A daily multivitamin can effectively fill in the nutritional gaps of a standard, less-than-perfect Western diet. The average adult requires 40-plus nutrients daily for optimal health and maintenance year round. Harvard University’s School of Public Health recommends a daily multi, referring to it as a “nutrition insurance policy.”
Benefits of a multivitamin include:
Improved immune support
Healthier digestion
More energy
Mental clarity
Overall feeling of well being (thanks to vitamin D)
Here’s how to appraise a multivitamin, according to WebMD.
Read the label
Look for the basics, such as vitamins, A, B, C, D and E
Check that percentages are at least 100 percent of the DV
Grab a multi based on your age and gender
Stay away from potent multivitamins with excessively high DV percentages or wild associated health claims
Here’s our top 10 best choices that possess all of these criteria.
Top 10 Best Women’s Multivitamins
GNC Womens Ultra Mega Multivitamin
Savor the taste of GNC’s Women’s Ultra Mega Multivitamin in gummy form. The delicious mixed berry flavors are easy to chew and swallow, so you don’t have to bother yourself with horse pills.
The formula has a complete array of vitamins as well as major and trace minerals, such as calcium and boron. Blueberry and carrot concentrates contribute antioxidants for immune support and added protection against free radicals. The convenient serving size is only two gummies daily.
Rainbow Light Women’s Multivitamin
Rainbow Light’s multivitamin is food-based for enhanced bioavailability and effectiveness. It is a one-a-day multi, which makes it much easier to cover your nutritional gaps, and you have the option of taking the one-tablet serving with a meal or between meals.
This multi has a complete B complex to assist with energy-production, metabolism and healthy cell division. Enzymes and probiotics improve your digestion throughout the day, while a Nourishing Blend with dong quai supports optimal hormonal levels.
Solaray Golden Women’s Multivitamin
Formulated for active older women, Solaray Golden Multivitamin offers 21 vitamins and minerals in a three-capsule serving. You can take all three capsules at once or spread the serving out over the course of a day.
The Golden Multivitamin contains a natural carotenoid complex derived from whole food sources, such as spinach, carrot, tomato and broccoli. Carotenoids are plant pigments that have antioxidant properties. Research suggests that carotenoids convey a plethora of benefits: they improve your blood pressure, strengthen your immune system and protect your body’s cell membranes.
Nature’s Way Alive
In contrast to the Golden Multivatmin, the Alive multivitamin by Nature’s Way is designed for women under 50. This gluten- and gelatin-free multivitamin in a tasty gummy form contains a full B complex and chromium picolinate for optimal blood sugar levels.
An orchard fruit complex contributes whole food sources as well as a host of antioxidants and digestive enzymes to this multi, such as pomegranate, acai, tomato (lycopene) and papaya (papain).
Briofood Women’s Multi
Briofood’s multivitamin is one of the most complete supplements on the market, combining all your required daily nutrients in a 1-tablet serving. The formula supports the health of your liver, heart, brain, bones and reproductive system.
This formula is food-based and includes omega-3, -6 and -9 fatty acids from flax and sunflower seeds. Recall that fatty acids are specialized fats your body uses to manage cholesterol, metabolize fat, repair your body’s cells and guard against the effects of oxidative stress.
The formula also has herbs for hormone support, such as red clover, schisandra, astralagus, ginseng, maca and chamomile; digestive enzymes, green vegetables, bioflavonoids and probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, to manage intestinal health and stave off infections.
This product is manufactured in a GMP facility. GMP certification indicates that Briofood’s manufacturing process, its facilities, staff, employee training, product packaging and product transport methods meet or exceed a variety of stringent FDA quality standards.
NATURELO One Daily Multivitamin for Women
Naturelo One Daily is a basic multivitamin boasting 100 percent of the DV of five different key B vitamins to help maximize the creation of energy from the food you eat.
For bone and immune health there are 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D. Vitamin D helps your body to absorb and utilize certain minerals, namely calcium and magnesium.
Optimum Nutrition Opti-Women
Optimum Opti Women contains iron, a full spectrum of minerals and essential vitamins, including B complex, all in an easy-to-swallow capsule. Optimum suggests taking a daily two-capsule serving with food.
This multivitamin has a proprietary herbal blend that reads like a “who’s who” of on-trend, pro-women’s health nutrients and co-factors, such as ostivone, a plant estrogen that strengthens bones; chasteberry, a plant that alleviates symptoms of PMS, menopause, and endometriosis.
This multivitamin also has a trademarked form of lycopene called Lyc-O-Mato. Launched in the 1990s, Lyc-O-Mato is a proprietary mixture of carotenoids from tomatoes. The extraction process yields lycopene particles smaller than 3 microns for supreme bioavailability.
Optimum Nutrition specializes in sports nutrition, so although this multi is not specifically geared at active women, it has high percentages of DV to address the higher nutritional needs of sporty or on-the-go women.
New Chapter Every Woman’s One Daily
Sugar-free and derived from whole food, New Chapter’s Every Woman’s One Daily helps to strengthen your bones, your immune system and your body’s ability to deal with stress. Full of antioxidants, B vitamins and adaptogens, such as turmeric, Every Woman’s One Daily is safe and effective even on an empty stomach.
The whole food sources are non-GMO, certified organic and fermented to encourage the growth of beneficial intestinal flora.
MegaFood Women’s One Daily
Protect, balance and nourish with this women’s one daily by MegaFood. Made from real farm-fresh food, this multivitamin has an array of carotenoids and antioxidants for optimum well-being, rejuvenation and health.
The label identifies precisely which whole foods are the sources of the product’s complete B complex, it vitamins A, C, D, E, K and minerals. Two proprietary blends of organic roots, herbs, berries, fruits and mushrooms bolster your immune system, mental clarity and strength.
Garden of Life myKind Organic Women’s Once Daily
Formulated with iron for red blood cell function, myKind multivitamin by Garden of Life is totally vegan, with D3 sourced from lichen. Certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free and devoid of fillers, myKind includes a basic stack of 15 vitamins and minerals at a minimum of 100 percent DV.
A Certified USDA Organic food blend with fruits, veggies and herbs stabilizes your mood, blood glucose and immune function. Easy-to-swallow tablets prevent choking, and unique Clean Tablet Technology means no corn, soy or other common allergens.
The myKind organics line that this multivitamin belongs to is the product of a collaboration between Garden of Life and actor Alicia Silverstone, a longtime advocate of organic, chemical- and cruelty-free food. This multivitamin reflects years of research by Garden of Life and the company’s decision to tailor a product that meets with Silverstone’s specific list of requirements and desires.
Garden of Life is an incredible supplement manufacturer in its own right, with a list of industry certifications that corroborate its commitment to excellence and responsible, sustainable manufacturing processes.
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