Multivitamins

Multivitamins are a 27 billion dollar industry. Fifty percent of Americans take some form of multivitamins. It is no wonder the vitamin industry is booming. But not all vitamins are created equal and not everyone needs a multivitamin. If you are taking a vitamin to fill any potential nutritional gaps in your diet than a vitamin can be beneficial. Do not take vitamins in place of healthy meal planning, it will not hold the same value. As with anything new, speak with your doctor about taking a multivitamin.

Do Multivitamins Prevent Disease?

With regard to heart disease, cancer, and memory loss, multivitamins have not been proven to decrease the risks of these conditions. There are other beneficial reasons to consume daily multivitamins, especially when paired with a healthy lifestyle. But with the wide variety of marketing ploys, it is important to know why you are taking a multivitamin. It should not be for the sole purpose of disease prevention.

Is My Multivitamin a Good One?

With such a large industry, it can be difficult to know if you chose a good vitamin. USP Verification Services is a nonprofit agency that tests vitamins and supplements for the accuracy of their labels. Visit their website for details to learn if your vitamin has its quality seal of approval. https://www.usp.org/services/verification-services

What Delivery Form of Vitamin?

Multivitamins may come in a liquid suspension, effervescent, chewable tablet, oral tablet, gummy chew, and gel capsule. How do you know which one would be best? First, figure out which vitamin form you would be compliant with. Would you drink a liquid version? Do you have a fear of swallowing large pills? The active ingredient is often higher in a pill form. The pill form tends to be the most superior in terms of shelf life. Gummy chews can taste great, but they will have added sugars and may not have the same amount of active ingredient as a pill form. There are many benefits to the different forms, although a pill form is most superior with ingredient ratio, it will do no benefit if you do not like to swallow pills.

Most Americans eating a well-rounded diet without restrictions are able to consume the vitamins and minerals required for a healthy functional body. A multivitamin can serve as the nutritional gap for some Americans. If you are within the 50% of Americans who take one daily, hopefully, this has helped you have a better understanding of the multivitamin.