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What Makes a Good Multivitamin?

by: Kimberly Weld, N.D.

One of the questions I'm asked most frequently is about product quality - especially when it comes to multivitamin and mineral supplements. Naturally, people want to know if they're taking the best product possible. The simplest and best advice is this: Buy from a company you trust and know what you're buying. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when choosing a multi...

1. Does it contain at least 100% of all the essential vitamins and minerals? Except for a few ingredients (like calcium, which just can't all fit into a single multi) your multi should provide at least 100% of the daily value of all the main vitamin and mineral groups.

2. Does it contain high quality ingredients? Some ingredients are less expensive than others, and companies can be tempted to include only cheap ingredient sources that may not be readily absorbed by the body. Look for a multi that discloses the source of its ingredients. For example, instead of just saying "magnesium," the label should say "magnesium (as citrate, oxide, and glycinate)." Typically, companies willing to give full disclosure on their ingredient sources have put more thought into how those sources will be used by the body.

3. Does it fit your lifestyle? Does your multi provide high levels of the B-vitamins to help your body deal with stressful days? Is it sugar-free, so it won't interfere with other medical conditions you might have? If you are a vegetarian, is your multi free of animal products? These are some things I like people to think about; I know I did when we formulated Real Health's new multi, The Real Health Essentials Formula.

4. Does it make all sorts of outlandish claims? I use this as a marker for a lot of different products. Supplements can do a lot of amazing things for people; I'll be the first to jump up and say that. But no multivitamin is going to make you drop 20 pounds overnight, or allow you to wake up one morning wrinkle-free. And while supplementing your body with crucial nutrients is a great way to boost your feelings of overall wellness and provide more energy, a multi should never be promoted as a "miracle youth tonic in a bottle." If the multi you currently use makes some of these claims, it might be time to ask some questions. If it sounds too good to be true.... Well, you know.