What are Multivitamins for Women?
Women’s bodies need critical nutrients such as iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, omega 3, and vitamins A, B, C, D, and E. However, it may be challenging to meet these nutritional demands even with a healthy diet.
Additionally, the nutritional needs change as women go through the different stages in life, including menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, and menopause. This makes it crucial for women to optimize their nutrient intake through multivitamins.
Multivitamins for women provide nutrients in the recommended daily dosage to meet the nutrient deficiency that occurs during critical stages of growth and development. They also increase energy levels and boost metabolism.
However, there are numerous multivitamin options based on age, nutrient deficiency, budget, etc. This article helps narrow your choices by reviewing the best multivitamins for women.
Best Multivitamin for Women 2022
- Ritual Essentials For Women 18+ – Best Overall
- Garden of Life My Kind Organics Women’s Multi – Best Organic
- Care/of Women’s Care Pack – Best Monthly Subscription
- MegaFood Women’s One Daily – Best with Iron
- OLLY The Perfect Women’s Multi- Best Gummies
- Thorne Women’s Multi 50+ – Best for Women Over 50
- Nature Made Women’s Multivitamin 50+ Softgels – Best Value
- Rainbow Light Women’s One – Best Probiotic
- SmartyPants Multivitamin- Best Natural
1. Ritual Essentials for Women 18+
Ritual Essentials is a subscription-based multivitamin for women between 18 to 49 years. It comes in the form of delayed-release capsules containing key ingredients that women lack in their diet. These ingredients include folate, iron, vitamin B12, D, E, and DHA. Each component is ethically sourced and traceable, so you can trace where it comes from. Also, the ingredients are non-GMO and free of artificial colors, allergens, and synthetic ingredients.
2. Garden of Life My Kind Organics Women’s Multi
Mykind Organics Women Multi is a ConsumerLab-approved multivitamin that supports specific nutritional needs in women. It contains organic ingredients, including zinc, folate, B complex vitamins, and vitamins A, C, D, and E. The supplement is non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly. It provides multiple benefits like increasing hemoglobin and boosting metabolism and energy levels.
3. Care/of Women’s Care Pack
Care/of provides a monthly subscription service that delivers individualized vitamins every month. The vitamins come in convenient packages that contain small sachets of your daily dose. The packets are 100% biodegradable, so you don’t have to worry about unnecessary waste. Additionally, the supplement offers high-quality ingredients like collagen, herbs, vitamins, and minerals. All their ingredients are ethically sourced and completely organic.
4. MegaFood Women’s One Daily
MegaFood Women’s One Daily is designed to meet women’s unique nutritional requirements for maximum health and well-being. It contains a unique blend of essential minerals and vitamins, e.g., vitamin A, D, and C, iron, and folate. The iron and folate increase red blood cells and replenish the levels lost during menstruation. At the same time, the vitamins optimize overall health and boost metabolism and energy levels.
5. OLLY The Perfect Women’s Multi
Olly Women’s multi gummies provide 18 critical nutrients for optimum health. They are excellent for picky eaters or those who struggle swallowing pills. The gummies have a blissful berry flavor and are free of artificial colors and flavors. Each gummy has B vitamins, antioxidants, folic acid, biotin, vitamin D, and calcium. A bottle contains 90 gummies, enough for 45 days. It comes with a 15% discount and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
6. Thorne Women’s Multi 50+
Thorne is uniquely crafted to address the changing nutrient requirements for women over 50. It is iron-free and offers highly absorbable versions of lutein, selenium, vitamin D, B6, and B12. It also contains calcium, which prevents osteoporosis. The multivitamins also provide antioxidant agents that protect cells from free oxidative stress damage. They also boost immune function and promote skin health.
7. Nature Made Women’s Multivitamin 50+ Softgels
This multivitamin is specially created to optimize health for women over 50. It comes in a gluten-free capsule containing vitamin A for healthy eye function, vitamin D for strong teeth and bones, and vitamin C and E for antioxidant properties. The ingredients are selected carefully and processed under strict manufacturing guidelines.
8. Rainbow Light Women’s One
Rainbow Light Women’s One is a high potent multivitamin for women above 18 years. It contains ingredients that your body can easily absorb and utilize. These ingredients include calcium, folate, vitamins B2, B5, and D. The supplement also has a healthy dose of iron that support red cell health and zinc for nerve cell protection. It also contains probiotics that help your body break down food and prevent diarrhea.
9. SmartyPants Multivitamin
The SmartyPants multivitamin contains over 18 quality ingredients, including CoQ10, Fish oil, Vitamin D, B12, and D3. The ingredients are completely natural, with no additives or artificial colors and flavor. Additionally, the formula is based on the latest research on nutritional patterns in women and FDA recommendations. A bottle costs $32.00 and comes with a money-back guarantee.
Factors to Consider Before Buying the Best Multivitamin for Women
Essential Ingredients
Nutritional needs change as women grow older. Those in the reproductive age group need more iron and folic acid to prevent congenital disabilities and replenish red blood cells. While those in the postmenopausal phase need more calcium to prevent osteoporosis. [1]
Multivitamins for women also contain vitamin A, B12, D, E, and K2, zinc, and Omega-3. Vitamin A helps preserve eyesight and prevent night blindness. [2] Vitamin B12 helps the body create DNA and healthy red blood cells. Vitamin C and E have antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals released during oxidative stress.
Zinc affects how your body works in so many ways. It maintains a healthy immune system and helps your body fight toxins. It also helps stabilize blood sugar levels by regulating the synthesis and release of insulin by the pancreas. [3]
Omega-3 helps the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, D, E, and K. It also promotes brain growth and development during pregnancy and infancy. It also reduces the risk of heart diseases lowering blood pressure and triglycerides.
Dosage
Ensure you purchase a multivitamin with the recommended daily value for each ingredient to prevent overdosing or underdosing. Also, get a supplement recommended for your age group to get the required dose that meets your nutrient demands.
Avoid products that contain excess doses of any nutrient unless prescribed by a health care professional. Overdosing results in severe side effects that warrant medical attention. Always check the ingredient list on the bottle and compare it with the recommended dietary allowance to ensure you get the appropriate dose.
Brand Reputation
Always get a multivitamin from a reputable company with high customer satisfaction. Also, check if the brand has FDA or cGMP approval since it shows that the company follows strict health protocols to manufacture its products.
A reputable brand is transparent about the ingredients in their supplements, potential side effects, and mechanism of action. There are also transparent about the client feedback, whether positive or negative.
Third-Party Testing
Multivitamins should first be tested to determine whether they are free of contaminants or harmful components. Therefore, always look for a multivitamin that has undergone extensive testing by third parties like NSF International, USP, and ConsumerLab since they guarantee quality and efficiency.
If you’re searching for a multivitamin supplement that suits you, check out Best Fruit and Vegetable Supplements article as well. These supplements can help fill in nutritional gaps in your diet and keep you stay healthy.
Allergies and Diet Restrictions
Ensure you read the ingredient list, especially if you have dietary restrictions or food allergies. Also, avoid supplements with allergens and synthetic ingredients, which may cause severe side effects.
Allergic reactions present with symptoms like difficulty in breathing, rashes, and chest pains. If you experience any of these side effects, consult your doctor immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do Multivitamins for Women Work?
A: Yes. Multivitamins help meet nutritional demands in women. They are also effective in resolving nutritional deficiencies and supplementing your diet. They also boost overall health and prevent chronic diseases like cancer and heart diseases. [4]
However, for a multivitamin to work for you, you must take it regularly or as directed by your physician. You must also invest in quality products that have the recommended daily dosage. Also, take a balanced diet since multivitamins are not a replacement for a healthy diet.
Q: Are Women Multivitamins Safe?
A: High-quality multivitamins are generally safe for consumption since they are made of natural ingredients. However, some individuals may experience side effects as their body adapts to the multivitamin. These side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, dark stools, and abdominal pain.
Q: Can I Take the Multivitamin Daily?
A: Most manufacturers and health care professionals recommend that you take the multivitamin daily. Some brands may instruct you to take the supplement twice or thrice a day. Nevertheless, it is best to follow your doctor’s instructions.
Q: What are the Best Multivitamins for Women Over 50?
A: Women over 50 have different nutritional needs than those in their 20s. Luckily, there are special multivitamins suitable for women in this age group. The best ones from this review include Thorne Women’s Multi 50+, and Nature Made Women’s Multivitamin 50+ Softgels. You can rely on them to optimize your health even in your 50s.
Q: Can I Take Multivitamins If Pregnant?
A: Yes, you can take a multivitamin when pregnant. However, there are specific ones for pregnant women. These vitamins focus on the essential nutrients needed by the mother and baby. They also do not contain harmful products that can affect your growing baby.
Conclusion
Adding a multivitamin to your dietary regimen can help fill in nutritional gaps in your diet and optimize your nutrient intake. However, there are numerous brands available, and not all are as great as advertised.
Fortunately, the multivitamins covered in this review are effective. They are also highly recommended by nutritional experts and health care professionals. For this review, Ritual Essentials for Women 18+ takes the crown as the best multivitamin for women. You can rely on it to optimize your health.
You may want to look into Prenatal Vitamins if you’re seeking for multivitamins for pregnant ladies. Prenatal vitamins are carefully formulated to restore nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy in order to protect the health of both the mother and the unborn child. They also guard against significant pregnancy problems and birth defects.
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[1] Nordin BE. Calcium and osteoporosis. Nutrition. 1997 Jul-Aug;13(7-8):664-86. doi: 10.1016/s0899-9007(97)83011-0. PMID: 9263260.
[2] Alfred Sommer, Vitamin A Deficiency and Clinical Disease: An Historical Overview https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/138/10/1835/4669996
[3] Kim J, Lee S. Effect of zinc supplementation on insulin resistance and metabolic risk factors in obese Korean women. Nutr Res Pract. 2012 Jun;6(3):221-5. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2012.6.3.221. Epub 2012 Jun 30. PMID: 22808346; PMCID: PMC3395787.
[4] Angelo G, Drake VJ, Frei B. Efficacy of Multivitamin/mineral Supplementation to Reduce Chronic Disease Risk: A Critical Review of the Evidence from Observational Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2015;55(14):1968-91. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2014.912199. PMID: 24941429.