in a multivitamin combined with calcium from the foods they are normally eating is adequate. You will also find a small amount of iron in most multivitamins. Again when combined with the iron from your normal diet most people will have enough iron. Some other minerals you may find in your multivitamin are boron, chloride, chromium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, tin, silicon, selenium, and vanadium. These minerals don’t have established daily values.

When you are choosing a multivitamin try to choose a brand you have heard of or from a company you can trust. We recommend Lifescript, Centrum, One-a-Day or Twinlab. Some multivitamins are specifically designed for men, women, or seniors, be sure to choose the one that is most appropriate for you. Additionally don’t pay more for time released vitamins there aren’t health benefits from a time release package. People with specific health concerns such as osteoporosis, have vitamin deficiencies, or are who pregnant should consult with a doctor before taking any vitamins, as they have special nutritional needs.

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