by Melissa Chichester
We know that choosing the right multivitamin can be overwhelming. With so many options available, it can be confusing to make the right decision to support your well-being.
Multivitamins can help fill different nutritional needs when a healthy diet doesn’t. And for women, it is important to choose a multivitamin that supports your unique health needs. This might look like taking different multivitamins depending on your stage of life. For example, if you’re preparing to have a baby or are pregnant, your physician may recommend a prenatal multivitamin designed to support you and your baby.
There are certain nutrients women should look for in a multivitamin no matter what stage of life they are in.
>>Why Taking a Multivitamin Can Be Beneficial
Iron is an essential trace mineral that plays a role in several processes that contribute to energy utilization.* It is a necessary component to the hemoglobin present in red blood cells. Also, it plays a role in delivering oxygen to cells, including muscle cells.* In addition, iron supports the normal production of red blood cells, and is critical to maintaining energy metabolism.*
Iron also works with enzymes involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.*
The Centers for Disease control cite that women of childbearing age are the most common demographic experiencing iron deficiency. It is also normal for pregnant women to be deficient in iron because they need it more than usual.
Our picks for multivitamins with iron:
>>What Are Time-Release Supplements?
Zinc is another essential trace mineral. It is needed by all living beings to support growth and is involved in more than 300 enzymes in the body.* Zinc assists with DNA formation and the growth and division of cells.* Zinc can also assists in proper sugar metabolism, and plays a role in immune system health.* Zinc is important because of all that it can do.
Our picks for multivitamins with zinc:
>>Multivitamins for Every Life Stage
“Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin, which plays a role in energy metabolism in the body.* It is also essential to the normal formation of blood cells, contributes to the health of the nervous system, and helps maintain circulatory health.*
Vitamin B-12 helps maintain cellular energy levels by converting food into energy.*
Vitamin B-12 is mostly found in animal food sources, so vegans and vegetarians may rely on it in a supplement form. Like many nutrients, the ability to absorb Vitamin B-12 diminishes with age. This makes it an important component of any multivitamin.
Our picks for multivitamins with Vitamin B-12:
Folic acid is another essential B vitamin that women preparing for motherhood need. Folic acid may reduce a woman’s risk of having a child with a brain or spinal cord birth defect.* A multivitamin with folic acid can deliver some of the nutrients you may need during pregnancy and lactation.*
Our picks for multivitamins with folic acid:
Multivitamins are a quick and easy way to support your health and well-being every day. No matter what life stage you are in, there is a multivitamin for everyone!
