Should I Take a Multivitamin?

Are you wondering if you should start taking vitamin supplements? Check out our extensive guide on multivitamins and the health benefits they can offer.

Vitamin supplements have been around for a while, but their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. It seems like there's a vitamin supplement for everything under the sun. Have a headache? Take a vitamin supplement. Suffer from leg cramps? Pop some vitamin pills. Need a little more energy? The answer is more vitamins, vitamins, vitamins!

With so many different vitamin products out there, it's easy to see why some people feel like these dietary supplements are just a bunch of hype. If you are one of those people, we get it! But the truth is, vitamins and minerals play really important roles in our bodies. And if we don't get enough of them from our daily diets, we could suffer negative health repercussions. You may even be suffering from some of those health repercussions right now without realizing the root cause!

So before you dismiss vitamin and mineral supplements as a waste of time (and money), give us a few minutes to change your point of view. Here are some things you should know about vitamin supplements such as Hermulti, how they can boost your health, and how to tell if you should start taking them.

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients that help the body run like a well-tuned machine. If we get enough of these nutrients from a healthy diet, then we're in good shape. But if we struggle to eat a balanced diet, then we're probably not getting enough of the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to thrive.

Even people who generally eat healthy food may still struggle with certain vitamin or mineral deficiencies. Thankfully, nutritional supplements can help fill in the gaps and ensure we're getting an adequate number of the most essential vitamins and minerals our bodies need.

Some vitamins are water-soluble while others are fat-soluble. This just means that some vitamins require dietary fat for absorption by the body, while others only require water for absorption.

Water soluble vitamins include:

• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
• Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid)
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
• Vitamin B3 (niacin)
• Vitamin B9 (folate)
• Vitamin B7 (biotin)

Since these vitamins are soluble in water, your body is pretty good at getting rid of excess levels through the urine. So you don't need to worry about taking too many water-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins, on the other hand, can be stored in the body's fat tissues. That means you need to be a little more careful about not taking them in extremely high doses.

Fat soluble vitamins include:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D (cholecalciferol)
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K

Vitamin D is one of the most commonly deficient vitamins (especially in women). Since vitamin D plays so many important roles in our body (including maintaining bone health, boosting mood, and supporting healthy tissues), it's important to make sure our bodies have enough.

Some research shows that prolonged vitamin D deficiency can lead to heart disease and cancer. This is something that should concern you if you have a family history of cardiovascular disease or cancer. Taking a vitamin D supplement is a good idea if you show any signs of vitamin D3 deficiency (such as fatigue, tooth decay, hair loss, back pain, and frequent illness).

Vitamin and mineral supplements come in various forms and contain different types and amounts of ingredients. You can find gummy vitamins, vitamin powder, and vitamins in tablet and pill forms. Some of these products contain many essential nutrients, while others may contain just one or two. The type you choose to consume depends on your particular vitamin deficiency needs.

For most people, a general multivitamin is a great choice because it contains a variety of vitamins and minerals that your body needs to thrive. Hermulti is an exceptional multivitamin supplement because it contains all the major vitamins and minerals you need, in effective amounts. It also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which aren't vitamins or minerals but are still necessary for optimal health. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish such as salmon and tuna. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats, which means our bodies can't make them but must instead get them from the foods we eat.

If we have inadequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids, we could experience skin dryness, mood swings, poor sleep quality, and joint pain. In addition to taking Hermulti, we can also get omega-3 fatty acids from seafood, walnuts, kidney beans, and fish oil.

Here are some of the top vitamins and other nutrients we can find in products like Hermulti, and why each ingredient is essential for good health.

Vitamin D: Often called the "Sunshine Vitamin," vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. That's why you should always take a vitamin D supplement along with your calcium supplement. When vitamin D and calcium are taken together, they provide maximum bone-support benefits. Vitamin D also helps stave off osteoporosis and boosts mental focus.

Potassium: Potassium is a mineral and electrolyte that is found in all body tissues. It helps maintain optimal intracellular fluid volume and supports normal cell function. Taking potassium may reduce your risk of developing kidney stones and help keep your blood pressure in the normal range.

Vitamin A: Vitamin A is very important for vision support. It also boosts immune function and helps support your reproductive processes.

Vitamin E: To keep your blood, vision, skin, and reproductive system working optimally, it's important to make sure you're getting enough vitamin E. The good news is that it's rare to experience a vitamin E deficiency. In addition to its status as an important nutrient, vitamin E is also a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow down cell damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules produced by exposure to toxins). It's wise to take antioxidant supplements if you want to slow down the aging process in your body.

Vitamin K: If you're not familiar with vitamin K, don't worry. A lot of people are unaware that this vitamin even exists. Though it isn't as well-known as other vitamins, vitamin K is still important for good health. It's a fat-soluble vitamin that assists with bone metabolism, blood clotting, and building proteins.

Thiamine: Also known as vitamin B1, thiamine is important for nerve and muscle function. It also helps metabolize glucose and keeps the cells functioning optimally. Thiamine was the first B vitamin to be discovered by scientists.

Riboflavin: Our bodies need riboflavin (vitamin B2) because it helps us take the nutrients from the foods we eat and convert them into energy. Riboflavin also functions as an antioxidant and helps our bodies neutralize free radicals.

Niacin: Niacin is yet another B vitamin (vitamin B3, to be precise) that helps our bodies convert food into energy. Niacin helps keep our skin, nervous system, and digestive system healthy.

Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is necessary to keep our immune and nervous systems in good working order. We also need sufficient pyridoxine to help our brains develop normally.

Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is very important for nerve function, cell metabolism, and red blood cell formation. Like the other B vitamins, it helps convert food into energy. Vitamin B12 also plays a role in the production of DNA.

Biotin: Our bodies need biotin (vitamin B7) to help us metabolize proteins and fats. Biotin also plays a key role in gene regulation and keeping the liver, hair, skin, and eyes healthy. Biotin can also help lower blood glucose.

Pantothenic Acid: Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) helps us break down fats and create energy from the foods we eat. It also helps manage cortisol production and assists with wound healing.

Folate: Folate is-you guessed it-another B vitamin! This one is also known as vitamin B9, or folic acid. Folate is very important for mental health and immunity. When combined with vitamin B12, folate helps to form blood cells. Pregnant women usually need to increase their intake of folate, since they're more likely to be deficient in it. Folate deficiency in a pregnant woman increases her baby's risk of birth defects. That's why folate supplements are often recommended to women who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant.

Iodine: Iodine is an essential micronutrient because your body needs it but can't produce it. That means you have to get iodine from the foods you eat or the supplements you take. Iodine is used for many different bodily functions and helps produce thyroid hormones. People with iodine deficiencies usually have thyroid problems.

Magnesium: If you care about the health of your heart, bones, and metabolism, you should make sure you're getting enough magnesium in your daily diet. Magnesium helps support healthy heart function and bone development. Low levels of magnesium can lead to an increased risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure. If you're deficient in this important nutrient, a magnesium supplement can help.

Zinc: Zinc is well known for its role in boosting immune function. It also helps keep our skin healthy. Since it's a trace mineral, you only need a small amount of zinc every day to reap its benefits.

Selenium: Some fortified foods contain selenium, which is a trace mineral that helps control metabolism. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant and can reduce the risk of chronic disease.

Manganese: Manganese is yet another trace mineral that our body only needs in small amounts. Manganese assists with normal brain function, healthy nervous system function, and bone health.

Chromium: Chromium helps the body regulate insulin and blood sugar. It also assists with the metabolization of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Only a very small amount of chromium is needed by the human body each day.

Molybdenum: Though it has a funny name, molybdenum plays a serious role in activating certain chemical reactions in the body. It also helps break down sulfites, which are sometimes added to foods to preserve them. Sulfites can, unfortunately, build up in the body and cause a variety of problems (such as skin issues, breathing difficulties, and allergic reactions). Molybdenum can help minimize these reactions by breaking down sulfites in the body.

All of these important nutrients are found in ideal amounts within Hermulti. They can also be found in some multivitamin supplements that come in pill or capsule form.

You don't have to take a supplement to get the vitamins you need. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is the best way to meet your body's nutritional requirements. You can also choose fortified foods that contain added nutrients to boost your health.

There are certain vitamins that a lot of people tend to be deficient in. Here are some foods for vitamins you may want to eat more of:

• Vitamin B12 (cobalamin): Boost your intake of this vitamin by consuming meat products, poultry, milk, eggs, fish (such as trout, tuna, and salmon), and plain Greek yogurt.
• Vitamin D: If you pay attention, you'll notice that a lot of foods are fortified with vitamin D, including breakfast cereals, orange juice, and milk. If you prefer natural sources of this vitamin, eat more tuna, mushrooms, salmon, whole eggs, and sardines.
• Folate: Leafy green vegetables, fruit juice, fruits, and legumes are all rich in folate.
• Vitamin A: Consume more carrots, broccoli, winter squash, sweet potatoes, and spinach if you need more vitamin A.
• Vitamin B6: You can increase your vitamin B6 intake by enjoying foods such as bananas, garbanzo beans, baked potatoes, and chicken.

If you don't like all of these foods or you don't get enough of them in your regular meals, supplementation may be a good option. Though food sources of vitamins and minerals are always preferred, supplements can help fill in our nutritional gaps and prevent us from developing potentially serious nutrient deficiencies.

If you're still not certain whether vitamin supplementation is right for you, try not to overthink things. If you eat a healthy diet and you feel great, you can probably get by just fine without supplementation. But if you struggle to fill your plate with healthy, nutrient-dense foods every day, a quality multivitamin product could help you feel your best.

Another way to tell for sure if you need a vitamin supplement is to have your blood tested for different nutrients. A blood test will reveal anything you may be deficient in so you can take a customized approach to supplementing your diet.

Vitamin supplements work by delivering micronutrients directly to your body. Quality vitamin supplements are formulated with all the ingredients that must be paired together for optimum efficiency. For example, vitamin B12 only works efficiently when it's combined with other B vitamins. Similarly, when vitamin D is combined with calcium in the same formula, the combination helps to maximize calcium absorption.

Taking a multivitamin supplement every day can boost your body's nutrient absorption. But you should never rely solely on supplements to make you healthy. You won't get much benefit from a multivitamin if you're only feeding your body junk foods, sugary drinks, and other nutrient-poor menu items.

For best results boosting your physical and mental health, you should only take supplements to ... well ... supplement a healthy way of eating. Make it your goal to get most of your body's nutrient needs from fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy proteins. Remember, you can never out-supplement a poor diet.

When you're shopping for the right vitamin supplement, here are a few things you should look for:

• Ease of use: Most multivitamin pills and capsules are really big. So if you don't think you can swallow a big pill or capsule, look for a vitamin supplement in another form (such as a drink mix).
• Good micronutrient selection: To get the best results from your multivitamin supplement, look for one that contains a good selection of vitamins and minerals. If the ingredients list has fewer than 10 ingredients, you may want to look for a more comprehensive product.
• Great taste: If you're choosing a powdered multivitamin product, you want to make sure it's palatable or you'll never take it. Fortunately, Hermulti is more than just palatable. It tastes really good! So you'll actually enjoy taking it every day.

Hermulti goes above and beyond when it comes to giving you the micronutrients your body needs to function optimally. It contains all the essential vitamins and minerals you need for various body functions, and it contains higher amounts of these nutrients than most other multivitamin products. As an added bonus, Hermulti is formulated with omega-3 fatty acids and contains a digestive enzyme blend to facilitate optimal digestion and absorption.

Just mix a packet of Hermulti into an 8 - 10 oz. glass of water and enjoy! You can also combine this formula with other Mixhers products for an even greater health benefit. If you aren't sure what other Mixhers products your body needs, head over to our Mixhers resources page and find helpful information for choosing the right supplements to support a healthy lifestyle.