You take a green smoothie for breakfast to fill your daily intake of vitamin B and magnesium, but then you remember that you have to add two more nut snacks during the day to round off the complete dosage of essential vitamins and minerals per day.
Taking vitamins and minerals through food or beverages is a proven healthy way of nurturing your body. However, our fast-paced lifestyles often create poor eating habits that lead to health obstructions and increase the risk of chronic diseases.
In that case, it is recommendable to consider multivitamins, dietary supplements that will help you partially compensate for the lack of certain nutrients and trace elements in your diet.
Multivitamins are the most commonly used dietary supplements in the world. These products may help you improve your immunity and reduce the risk of health obstructions.
Of course, taking nutrients from the medicine cabinet is not a long term solution as health and wellbeing require a balanced diet and regular exercise such as running. However, certain life conditions such as menopause, insomnia, high-stress levels, chronic diseases or pregnancy may require supplementation in favour of good health.
On the other hand, sometimes your regular diet, regardless of its nutritive value, is not efficient enough to provide you with all the necessary nutrients you may need. Therefore, it may be convenient to implement multivitamins in your daily routine.
Today’s market has an abundance of multivitamins so you may find yourself puzzled while looking at shelves in health stores or online.
Table of Contents
What are Multivitamins?
Multivitamins are supplements full of a variety of minerals and vitamins, often combined with other ingredients such as l- carnitine, echinacea or glucosamine.
Depending on the brand, multivitamins differ from one product to another since they may contain a different blend of ingredients. Multivitamins may be purchased as capsules, tablets, liquids, powders or as chewable products.
Usually, the recommended multivitamin intake for adults is one or two dosages per day. Nevertheless, we advise you to consult your physician or health care practitioner before choosing a specific supplement to purchase. You can find multivitamins in health stores, pharmacies, supermarkets and online.
Here is a list of the best Australian multivitamins that might help you find the perfect one for you:
Top 10 Multivitamins in Australia
1. Centrum Adult
Centrum Adult is one of the best multivitamins on the market, with the highest levels of Vitamin D3.
Backed by over 35 years of nutritional science, Centrum is a complete multivitamin supplement that is age-adjusted and contains key nutrients to support energy, immunity, and metabolism.
It is verified non-GMO and gluten-free. Easy to swallow.
2. Swisse IMMUNE FORTE
Swisse Immune Forte is formulated for your immune health.
A premium quality formula containing standardized Andrographis extract, herbs, vitamins & minerals, including 500mg of Vitamin C and Zinc, to help and maintain immune functions.
This supplement supports healthy immune response. Elderberries are a tiny, tart & delicious superfruit and one of the best-known botanicals to support your immune defences.
For 50 years, Swisse Wellness has been on a mission to source the world’s most premium ingredients inspire health and happiness globally with high-quality vitamins and supplements.
3. ON Optimum Nutrition
Optimum Nutrition’s Opti-Men is a complete Nutrient Optimization System providing 70+ active ingredients in 4 blends specifically designed to support the nutrient needs of active men.
Optimum Nutrition’s Opti-Women is a comprehensive multivitamin designed for the active female with botanicals, antioxidants, and other gender-focused components.
4. Beyond Tangy Tangerine
The world’s best & most complete multivitamins, mineral & amino acids supplement developed by Dr. Wallach.
Probiotics, higher ORAC score, certified organic ingredients and synergizing co-factors to maximize vitamin & mineral uptake. Also with a new, improved Citrus Peach flavour.
5. Nature’s Way Multi-Vitamin
Vita Gummies for Adults that support good health and wellbeing.
Delicious multivitamins for the family. Ideal for supporting good health and wellbeing
6. CENOVIS Multivitamin and Minerals
Supplement that promotes general wellbeing. Supports energy productions and a healthy immune system.
Helps to reduce free radical damage to body cells.
7. Voost Multivitamin Effervescent
VOOST Multivitamin C + Minerals Effervescent Tablets for general wellbeing in orange flavour.
Get your daily multivitamin BOOST.
Simple to use. Premium formulation. Great tasting.
8. Nu U Nutrition
Multivitamins and Minerals, All-in-One formula.
The best multivitamin with a full range of vitamins including vitamin A, B, C, D and K
Comprehensive Source of Essential Vitamins & Minerals To Supercharge Your Health!
9. GAT SPORT
Multivitamin with testosterone support.
It is formulated for active men.
Supports healthy immune function.
Complete nutrient support for athletes.
10. FUSION Health
Multivitamin and Mineral Advanced for men and women.
Best vitamins and minerals that will support your overall health and immune system.
The convenient multivitamin formula recommended daily, containing therapeutic levels of vitamins and minerals.
Benefits
Multivitamins usually contain between 12 and 20 minerals and vitamins that will support your health. These nutrients play a significant role in your body for the processes of growth, maintenance and regulation of bodily functions, as well as reproduction.
Some multivitamins also contain amino acids, herbs, and fatty acids, accompanied by a certain amount of minerals and vitamins. The nutrients in these supplements are either synthetic or derive from regular foods.
Studies have shown that multivitamins may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, menstrual obstructions, strokes and impeded brain function.
Research has shown that some multivitamins improve memory and mood. Multivitamins focused on antioxidants have shown a positive impact on slowing down the progression of aging and age-related macular degeneration [1].
Experts advise older adults to supplement their Vitamin B12, calcium and vitamin D as these decrease with age. Also, vegetarians and vegans should consume an additional amount of Vitamin B12, D, omega-3 fatty acids as plant-based diets are quite poor in these trace elements.
People who are following calorie-restricted diets, have a poor appetite or have undergone weight loss surgery should also try supplementing their diet and get extra nutrients.
Side Effects
Unnecessary supplementing, especially in large doses, can cause harm and result in deteriorated health.
According to experts, if you take vitamins to supplement along with a diet full of nutrients, you may experience health obstructions. Dosage is a top- priority to consider when taking multivitamins.
When taken in high doses, some vitamins and minerals have proven to be more harmful than others. One of the major factors for correct dosage is the solubility of the multivitamins.
Some multivitamins are water-soluble, meaning your body will get rid of the potential vitamin surplus. However, other types of vitamin supplements are fat-soluble, which means that your body may accumulate an excess amount of these over a longer period of time.
Fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E and K- E and K are considered nontoxic while A and D have proven toxic only when consumed in excessive amounts [2].
Overconsumption of multivitamins occurs only if you combine these supplements with a nutrient-dense eating routine. In addition, pregnant women, as well as athletes and smokers, should pay special attention when choosing multivitamins and must consult a health care specialist prior to use.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women may experience discomfort by taking too much vitamin A. On the other hand, smokers may also have problems if taking too much beta carotene or vitamin E.
Minerals may be equally harmful when consumed in excessive amounts. Also, a faulty production of multivitamins may cause them to accumulate more dense nutrients than necessary.
How to Use Multivitamins
When taken in excess, many vitamins can cause serious side effects. Make sure to consult your physician or health care practitioner before taking any supplements. Your doctor will take any potential medical conditions or allergies before prescribing specific multivitamins.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor before using this type of supplement. Even if you have been taking multivitamins before pregnancy, your dose may need to be changed. Certain vitamins and minerals, and certain dosage, may harm you or your unborn baby.
Please have in mind to never take more of the dosage prescribed by your physician or the one directed on the label. Use the multivitamin dietary supplement exactly as directed.
Avoid taking more than one multivitamin product simultaneously unless recommended differently. Taking vitamin or mineral products together may cause overdose or serious side effects.
Pay special attention to your mineral intake, excessive doses of minerals in your body may cause the following symptoms of potential health issues: increased urination, bleeding in the abdomen, disrupted heart rate, mental haze, muscle cramps or weakness, limp feeling, and stained teeth.
Carefully read the labels of multivitamin supplements in order to make sure of their exact content and dosage.
Take your recommended dosage of multivitamins with a glass of water. If your supplements are in the form of a chewable, chew each tablet before you swallow it.
If the multivitamins are sublingual, put the tablet under your tongue and wait until it dissolves completely. Do not chew or swallow a sublingual tablet directly.
Liquid multivitamins ought to be measured carefully. Use a medicine dose-measuring device or a dosing syringe to appoint the right dosage before consuming it.
Store multivitamins at room temperature. Keep them away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze them.
You should take multivitamins regularly in order to experience a change of improvement in health.
The Bottom Line
Multivitamins are not a guarantee for good health. There are a few scientific evidence that products with essential vitamins and minerals may improve poor health.
People who have experienced nutrient deficiency have supplemented specific nutrients, however, dietary supplements often contain excess vitamins and minerals that may do more harm than good to your body if taken uncautiously.
Please remember that multivitamins cannot permanently fix an unhealthy diet, nor they can cover-up bad lifestyle habits that harm your health and wellbeing.
Make sure you follow a diet with a balanced amount of nutrients and whole foods that will protect and strengthen your health.
