A Beginner's Guide to Multivitamins

It’s a bit overwhelming – the choice, the options, the different bottles, packages, powders and pills promising plenty of health benefits. So how do you make the right choices when it comes to selecting multivitamins in an attempt to reap the health rewards? Here’s how you can begin to understand the world of multi vitamins:

Table of Contents

What are they?

Multivitamins are dietary supplements. They contain a combination of various essential vitamins and minerals that are designed to complement a balanced diet, helping to provide the extra nutrients that could be lacking in your everyday meals. Multi vitamins are an ideal way to meet all your nutritional requirements and keep you in optimal health. After all, many of us have busy lives and don’t have the time and energy to eat consistently balanced meals, and multi vitamins are a convenient way to fill those nutrient gaps in your diet.

Understanding the label

Each multi vitamin label will clearly state the vitamins and minerals it contains, whilst also detailing the amount of each vitamin and mineral per serving. The DV, or daily value, percentage should be noted on the label, which will indicate how much the nutrient contributes to your daily requirements, based on a 2,000 calorie balanced diet. Labels might also specify the RDA, or recommended dietary allowance, of each vitamin.

Types of multivitamins

Multi vitamins come in various types and preparations – they can be gender specific, since men and women need different amounts of certain vitamins for optimal health. They may also be age specific, with children and the elderly requiring a different amount of certain vitamins to adults. They might also have additional nutrients, as well as vitamins and minerals, as part of their formulation.

The benefits

Multivitamins can support your health and wellbeing, giving you essential nutrients to help your body thrive and perform at its best. They can also fill nutrient gaps, which is especially important if you have a medical condition or a restricted diet.