According to the Cleveland Clinic, over one-third of Americans over the age of 75 have a vitamin deficiency.
As such, a good multivitamin is important for the maintenance of health.
However, there is no official recommendation from any authority for the best multivitamin, mostly because there isn’t one supplement that is obviously better than the rest.
Determine the fitness level you are currently at and what steps you need to take to reach your health goals.
There are simple multivitamins that contain the vitamins that you need to maintain your health.
There are also multivitamins that include nonessential amino acids, fatty acids, protein, creatine, tea extracts, and other added ingredients.
Some people may find these extras beneficial and some may not.
You need to look for quality ingredients and you need to look for a multivitamin that contains the vitamins that you specifically are looking for. You may also want to choose a product made in the USA to ensure that it is GRAS complaint as set forth by the FDA. However, vitamins made in the UK have not had any major issues in the United States.
Remember that regular exercise also contributes to an overall healthy lifestyle. Sign up for a PRO plan today for access to workouts that complement your day-to-day routine.
Does Every Senior Citizen Need a Multivitamin?
Although there is some evidence that as you age your body doesn’t absorb as many vitamins, this doesn’t mean that all seniors are vitamin deficient. According to the Cleveland Clinic, a major problem with vitamin intake in the elderly is that they are eating less food.
Not every senior citizen will need a multivitamin, especially if you are a healthy senior. However, if you have a smaller appetite or have medical problems, you may need a multivitamin.
If you do have health problems, you should ask your doctor to recommend a good multivitamin product. There are some vitamins and minerals that can interact with medication and that can worsen certain medical conditions so you need to discuss these concerns with your doctor.
What Vitamins Do I Need to Maintain a Healthy Body?
According to MedlinePlus, you should look for a multivitamin that contains vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K. Vitamin B means all of the B vitamins, not just a single source.
However, according to the Mayo Clinic, using vitamin E in a supplement form is not wise unless you specifically have a known deficiency. Their studies have shown that taking vitamin E when you don’t have a deficiency can decrease your anticipated life span, although they don’t say by how much.
Medline Plus doesn’t actually recommend a multivitamin. In fact, they say that you should get your vitamins from your food and if you can’t you should take a multivitamin.
Because more information is needed regarding the dangers of vitamin E, many authorities haven’t yet changed their information regarding supplementing with this vitamin.
Get More Out of Your Health and Fitness Routine. Go PRO!
Sign Up
Should My Multivitamin Contain Minerals?
Yes, just like the body needs certain vitamins, it also needs certain minerals as well. MedlinePlus names the minerals that your body needs for optimum health. These include:
Trace minerals:
- Cobalt
- Copper
- Fluoride
- Iodine
- Iron
- Selenium
Macrominerals:
- Calcium
- Chloride
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Sodium
- Sulfur
Macrominerals are minerals that your body needs in large amounts.
As with vitamins, taking too many of any one mineral can have an adverse effect on your body. Instead of taking a multivitamin that contains every single vitamin and minerals, you should talk to your doctor about the vitamins and minerals that you need.
There are a variety of multivitamins that contain different varieties of vitamins and minerals. Some multivitamins are even condition-specific, such as for people with osteoporosis or people with memory problems.
Should I Stick to Name Brand Multivitamins?
Some people have a thing for brand names. If that’s you, then go ahead and buy what you feel comfortable with. However, there are plenty of store brand vitamins that provide the exact same vitamins at the same dosage levels that you will find in a name brand.
The reason for this is that in some cases a manufacturer creates the vitamin and then sells it to specific companies who then brand the product. You will often find that there are several multivitamins that have all technically been made by the same manufacturer.
This doesn’t mean that all store brands are great. You will want to do a side by side comparison of the ingredients and the vitamin and mineral percentages. You need to ensure that if you buy the cheaper store brand that you get the same quality product.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I have to take supplements?
Unless your doctor has instructed you to take certain supplements, you do not have to take them.
Are supplements safe?
Whether or not dietary supplements are safe to take depends on a number of factors. Learn more about the safety of supplements here.
What supplements do I need to take?
No one can answer that aside from your doctor. To learn more about the various supplements that doctors commonly recommend, check out this article.
Pair your daily supplementation with daily exercise for the best results. Go PRO today for workout plans that, well, work!