If you are looking for a quick and easy way to inject a little health into your daily routine, then taking a MVM supplement could be a great way to do that. Unfortunately, not all of these supplements are created equal. Let me give you a few tips for what to look for when buying your next bottle.
The first consideration you should make is whether the supplement comes in tablet or capsule form. More often than not, capsules are the way to go, as a majority of the tablet versions contain a lot of artificial ingredients like fillers and binders which some consider to be toxic to our bodies.
Other artificial ingredients to avoid are food dyes and sweeteners like aspartame. Be sure to read the label to look out for these!
Now that you know what a good MVM SHOULDN’T have let me list a few key things that it SHOULD:
- Vitamin A in beta-carotene form. This is the plant based version of vitamin A and is safer in larger doses than the animal version retinol
- Vitamin D in D3 form(cholecalciferol). This is the active form of vitamin D3 and is more readily usable by the body
- Vitamin E in mixed D-tocopherol form. DL versions of tocopherol are synthetic and typically not as effective as the natural D form.
- Minerals in chelate form. This version is also more readily absorbed by the body than the many other forms that minerals are available in
- Calcium in citrate form. This is the form that calcium is best absorbed by the body.
There are a few more considerations when picking a MVM, but these general principles should help point you in the right direction. Most vitamins that meet the criteria above will usually meet the standards for proper dosing and quality of the other active and inactive ingredients.
As a heads-up, vitamins that meet these criteria usually require you to take more than one capsule per day as well. So READ THE LABEL.
Other supplements that you might consider adding to your regimen for general health are a high-quality probiotic, and omega-3 supplement like fish or krill oil.
If you have any questions about these or any other supplements that may benefit your health, feel free to ask at your next visit.
As always be sure to discuss starting any new supplements with myself, your medical doctor, or pharmacist to avoid any dangerous drug interactions or health condition specific concerns.