Choosing a multi-vitamin from the hundreds of brands and types available can be a difficult task. There are vitamins for women, vitamins for men, supplements that are supposed to promote heart health, weight loss supplements, and many other choices. Keep the following in mind when choosing a multi-vitamin.
Choosing an expensive multi-vitamin is not necessarily the best choice. Many expensive brands have 100% or more of the daily recommended amount of each vitamin. If the body takes in excess vitamins, it simply excretes the excess amount through the urinary system. Taking more than the recommended amount has no benefit and you can even take too much of some vitamins, resulting in illness. Choosing a less expensive multi-vitamin that has 100% of the recommended daily allowances is a good way to supplement your diet and make up for some vitamins that you may be lacking.
If you're a woman, you may be intrigued by special vitamins formulated just for women or especially for weight loss. For the most part, these vitamins are unnecessary, as they are more expensive and contain more than the recommended amounts of the vitamins you need for a healthy life. The one exception you should make when purchasing vitamins is if you are of child-bearing age. If this is the case, you may want to consider prenatal vitamins. These vitamins are specially formulated for those who plan on having children in the near future. Prenatal vitamins have important vitamins that are essential for having a healthy pregnancy and may even reduce the incidence of some birth defects.
When you are selecting a multi-vitamin, you should examine each label carefully and make sure the supplement contains the important vitamins that you need for healthy living. If you are a woman, you will need to make sure the supplement contains Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and the B vitamins B-6, B-9 (folate), and B-12. Men will need many of the same vitamins and may also benefit from minerals such as iron, magnesium, and selenium. Take into account your age and general state of health as well when you select a vitamin supplement.
Once you've selected a multi-vitamin, it is important to eat a healthy diet. If you are taking a multi-vitamin, but still eating a lot of junk food and not exercising, the multi-vitamin will not be able to work as well as it is intended.
by Leigh A. Zaykoski
