Multivitamins Have Come a Long Way!

Not too long ago, if you wanted to take a multivitamin to supplement your diet, there were one or two choices. Now there are aisles and even whole stores dedicated to selling these products. While added selection means there’s more likely to be a product that’s just right for you, it also means you’re going to have to look 10 times as hard to find it. Here are a few tips to help you find the best multivitamin for you.

* Get the nutrients your need. Specific ingredients you should look for are: Vitamin A (or beta carotene), folic acid (folate), Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Vitamin B (thiamin), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (niacin), Vitamin B12, phosphorus (you need very little), iron (more for women and older men), copper, selenium, chromium, and zinc.

* Don’t bother with ones you don’t. There are many nutrients common in multivitamins that we either don’t need at all or simply get enough of from our food. They are usually added just to say they’re “more complete”. Nutrients that aren’t really needed include: iodine, manganese, chloride, molybdenum, boron, biotin, and panthothenic acid. It’s best to stay away from these unless you’re deficient because you don’t want to get too much.

* Be wary of “specialized” vitamins. There are a whole slew of vitamins out there designed to help you with specific things like energy or even hair growth. You’ll probably notice that these special vitamins are more expensive than plain old multivitamins. Before you buy, check the label. These special blends are often the same vitamin with a little bit of a few extra ingredients. You’ll often get the same benefit from the cheaper version; though you may benefit form some special varieties like for men, women, or seniors. Also, pregnant women should be taking prenatal vitamins.

* Don’t take too much. First, keep track of approximate amounts of nutrients in your diet. If you decide to take a multivitamin and another supplement, make sure they don’t overlap. For example, don’t take a B complex supplement if there are B vitamins in your multivitamin. If you don’t keep track, you could easily take too much which will cause problems rather that fix or prevent them.

* Don’t rely on vitamins alone. The last important thing you need to remember is that multivitamins are supplements. This means they’re supposed to supplement what’s missing from your healthy diet, not replace a healthy diet altogether. Food is still the best vehicle for nutrients and you should only take vitamins for what your diet can’t provide.

In addition to a healthy diet, a multivitamin is a create way to stay healthy and feeling great. You should take care to choose the right one for you.