Multivitamins are nutritional supplements made by pharmaceutical companies. Multivitamins help supplement your diet by providing vitamins, a lot of important minerals, and other nutrients. They provide individuals with important nutrients they may lack in their diet. As in the name, multivitamins are vitamin-rich.
Multivitamins: Forms and Facts
Multivitamins come in a lot of forms. Did you think they were limited to capsules and tablets? Nope, they even come in gummies, syrups, powders, liquids, and, heck, even in injectable forms. Most people like you and me use multivitamins to decrease deficiencies and give us the nutrients our diet may lack. Countless studies prove that multivitamins provide your body with numerous health benefits. They help promote better eyesight and improve bone strength, memory, and hair health. They are very beneficial for pregnant women. Today, we’ll discuss the benefits, best vs. worst, and potential side effects.
Important Multivitamin Benefits
Here, we have compiled a list of important facts and benefits of multivitamins that you should know about:
Helps in Preventing Nutritional Deficiencies
Micronutrient deficiencies like fatigue, constipation, iron deficiencies, night blindness, and hypokalemia can be prevented by taking multivitamins. People on specific diets like vegan or vegetarian often need more vitamins like iron, zinc, and calcium. So, by taking multivitamins, you are ensuring you get the essential vitamins and minerals in your diet.
Maintaining Bone Strength
As we gradually age, losing bone mineral density is expected, which increases the risk of bone fractures and severe conditions like Rickets and bone deformities. People who lack multivitamins are at a higher risk of being affected by these diseases. Multivitamins supply some essential minerals and vitamins our body needs to maintain good bone health.
Assists Healthy Pregnancy
Getting the required vitamins and minerals through your diet is crucial in ensuring a healthy pregnancy. Pregnant moms are not only taking vitamins for themselves but also for the fetus growing in their bodies. Folic acid helps avert neural tube defects in the baby, and calcium is also very important for pregnant women as it develops the baby's bones and maintains the mother's bone health. Prenatal vitamins are recommended for pregnant women or those who intend to become pregnant.
Promoting Better Eyesight
Taking multivitamins can help improve eye health and help in the treatment of conditions like Night blindness, which is an eye condition that makes it harder to see in low light or darkness. Studies show that taking multivitamins can help reduce the risk of cataracts and glaucoma, which are common in older adults.
Multivitamins For Hair Growth
Hair loss is one of the most common problems people often suffer from, which can be improved by taking multivitamin supplements. Vitamins and minerals promote cell growth, contributing to hair loss when deficient. While multivitamin supplements are easily accessible and affordable, knowing what kind of vitamins and minerals support hair growth is important. Vitamins like Biotin are important for healthy hair and are often found in many hair growth supplements.
Healthy Skin and Nails
Following a proper skincare routine or maintaining your nails requires much time and effort. Skin care and nail care routines often involve complex steps that can ruin the health of your skin and nails even more, but by taking multivitamins, all those extra hours spent in the bathroom can be saved just by one easy and simple step. Taking multivitamins ensures you have healthy skin and nails without wasting your time.
The Best Type of Multivitamins
Men and women have different nutritional needs, and finding those multivitamins can be challenging. Well, don't worry because we have made a list of Multivitamins that are good for Men and women.
Multivitamins For Men
As stated above, men have different nutritional needs than women, so to fulfill those needs, you must ensure that you take multivitamins that contain enough important micronutrients.
- Vitamin A: It is very important for maintaining healthy vision, and it also plays a role in supporting the immune system.
- Vitamin E: It keeps your heart healthy and is known for skin-nourishing properties.
- Selenium: Selenium plays a vital role in male reproductive health.
Multivitamins For Women
Women have different nutritional needs and need different vitamins and minerals throughout their lifespan. Here is a list we made just for the ladies consisting of the best multivitamins.
- The synthesis of DNA and the development of red blood cells both require vitamin B12. Pregnant women need vitamin B12 for the baby's healthy development and to reduce the chances of congenital disabilities.
- Vitamin D3 is important for women as it helps in calcium absorption, reducing the risk of fractures and promoting strong bones.
- Folic acid: If you are a woman trying to get pregnant, Folic acid has your back because it is crucial for early fetal development and helps prevent certain birth defects.
Worst Type of Multivitamins
Not all multivitamins are good for you, and quite a few may do more harm than good to your health. You might wonder, “Well, what kind of vitamins are bad for us?” Vitamins that are contaminated and contain additives and questionable ingredients like hydrogenated fat and food dyes, these ingredients cancel out many of the good things your multivitamin does for your health, and they can also come with long-term consequences to your health. So, to avoid these types of vitamins, the best thing to do is check the ingredients label.
Side Effects
Multivitamins are essential to support your nutritional needs. However, they shouldn't be a replacement for a healthy, balanced diet. There are side effects of multivitamins. Some mild symptoms like diarrhea and stomach ache can resolve on their own. Still, you should be careful when combining multivitamins with other nutritional supplements without your doctor's consultation.
The Bottom Line
Multivitamins are nutritional supplements that contain a mix of essential vitamins and minerals. Plus, a bunch of other essential nutrients for a healthy diet. Multivitamins support healthy pregnancy, promote hair growth, maintain bone strength, and promote better eyesight. Make sure you pair your multivitamins with a nutritional and well-balanced diet.