Multivitamins can provide a great source of essential vitamins and nutrients needed for our health. Multivitamins can be especially important for females, as vitamin and nutrient needs differ based on gender. It’s important to note, though, that these multivitamins cannot replace your nutrient needs, especially as most vitamins and minerals are more readily absorbed in our bodies when they are consumed from dietary sources. Oftentimes, supplemental vitamins are not as efficiently absorbed when we take them.
So we’ll take a closer look at multivitamins, their benefits, and what the best multivitamins for women are in this guide.
Women’s multivitamins differ by brand, but they usually adhere to formula guidelines and contain the following vitamins/nutrients:
- Calcium
- Folic acid
- Vitamin D
- Magnesium
- B vitamins
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin K
- Iron
- Potassium
- Zinc
Another key vitamin incorporated into many women’s multivitamins is folic acid. These kinds of multivitamins are usually targeted toward pregnant women or women looking to become pregnant in the future.
In general, women’s multivitamins come in pill, gummy, or tablet form. They also usually contain vitamin and nutrient amounts close to their RDAs or Recommended Daily Allowances.
Women’s Multivitamin Benefits
Women’s multivitamins can be beneficial for meeting necessary vitamin and nutrient needs and meeting your RDA for vitamins like iron, magnesium, and calcium. The following are some of the associated benefits of most women’s multivitamin supplements:
- May reduce heart disease risk (magnesium and B vitamins help prevent heart disease)
- Supports proper immune health
- May prevent nutrient/ vitamin deficiencies
- Supports bone and joint health and prevents bone-related disorders like Osteoporosis
- Contributes to health hormonal health
- May play a role in healthy pregnancy and proper fetal health
- Supports eye health
- Contributes to healthy skin, hair, and nails
- Reduces the risk of cancer
Many of these benefits are heavily researched, but many multivitamins are not as beneficial as we are taught to believe. They definitely can help meet nutrient needs and give us a health boost; however, they are not meant to replace a healthy diet rich in nutrient-dense foods. They should not be taken to avoid having to consume a healthy diet.
Should I Take A Multivitamin For Women?
Women’s multivitamins can be beneficial for women, especially for those who are deficient in certain nutrients and vitamins (iron is a common one). They can also be beneficial for young teenage girls in their developmental period as well as women looking to get pregnant or women who are pregnant. The specific multivitamin you should be taking depends on your individual health. Consult with your doctor before you take a multivitamin and find out if you should be taking one, and if so, what the formula should include for your individual health needs.
Do Women’s Multivitamins Really Work?
Multivitamins have been used by many people over the years, but the research shows them as not being as effective as many would like to think. Many vitamins and multivitamins are not readily absorbed by the body, especially when compared to their dietary counterparts. Additionally, many people believe that taking a multivitamin means they do not need to consume dietary sources rich in these vitamins because they have already taken their necessary amounts in pill form. This is obviously not the case, and consuming nutrient-dense foods is essential for your health and far more important than a multivitamin.
Also, because multivitamins contain a lot of different vitamins in the formula, some researchers argue if there are any interactions between the vitamins in the supplement that may counteract each other. Multivitamins can definitely provide a good source of vitamins and nutrients, especially if you have a health condition or are deficient in any vitamin, but multivitamins should not replace dietary sources of these vitamins.
The Best Multivitamins For Women
Persona Women’s Essentials Multivitamin
Persona Nutrition is a supplement company that has you take an assessment to determine your specific vitamin supplement needs. They create a formula specific to your health, and you take the supplements every day. One of their products is called “Women’s Essentials.” This is a 28 day supply of daily women’s vitamins. The vitamin pack contains borage with saffron, a hair, skin, and nails supplement, and a daily probiotic. The other supplement included in the packs is the women’s multivitamin. It is vegan, non-GMO, and highly bioavailable. It contains all the essential vitamins, including Vitamins A, D, E, K, and C, as well as zinc, potassium, Vitamin B12, folate, and many others. It also contains a more optimal form of folate that resembles the form of folate found in our cells, which enhances its efficacy in our bodies. This brand is pretty highly rated and extremely user-friendly, especially as the assessment is specific to your health condition and may add vitamins/nutrients you may need specifically.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON PERSONA WOMEN’S ESSENTIALS MULTIVITAMINRootine Women’s Multivitamin
Rootine is another vitamin subscription company. However, this company is a little different as they base their formula on your specific DNA. This company will conduct a DNA test to dictate your vitamin needs. They also monitor your blood levels to make sure your body is properly absorbing and processing these vitamins and nutrients. Some of the vitamins they include in the women’s multivitamin are zinc, Vitamin B2, calcium, magnesium alpha lipoic acid, CoEnzyme Q10, iron, and folic acid. The supplements made by this company are vegetarian, third-party tested, and bioavailable. This company isn’t one of the most popular supplement subscription companies, but it is definitely gaining notoriety within the health and wellness space. As the reviews come forward about this company and their products, everyone says the platform is user-friendly and that the vitamins are “next-gen.” The fact that blood work is used as a measure of the efficacy of the vitamins helps provide actual medical evidence concerning their products and whether or not they work for you specifically.
GET THE BEST PRICE ON ROOTINE WOMEN’S MULTIVITAMINFeel Women’s Multivitamin
Feel is another supplement company looking to reinvent the vitamin game. Their vitamins are non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and free from the top allergens. They use 33 different ingredients in their multivitamin formulas, including L-glutamine, grape seed extract citrus bioflavonoids, lutein, reishi mushrooms, turmeric, and CoEnzyme Q10. They use Bioperine as well in their formula, which helps make the ingredients more bioavailable in the body. They also include the typical women’s multivitamin ingredients like Vitamins A, D, E, and K, folic acid, calcium, iron, biotin, selenium, and iodide. This company is very user-friendly and offers easy to use subscription services. The multivitamins are very highly rated, and in fact, their products are more affordable when compared to some of the other supplement subscription services.
SAVE 20% ON FEEL WOMEN’S MULTIVITAMINWomen’s Multivitamin Alternatives
Consuming a diet rich in essential vitamins and nutrients is a great alternative to any supplement, especially multivitamins. Hitting the RDAs of essential vitamins, especially those that are important for women (iron, folic acid, Vitamin D), is very important. The following are some foods it is recommended to consume for health, especially as it pertains to women’s health:
- Brazil nuts
- Seaweed
- Fish (salmon, cod, sardines)
- Oranges and other citrus fruits
- Eggs (very rich in B vitamins)
- Chia seeds
- Sweet potatoes
- Beans and other legumes
- Almonds, cashew, and other nuts/seeds
In general, consuming a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is a great way to hit those RDAs for essential vitamins and nutrients. Choosing foods rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, iron, folic acid, and B vitamins is crucial for women’s health, especially as an alternative to multivitamin supplements.
The Importance Of Multivitamins For Women
Women’s multivitamins can provide a necessary health boost many women may need. There are some women who are more at risk when it comes to nutrient deficiencies. For example, pregnant women may require more nutrients like folic acid, which is when supplementation becomes crucial. However, women’s multivitamins are a boost and not a replacement when it comes to your nutrient needs. It’s very important to consume a healthy diet rich in essential nutrients. In addition, you should always consult with your doctor before taking any multivitamins in order to check for deficiencies and see what vitamins you may or may not need.
