What to look for in a multivitamin

Suppose you want to maintain an ideal intake of vitamins and minerals to lead a healthy lifestyle and avoid vitamin deficiencies. In that case, you should consider adding nutritional supplements to your diet, such as multivitamins. 

Multivitamins are health aids that incorporate extreme essential macro and micronutrients, vitamins and minerals that help in the proper functioning of our body. They have been primarily designed to fulfil the nutritional gaps experienced by several people due to a proper nutritional intake. Multivitamins are usually available in several forms, such as tablets, pills, liquids, and capsules, and unlike individual vitamin supplements, you do not need to consume them throughout the day. Taking just one multivitamin can help you meet the recommended daily allowance for several essential nutrients in one go. 

However, with so many forms of multivitamins available in the market, it may be confusing for you to choose one that not only fills in your nutritional gap but also does not have any unwanted consequences for your body. 

Let us understand more about multivitamins with antioxidants and how you can purchase the ideal product to meet your fitness goals and health requirements.

Things To Keep In Mind 

Before purchasing any multivitamins or nutritional supplements to add to your daily food intake, there are certain things that you must keep in mind, such as:

Ensuring It Has Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble agent that is a primary component of any multivitamin. It plays a significant role in promoting several body functions such as aiding the growth and development of the bones, protecting the body from external toxins and pathogens that lead to contracting chronic illnesses such as influenza. Apart from these functions, Vitamin D also helps maintain optimal cardiovascular and lung health by enabling the proper flow of oxygen between several organs. 

Magnesium

Always make sure to check that the multivitamin that you are purchasing has magnesium in it. Magnesium is an essential mineral required for the growth and development of bones and regulating energy levels. It has also been observed that the regular supplementation of magnesium has a positive impact on improving blood sugar levels and glucose release, making it a viable nutritional aid for those diagnosed with diabetes.

Checking The Quality Of Ingredients 

Several companies choose to contaminate their products by adding additives and filler substances to cut down their costs. Consuming these substances can harm your body than the good you get from the vitamins present in them. This is why you must read the label on the back of the multivitamin product you are purchasing. Here are a few ingredients that you must be on the lookout for: 

• Maltodextrin
• Corn starch
• Food colouring/dyes
• BHT

Instead, try to purchase multivitamin supplements that have the following ingredients present in them:

• Magnesium stearate
• Natural Vegetable Capsules
• Stearic Acid

Getting Your Nutrients Right

While nutrients like minerals and vitamins are good for you in general, they come in several forms that have varying degrees of quality and health benefits. Most companies, in general, invest in cheaper forms of nutrients that are not very easily absorbed by your body, making it redundant to consume them. 

For example, minerals like calcium and magnesium are one of the primary indicators of bioavailability. 

Suppose the product you are purchasing has calcium carbonate or magnesium oxide. 

In that case, you may stand at the risk of having calcium deposits remain inside your body since they cannot be absorbed. Instead of providing you with benefits such as stress release and better sleep schedules, these ingredients may end up causing chronic diarrhoea.

Checking The Dosage Of Multivitamins

While the individual requirements of these nutrients and vitamins differ from individual to individual, the Food Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine has established a Dietary Reference Intake which states he recommended daily allowance for them. Make sure to read the back of the multivitamin you purchase and compare the nutritional values to the recommended intake levels.

Given below is a chart that indicates the minimum recommended intake of several vitamins and a few minerals that are essential in the proper functioning of the body:

While you must consume multivitamins with antioxidants to stay healthy, you must make it a point to remember that they are only meant to be consumed as nutritional aids and in combination with a healthy balanced diet to get the maximum health benefits. Always make sure to check in with your medical health practitioner before making any major changes to your nutritional intake.