The Great Multivitamin Debate

The onslaught of information available today via the world wide web and social media has brought about a multitude of searches for an unbelievable amount of questions regarding countless different topics. One “expert” says one thing on one website or blog, and then you check out another website and you’ll find another “expert” saying the total opposite. With this much access to this so much information it’s no wonder we are getting confused. Trying to figure out who to believe is one thing, but sometimes we should also access basic common sense, knowing that not everything we read it 100% true. Yes, it’s great to do your research, and that is certainly recommended, but it’s also important to research the source of your gathered information, and if that information is backed up by scientific validation.

Let’s take multivitamins for an example. It appears that as we try to be as healthy as we can, eating right, getting exercise, taking our supplements, the debate about multivitamins continues to grow. Some very common questions occur:

1. What’s the best time to take my multivitamins?
2. Can I take my multivitamins before bed?
3. Can vitamins make you gain weight?
4. Are there side effects if you take a multivitamin?
5. What nutrients should my multivitamin contain?

If you search any of these questions on the internet you will find pages and pages and pages of opinions, thoughts, comments, advice, a few facts, recommendations, etc. And you will also find that much of the information is conflicting and confusing. So first let’s consider WHY you would take a multivitamin.

A multivitamin is a SUPPLEMENT taken in addition to a healthy diet to “fill in the gaps”, if you will, for nutrients you might not be getting enough of through your daily diet. Vitamins and supplements of any kind are NOT something to take instead of or to replace a healthy diet. Ideally we should be getting all our nutritional needs from our diet, but, although we make every effort to eat the way we should, there are times when this just doesn't happen. This is where supplements can provide some benefit.

A common question is about when to take a multivitamin – breakfast, lunch, dinner, before bed? This is a less controversial question since logically we understand having nutrients available for our daily activities taking a multivitamin with breakfast is a good rule of thumb. Also, your supplement should contain B Vitamins, which may support energy production, so breakfast would be the best time with lunch coming in at second place.

As far as which nutrients a multivitamin should contain, you need to examine the supplement facts panel on the bottle. A quality product would contain key essential nutrients (vitamins and minerals) established by FDA which would be listed on the facts panel with the recommended daily value percentage noted in the DV portion of the panel. Remember – always contact your health care provider whenever you are going to add a supplement into your daily routine.

Country Life Vitamins offers two high quality multivitamin supplements you might want to check out.

The Max for Men and Max for Women offer great basic supplementation in 2 tablets per day. Included in these products are the Coenzyme B’s, which means that are in their biologically active form supporting utilization of these essential nutrients.

An excellent option in a ONE tablet a day form is the Core Daily Line of products. They also include the Coenzyme B’s as well as these are a food base multivitamin containing a fermented whole food blend as the base, some probiotics, digestive enzymes and a little inner filet aloe vera. The 50+ options in the Core Daily line include some Sharp PS® Gold and Betaine HCL.

#PowerYourGreatness with one of these amazing Country Life Multivitamins added to your healthy diet and exercise routine as you continue to strive to reach your health goals.