The Multi-vitamin, the beginning of it all. From when you were a kid eating that sweet, colorful, tasty treat, fast forward to adulthood and the less enthusiastic gulp or the thought of, “how many times did I forget to take my vitamins?!” The multi-vitamin is the first step to a consciously healthier diet and lifestyle.
Why do we need a multi-vitamin? In a perfect world we wouldn’t need one, but in today’s hectic society not many of us get the necessary daily vitamin needs to keep our bodies working optimally. We all have different needs so there is no one size fits all, but these are products that will help the average person get much needed nutrients that are lacking from their diet. Many multi-vitamins today have other beneficial compounds that can assist in everything from digestion to extra energy. Now if you are ready to start your journey to a healthier life, we’ll outline for you our top picks for the best multi-vitamin that best meets your needs.
Our top pick for the best multi-vitamin is Thorne Research Multi-vitamin Elite A.M. and P.M.
Thorne Research is one of the highest regarded supplement manufacturers in the industry. Thorne has been around since the 80’s and has built a great track record of having high quality products. Their multi-vitamins are produced in a factory that is third-party certified by multiple organizations, including NSF certified for sport. Thorne’s Elite multi-vitamin is a two-part system with an A.M. and P.M. formula. Both formulas deliver needed vitamins and minerals to support strong bones, immune function, heart, blood vessel, and nerve health.
The A.M. formula is designed to promote energy production and we recommend, taken daily in the morning with breakfast. The compounds that assist you are Mervia, curcumin and green tea, which have other benefits such as joint and muscle soreness relief, anti-inflammatory and joint mobility support. Green tea is also a proven fat burner, which speeds up your metabolism. Moreover, these compounds promote cellular energy production, giving you increased energy to get you through your work day and workout.
The P.M. Formula is designed to enhance rest and recovery, taken daily, at night with dinner. The compounds that assist you is a proprietary blend of magnolia and phellodendron extracts. This compound helps to down-regulate evening cortisol levels that can cause anxiety and high cortisol levels have been shown to increase fat levels in the body. Another benefit is that it can assist in curbing late-night cravings, while extra magnesium can support more restful sleep. Trials have shown that athletes who took Thorne Multi-vitamin Elite P.M. fell asleep faster and achieved better sleep quality.
Our budget pick for best multi-vitamin is Optimum Nutrition Opti-Men or Opti-Woman.
Optimum nutrition has been around since the 80’s and is a very familiar brand in the world of health and fitness. They are UK based and according to their website have a Certificate of Analysis for every ingredient in their products and their plant is Informed Sport and Informed Choice registered. Their Opti-Men/Women is formulated to support cellular energy & metabolism, muscle health, and immunity health. Opti-Men/Women is taken daily, Opti-Men is three times/Opti-Women is two times, best with meals spread throughout the day (ex. – breakfast, lunch, dinner). The Opti-Men/Women has a well balanced list of essential vitamins and minerals for your daily needs.
Opti-Men adds an amino blend for needed amino acids for muscle building. Another blend is Phyto Men, which has green tea powder for energy and many other fruit and vegetable powders for an impressively rounded list. A Viri Men blend, which has saw palmetto extract for prostate support, ginseng extract for energy, and ginkgo biloba extract for brain support amongst other extracts. Rounding it off with an Enzyme blend to support food digestion and breakdown.
Opti-Women adds dong quai extract and chasteberry that have been shown to help with menstrual cramps, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and menopausal symptoms. Garcinia extract can help assist weight loss by curbing appetite. It has uva ursi extract which as been shown to reduce inflammation. Other extracts, horse chestnut and butcher’s broom have great anti-inflammatory and circulatory benefits as well. Moreover, there are additional extracts that support various bodily functions and processes.
Our top pick for best multi-vitamin for kids is Smarty Pants Kids Formula.
Our top pick for best multi-vitamin for seniors is Thorne Research Men’s Multi or Women’s Multi 50+.