Despite having the best dietary intentions, we often fall short of meeting all our nutritional needs. At such times, a daily multivitamin is a go-so solution to fill the nutrient gaps in a safe and effective manner. Though the ideal way to derive nutrients still remains food, but blame it on our poorly chosen diet and lifestyle-related factors, more and more people are opting for multivitamins to achieve optimum health and prevent chronic diseases. It can be quite an arduous task to choose the best multivitamin tabletsfrom your local store. The following are some of the major guidelines to take into account:
- USP verification- check your multivitamin online to make sure that it is USP verified
- Appropriate daily values of ingredients- it is advisable to choose a multivitamin for men or women with 100% of the daily value of most of its ingredients. Also, bear in mind that exceeding 100% of the daily value of certain nutrients is not a good idea. Some nutrients such as vitamins A, D, E, and K can build up in the body and have a toxic effect
- The right balance for your age and sex- gender and age play a major role when it comes to determining the nutrient needs of an individual. For example, menopausal women need more iron, while older adults need more calcium, vitamin D, and B6. Consult a dietician or your family doctor to get an idea of how much of calcium intake is recommended for your age and gender.
- Essential micronutrients- to keep your systems in their best possible working condition, your body also needs micronutrients besides the major nutrients like calcium, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, potassium etc. The best multivitamin tabletsshould include- thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin, B6 and B12, folic acid, pantothenic acid, and biotin, vitamins A, E, and K, etc.
It is also important to note that generally, the time of day you take your multivitamin is not very significant. However, taking it with food may minimize stomach discomfort. Additionally, supplemental calcium and iron bind together in the gastrointestinal track. For optimal absorption of a calcium supplement, one should avoid taking it with multivitamin. Also, keep in mind that some supplements you can find on the shelves may contain herbs and other unnecessary ingredients that can pose health risks. Unlike drugs, supplements do not necessarily go through rigorous scrutiny or get government approval, leaving the safety of these products up to the manufacturers. In an attempt to guide consumers, the government sets safe upper limits for most vitamins and minerals. It is also advisable to read the label on the package, and keep in mind that your daily dietary intake also contains vitamins and minerals. The ideal way to meet your nutritional needs is to take one multivitamin each day, unless you have been prescribed specific vitamins or minerals. If you are taking more than a multivitamin for men or women daily, discuss it with your doctor, just as you would any medication.