Your diet can only help you so much, and a multi can help you get the missing vitamins and minerals on your plate:as long as it is complete.
A complete multivitamin will fill common nutrient gaps with a lot of calcium, magnesium and potassium; provide trace minerals like iron, zinc, iodine, selenium, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and chromium (we all have daily needs for these too, mind you); and ideally have some non-essential but supportive trace minerals like boron and silica. The added botanicals and bioactive ingredients are also a big plus.
Your personal eating habits will guide which multi is best for you. If you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, be sure to choose one that contains a complete vitamin B complex with all 8 essential B vitamins. Iron and iodine are also key for plant eaters.
Another point to consider is the dosage of the ingredients. There is no point in investing in a supplement that only provides your body with a pinch of vitamins and minerals. Look for high-potency formulas that offer a full range of vitamins and minerals, at 100% or more of the recommended daily value. Just keep in mind that some of the larger minerals (calcium, magnesium, and potassium) are harder to squeeze into a capsule, so they’re often included in slightly lower doses to keep servings down.
As for the packaging? “I am a strong advocate for packaging that is recyclable, does not introduce more plastic into our planet, and also protects the valuable ingredients you are paying for,” Ferira previously recommended. “Because of that combination of environmental impact and buffering of its multiple ingredients from ultraviolet light, amber glass fits the bill,” she adds.
Finally, you’ll want your multivitamin to adhere to your personal values. If you’re already prioritizing a vegan diet free of GMOs, artificial sweeteners, and synthetic colors, why not look for the same in your daily multipurpose?
.
