How to choose a multivitamin
Sometimes we just need one thing to do to get us closer to healthy.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I stand behind all my recommendations, and would never suggest something I wouldn’t let my mother take. And I love my mama.
Not a meal plan we don’t have time to shop for. And DEFINITELY not a detailed instructional on a 12 day juice cleanse we’ll never make it through. Sometimes we just need something simple that we can get done every day and feel good about.
Something like a great multivitamin.
Why a great multivitamin matters
If you’re not sure why you should care, think about it like this:
Vitamins and minerals are like the support staff at a major company that you alone own.
They aren’t the highest paid employees or even the ones that get all the credit when things go right (or wrong). But if your company isn’t fully staffed (with enough vitamins and minerals), a lot of problems can pop up.
You can get sick more easily, and it can be a LOT harder to get healthy again when you do.
This is the essence of why good nutrition is important. It’s why eating your fruits, veggies, whole grains and lean proteins really does matter. Because these are the building blocks our bodies run on. And since we don’t always have great eating habits, multivitamins can become really important.
A great multivitamin can help bridge the gap between what we SHOULD be eating every day, and what we ARE eating every day.
Without them we don’t have the staff to keep things running at the office the way they need to run.
YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
This is the golden rule to follow when you’re trying to decide between the 47 brands you can choose from. It’s actually the golden rule for choosing almost any supplements, including how to choose a probiotic.
The better quality vitamin you pick, the more likely you’ll get the better health results you’re looking for.
As a rule, supplements are not formally regulated. Because of that, poor quality supplements are almost always full of fillers because that makes them cheaper to produce. That means they usually don’t have exactly what they say they have. And that means they might never do the exact job you want them to do. This is why they’re less expensive.
Quality matters the MOST when you’re picking a great multivitamin.
Think about it like the difference between a fast food burger and one that’s from a high end restaurant made with top quality meat. It’s an entirely different food. Same goes for cheap multivitamins and a great multivitamin.
HOW MUCH TO TAKE
Don’t assume you know how many to take every day. Always check the serving size on the label and begin there. If you take one a day, but the serving size calls for 2 a day, then you’re not going to get the full benefit of your multi.
If you find you’re having a hard time stomaching the full dose, cut it down until you find something you can tolerate. Cut that vitamin tablet in half or start with 1 instead of 2. And always make sure you take with food. Do that for a week and then bump it up to the full dose and see how you’re feeling.
For those who are still feeling sensitive, cut the half in half again (a quarter of the serving size) and start there.
Once you find a dose you can tolerate, SLOWLY increase your serving size until you get as close to the recommended daily dose as possible.
Choosing a GREAT multivitamin
Pure Encapsulations makes a GREAT multivitamin and is the one I use daily. It’s a one-a-day and is very gentle on the stomach.
But what’s REALLY great about Pure Encapsulations is the amount of quality testing of their product the company voluntarily does. They have a laundry list of high quality supplements and no matter what you choose, you’ll know that you’re getting something that’s going to give you EXACTLY what you’re paying for.
It also comes in at a reasonable price. Which is worth every penny when you’re sure everything you take is going to good use. Instead of expensive pee. Which is basically what happens with cheap brands that you can’t absorb and use as well.
Other top shelf brands to try
Douglas Laboratories® – Essential Basics: This multi is the best bang for your buck. Take it at the recommended dose and you’ll get over 2000% of your recommended daily needs.
Metagenics Phytomulti: Metagenics as a company is known for their purity and full-spectrum vitamin/mineral coverage. This multivitamin is an all-around great choice for just about anyone.
Biotics Research Bio-Multi Plus: Biotics are known for producing highly bio-available supplements that your body can absorb and use really well. For people with a touch of IBS or other gut-related issues, this multi is a great place to start.
CHOOSE ONE AND START TODAY.
A multivitamin isn’t magic. And it’s not going to reverse a terrible diet or last night’s very happy hour. But it WILL take you less than a minute a day and get your nutritional status closer to great. Total win-win.