Best daily vitamins: How do you choose?

Most of the time, having multiple choices is a wonderful thing, like when you’re at the farmers market thumping melons to see if they’re ripe or looking for the biggest bell pepper.

At other times, the choice can feel overwhelming. Take the wide variety of multivitamins on the market. It’s easy to decide to skip the mushy melon or bruised pepper, but how do you know the best vitamins to take daily or what to look for in a multivitamin? You might ask yourself, do I even need a daily vitamin regimen? And if so, what vitamins should I take?

Personal vitamin regimen: Do I need a daily multivitamin?

If you follow a healthy, balanced diet, your body should be getting all the vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients it needs from the food you eat. That includes plant nutrients, also known as phytonutrients, which support various aspects of your health. Experts agree your diet is the best way for you to get the nutrients you need. For many people, however, following that balanced diet is pretty hit or miss.

Think about what you ate yesterday. Did it include 3 ½ to 5 cups of fruits and vegetables as recommended by Canada’s Food Guide? Considering that research shows that only about one quarter of adults meet the recommendations for either fruits or vegetables, it’s unlikely.

The reasons we fall short are varied. The hectic pace of many people’s lives means they rely on convenience foods over well-planned, nutrient-dense meals. Even when we have the time, we don’t always have access to fruits and vegetables rich in nutrients due to seasonality, cost or supply issues. Also, things like sleep difficulties, occasional stress and environmental factors can interfere with our appetites, food preferences or our body’s ability to absorb some nutrients.

You might also have other challenges that make it difficult to get all the nutrients you need in your daily diet. Are you a picky eater? Do you have food restrictions or allergies? Are you vegan or vegetarian? Are you an athlete who pushes your body?

“Those and other preferences or lifestyle choices can contribute to difficulty in consuming all the nutrients your body needs through food alone,” said Katie Throop, a registered dietitian and researcher for Nutrilite™ products. “Plus, many multivitamins are designed to be tailored to certain groups who might have specific nutrient needs, such as age, sex or pregnancy.”

Benefits of vitamins and supplements

Because most people fall into the categories we mentioned above—busy lifestyles, not enough fruits and vegetables, etc.—most people looking to support their optimal health can benefit from a daily multivitamin. They are the best vitamins to take daily especially if they are designed to help fill nutrient gaps that may exist in your diet or provide support for a need you’re addressing.

For example, vitamins C, A and D along with zinc, selenium and copper support your immune health. Vitamin B1 and magnesium work together to support heart health. And B vitamins along with a variety of minerals provide energy support. Needs and nutrient gaps should be considered when companies formulate their multivitamins.

“At Nutrilite, the vitamins and minerals we have selected for our multivitamin products are based on research from the National Institutes of Health and the National Academy of Medicine showing which nutrients most people fail to consume regularly,” said Jennifer Dang, a principal research scientist and nutrition formulator for Nutrilite products.

“Our clinical investigators also consider the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of each nutrient, which is the highest level of nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk for most people,” she continued. “There is always a scientific reason why we selected the vitamins and minerals and their specific values. More is not always better.”

Personalized recommendations: Best vitamins to take daily

Looking for some expert assistance? Try an online assessment, such as the Nutrilite™ Nutrition Recommender. Created by a team of nutrition researchers working with the latest science and more than 85 years of experience, the Nutrition Recommender looks at your age, sex, lifestyle, activity level, personal goals and other concerns or needs to suggest vitamins and supplements based on your specific needs.

“Wellness isn’t one size fits all or one product does it all,” Throop said. “When thinking about a vitamin regimen, it’s a good idea to seek out professional and scientifically supported recommendations that will be personalized to each individual’s needs and lifestyle.”

You can also check with your doctor. They should have a picture of your overall health and be familiar with vitamins and supplements that might be appropriate for you. In addition, they will know whether multivitamins or specific vitamin supplements could interfere with any medications you’re taking or vice versa.

What to look for in a multivitamin

When you’ve made your decision to start a daily vitamin regimen and know what nutrients you need, it’s time to actually choose a multivitamin. But how do you wade through the wide variety of brands and offerings?

“I recommend getting to know the brands and the sources of their ingredients,” Dang said. “Is the brand using the highest quality ingredients from trusted sources? Do they have additional plant ingredients that are grown on organic farms that focus on preserving nutrient content? There is a lot to consider.”

Here is a list to keep in mind when looking at your options:

• VITAMIN CONTENT: Does the multivitamin have the nutrients you’re looking for in the right quantities? Will it fill the nutrient gaps you’re trying to address without giving you too much of other nutrients?
• PLANT NUTRIENTS: In addition to the variety of vitamins and minerals, you should also look for plant nutrients, also called phytonutrients. Those are organic compounds found in fruits and vegetables. They act as antioxidants that help your body fight excess free radicals – the cell-damaging substances generated by internal systems in our bodies and caused by many of life’s everyday activities: poor diet, lack of sleep, sun and pollution.
• FORMAT: Do you have difficulty swallowing tablets? You might seek out a format that works better for you, such as a gummy multivitamin or some other form of supplement.
• THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION: Is there an outside organization verifying that what’s on the label is really what’s inside the package? Look for a seal, such as from NSF International, showing that extensive product testing, auditing and site visits were done to ensure that the product and manufacturing meet strict standards for public health.
• QUALITY COMPANY: Does the manufacturer have a history of quality? Has it been around for a long time? Are its products backed by science and research? Does it prioritize traceability?

Which Nutrilite vitamins and supplements should I take?

We’ve highlighted several things to consider when thinking about how to choose a multivitamin. Even armed with that knowledge, however, it still can be daunting. Let’s explore some Nutrilite vitamins to show you the variety of ways you can support your optimal health with daily multivitamins.

Daily multivitamins for men and women

Nutrilite Men’s Daily Multivitamin and Women’s Daily Multivitamin are your once-daily, convenient tablets that fill nutrient gaps and support immunity and energy while also targeting specific needs for men and women. Each tablet features essential vitamins and minerals plus plant nutrients from plants grown on certified organic Nutrilite farms and partner farms.

The Men’s Daily Multivitamin is designed to support the health needs of today’s men with a focus on muscle and heart health in addition to immunity and energy. It has 22 essential vitamins and minerals in amounts ideal for men’s specific nutrient needs, such as higher levels of vitamin B. There are 200mg of plant nutrients specifically chosen for men, too: tomato, acerola cherry, purple carrot, elderberry and turmeric.

Rather than muscle and heart health, the Women’s Daily Multivitamin has an extra focus on eye and bone health.  The 23 essential vitamins and minerals were formulated for women’s specific nutrient needs, including iron, calcium and vitamin K. In addition to acerola cherry, purple carrot and elderberry, the 200mg of plant nutrients includes pomegranate and cranberry.

Double X™ Multivitamin

Nutrilite Double X™ Multivitamin is a plant-powered advanced multivitamin that delivers over 40 nutrients including 450+ mg of plant nutrients in three tablets that you take twice a day.. Double X provides your daily value of 12 essential vitamins. It also has 10 essential minerals and 22 plant nutrients from fruits, vegetables and herbs grown on Nutrilite farms and partner farms.

The combination of vitamins, minerals and plant nutrients helps support heart, brain, eye, skin, bone, immune and cellular health.  

Personalized vitamin packs

Interested in even more vitamin support? Nutrilite offers personalized vitamin packs that safely and conveniently pair multivitamins with other supplements to provide support for specific areas of your optimal health.

Nutrilite Perfect Pack

Those who take Double X can consider the Nutrilite Perfect Pack. In addition to Double X, it contains Nutrilite Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables, Nutrilite Balanced Health Omega and Nutrilite Vitamin D conveniently portioned into A.M. and P.M. packets.

Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables provide phytonutrients equal to more than five servings of fruits and vegetables. Balanced Health Omega has almost 1,000mg of DHA and EPA to support brain and eye health. And the Vitamin D tablets help support your bones, joints and immune system.

Nutrilite Men’s Pack and Women’s Pack

For those who are always on-the-go, consider the Nutrilite Men’s Pack or Women’s Pack. Each convenient packet features Nutrilite Daily, which is suitable for men and women and provides essential vitamins and minerals to help fill your nutrient gaps.

In addition, the Men’s Pack features supplements to support a strong heart, clear mind and healthy immune system: Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables, Nutrilite Vitamin C Extended Release and Balanced Health Omega. Balanced Health Omega delivers the omega-3 equivalent of three servings of ocean fish, with a high concentration of DHA and EPA.

The Women’s Pack has Concentrated Fruits and Vegetables,  Nutrilite SHiNe™ with biotin, and Nutrilite Cal Mag D to support bone health.

Ready to get started? Take the assessment on the Nutrition Recommender and/or check with your doctor to find the multivitamin and other supplements that meet your needs and fit your lifestyle.