Check out the label. Not the front of the bottle, that’s where the marketing hype is. Turn the bottle over and have a look at what you are really getting in a capsule or tablet. Some brands get around this by printing the ingredients in such tiny print so you need a magnifying glass to find out what’s inside. Be wary of brands that state their doses based on 6 capsules a day. Who takes 6 capsules a day? I don’t. Look for a multivitamin and mineral formula formulated to provide a comprehensive range of vitamins, antioxidants and a broad spectrum of minerals. The profession multivitamin that we formulate contains 25 mg of all the B vitamins, 400 mcg of folic acid, 100 mcg of B12, 400 iu of vitamin D, calcium and magnesium in a 2:1 ratio, iodine (from kelp and potassium iodide), zinc, selenium, chromium, as well as the antioxidants, vitamin A (from beta carotene), vitamin C and vitamin E. If you make a comparison with some cheaper brands, you will note that there are many supplements that are either incomplete or they offer less that 5 mg of all the B vitamins.
Taking a high quality multiple vitamin and mineral supplement should be the foundation of any supplementation program and has long been considered ‘nutritional insurance’ to cover dietary shortfalls. Environmental and lifestyle stresses can increase the need for essential nutrients to a higher level than can be obtained from the diet. While most people get enough vitamins to avoid the classic deficiency diseases, relatively few get enough of the key vitamins and minerals that may be important in preventing several chronic diseases.
Vitamins and minerals work as a team in the body. That’s means that if one team member is missing, the others can’t do their job as well. There are many brands of vitamins available, so you will need to be an avid label reader to look beyond the marketing hype and choose a good formulation.
Many people ask me how much calcium and magnesium our multivitamin contains, or if it contains Omega 3. The reality is that you just cannot fit a decent dose of Omega 3 into a vitamin capsule. Omega 3 will need to be an additional supplement or obtained through a diet. The same applies to calcium and magnesium. If additional calcium and magnesium is required in the diet, consult with a nutritionist first. You may need to take additional minerals. In this case, I would recommend a comprehensive mineral formula to take in conjunction with your multivitamin. Results of recent studies show that consumers prefer soft gelatin capsules over other dosage forms in terms of ease of swallowing, speed of delivery, and masking of unpleasant odors and tastes. Soft gelatin capsules are also favorable to health-conscious consumers who try to avoid artificial excipients used in the tableting process.
You can visit our website www.realnutrients.co.nz for more information.