Today, the world of general health and wellness is undergoing a sea change in terms of awareness and application. The health market is upbeat with new and innovative health products being launched every day. Globally, nutritionists, dieticians and health practitioners are facing questions about the efficacy of multivitamins, supplements, and a plethora of other valuable ingredients carrying diverse health benefits. The obsession for health fads and products has increased to altogether new levels. Resultantly, the overall percentage of health mongers has increased. They are adding few health products and regimes to their lifestyle to feel less pain and better mental as well as physical health.
Why Multivitamins?
One of the primary health products topping the list of useful health products is multivitamins. Conventional multivitamins are usually recommended as pills, powders, capsules, and tablets. The dosage of these invaluable health supplements is ascertained and set by health practitioners. While most ingredients contained in multivitamins can be found in kitchens and larders, it is not possible to reach out to them at all times. Therefore, the need for supplementation is always there and has to be addressed in good time to avoid general health problems. Be it menopause, pregnancy, adolescence, or other chronic health conditions, you will need multivitamins to carry out your body functions effectively.
Here, we intend to throw light on the important ingredients that are needed in multivitamins delivered in any form. Whether you're using transdermal patches or oral means of getting your vitamin doses, what follows is for you.
Role of Multivitamins
Before delving into the important ingredients that are to be included in multivitamins, it's important to understand the role of health supplements. It has been established that several chronic diseases are attributed to vitamin deficiencies. Supplementation, as appropriately recommended by a doctor or nutritionist, can provide the nutrients that are lacking in your diet. Fortunately, multivitamins provide an easy and effective means of balancing out all health deficiencies. For example, your daily dose of vitamins can create a very positive and helpful foundation for good health. Health experts and nutritionists associated with PatchMD believe that regular intake of multivitamins enables proper sleep, less stress, and better metabolic functions. Even if your body is not getting proper exercise or rest, you can depend on multivitamins to supplement your diet. The challenge lies in the proper absorption of these nutrients.
Despite having the 'perfect diet' you may find that the multivitamins are failing to get absorbed into your body; the deficiencies persist even though you are investing in the right food. The answer lies in understanding what ingredients go into the making of effective multivitamins. Here's a quick rundown to facilitate your quest.
1. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is an important ingredient in multivitamins as it aids the absorption of calcium. Calcium is the super nutrient required for good bone health. Proper intake of this vitamin decreases the likelihood of back and bone pains, illnesses taking over, or hair and bone loss. Technically, your daily dose of vitamin D is possible by being under the direct rays of the sun for 15-20 minutes. This is not possible for most people because of their work schedules and lifestyles. Residing in wintery locations or regions that do not get enough sunlight adds to the problem on hand. This is the main reason why the best multivitamins are packed with the goodness of vitamin D. For example, if you are investing in multivitamin transdermal patches containing vitamin D, then you can be assured of getting adequate amounts of the vitamin through supplements.
2. Magnesium
Magnesium is another vital nutrient that can be obtained from supplements or food. Very important for energy production and bone health, magnesium has far-fetching benefits that can be added to your body via multivitamins. Magnesium eases out sleep-related problems, regulates nerve and muscle functions, balances out the levels of sugar in the bloodstream, synthesizes bone and protein, and also influences the formation of DNA. The most absorbent forms of magnesium are chloride, aspartate, lactate, citrate, etc. that are included in multivitamins.
3. Calcium
Calcium deficiency is the most common of all nutritional deficiencies. People who are deficient in calcium suffer from the poor health of their teeth and bones. Women tend to lose bone density faster than men. Therefore, it is very important to get enough calcium to prepare for any loss. Their nutritional defense can be strengthened by consuming food items that are rich in calcium such as dairy products, fortified cereals, broccoli and kale, lentils and beans, and so forth. However, if you fail to take a diet that's rich in these ingredients then multivitamins containing calcium can aid the cause.
4. Zinc
The presence of zinc starts reducing in people who are aging or undergoing high levels of stress. Transdermal patches containing zinc are vital for supporting your immune system. Zinc goes a long way in helping the body utilize protein, carbohydrates, and fat to provide energy. Faster healing of wounds is facilitated by zinc intake as well. Oysters, grass-fed beef, organ meats, tahini, sardines, spinach, etc. are food substances endowed with the goodness of zinc. In most cases, the diet of people fails to contain food items that have the right quantity of zinc in them. This is why nutritionists and health practitioners always recommend the supplementation of zinc through the right dosage of multivitamins and other alternatives to edible supplements, such as skin patches. As per experts in nutrition and health, the amount of zinc that has to be included through supplements would depend on your dietary intake.
5. Iron
The iron intake needed through supplements would vary from one person to another. If you are iron deficient, then you may be advised to regular doses of iron in multivitamins to increase your energy. Proper intake of iron leads to better brain functions and healthier red blood cells. If you are consuming red meat regularly, then in all likelihood, you are not iron deficient. However, the case may be different if you are pregnant, going through your menstrual cycle, or passing through the years of puberty. Iron is a vital nutrient for your development and growth. This is especially true for vegetarians and vegans who may need extra supplementation to balance out the need for iron in their body.
6. Folate
Folic acid or folate is known for preventing birth defects and aiding fetus development. The other uses of folate are connected with fighting depression, improving the health of your nails, combating inflammation, etc. Foods with folate include dark leafy greens, avocado, citrus, beans, and so forth.
7. Vitamin B-12
The B-vitamin complex consists of eight components that work in unison to generate and sustain high levels of energy in your body. Vitamin B-12 complex is useful for breaking down different types of micronutrients consumed (fats, carbs, proteins, and so forth). Vitamin B-12 is useful for maintaining the health of blood cells and nerves in the body. It is also useful for the synthesis of DNA, which is the primary genetic material of all types of cells. Vegetarians and vegans are generally prone to the deficiency of vitamin B-12 as they do not consume poultry, fish, meat, and eggs.
Way Forward with Multivitamins
It's worth a recall that food sources should be tapped as far as possible for getting the required quantity of nutrients daily. Only when this is not possible, multivitamins should be taken as recommended by healthcare experts. Instead of pills and capsules, you may consider using transdermal patches for getting maximum benefits from multivitamins. Whatever the method of delivery, it would do you good to get the required dosage of vitamins and minerals as and when recommended. After all, it's all about maintaining your health!
