Here's Where Most Multivitamins Fall Short
If you’re looking for more than a multi, then this article will be right up your alley. Chances are the multi you're currently taking is deficient in some very important areas. There are countless products out there claiming to be the “best” for you. With any program, if the nutrients don’t complement each other, you won’t get the most out of your supplement routine. That’s why we’re here, to share strategies that will help spot the gaps and make sure you’re getting what you need.
Bioavailability
It’s important to consider how common variations of a certain vitamin can affect your body’s ability to absorb a nutrient. And, as you know, a higher rate of absorption increases effectiveness. Here we provide some examples of the best forms and ways to make sure you’re getting them. Vitamin B-12 is most often available in two forms, methylcobalamin, which is a natural form and considered to be better absorbed by the body, and a cheaper, synthetic form called cyanocobalamin, which has a lower rate of absorption. A study comparing the two forms reported that about three times as much cyanocobalamin was excreted through urine, indicating that methylcobalamin is retained better within your body. A second example of a popular nutrient is vitamin D. Vitamin D can be found in two forms: vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Vitamin D2 and D3 are slightly different. Both forms raise your blood vitamin D levels, and both can treat and prevent rickets from vitamin D deficiency. However, studies have found that vitamin D3 effectively raises blood vitamin D levels for a longer period of time than vitamin D2.
DOSE AND STRENGTH
When it comes to selecting the dose and strength of your supplements, it's important to take several factors into consideration, such as diet, age, activity level, and sunlight exposure, to name a few. You must also be careful about exceeding upper limits, as some nutrients can be harmful in high doses.
If some of this seems complicated or confusing, you’re not the only one. Fortunately, there is help out there. Many sites online provide charts indicating the RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of a vitamin or mineral, as well as the UL (Tolerable Upper Intake Level). Trusted vitamin brands always list the DV (Daily Value) of the vitamins and minerals found in their containers. That number is the amount (recommended by the FDA) you should take for top health from a diet of 2,000 calories a day. However, this doesn’t consider individualistic needs for a person. This is why it's important to look for companies that specialize in personalized nutrition and utilize health assessments. These assessments take in key diet, age, and lifestyle information to provide the most accurate vitamin and nutrient suggestions to support an individual’s unique needs. This information often comes with reasons for specific vitamin recommendations and dosages.
THE RIGHT MULTIVITAMIN
Multivitamins were introduced in the early 1940s during WWII when it was important to keep our nation healthy and free of malnutrition. More than a third of us in the US still take them. While most multis can help fill nutrition gaps, they were never meant to address or fix certain specific health concerns.
Innovations in health science have given rise to new, more powerful solutions that provide custom nutrition suited for the individual needs of a person. Health enthusiasts are trading in their cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all multivitamins for more advanced, specialized vitamin plans that are often less expensive. Through scientific advances we can determine what nutrients an individual needs to protect, heal and maximize their life. All, while reducing waste and cost. That’s healthy innovation.
Navigating through life is hard, vitamins should be easy. To cut through all the noise and figure out what supplements are right for you, just take our quick 30-second survey and get your list of personalized vitamin and nutrient recommendations. Click Here