So I want to see my loved ones he althy and full of strength all year round. To strengthen the immune system, increase efficiency and improve the quality of life, we often take multivitamins for the whole family. This inspires confidence that the body is provided with everything necessary, which means it will work perfectly. Is it really? What are modern vitamin preparations? About all this today in our article.
General composition of popular complexes
Today everyone knows that multivitamins are complex supplements containing all the substances necessary for the body (in a daily dosage). Taking one capsule a day, you provide yourself with vitamins until the next day. This is especially important with serious physical and emotional stress or an unbalanced diet. Today, there are two types of drugs on the market: one includes only a set of vitamins, the second additionally replenishes the body's needs for minerals and trace elements.
The amount of biologically active substances in each complex is different anddepends on which company produces multivitamins. As a rule, these are vitamins A, C, D, E, B, nicotinic, folic and pantothenic acids. Minerals usually include such important elements as calcium, iron, zinc, iodine, copper, chromium, selenium.
This diversity is both a plus and a minus of these complexes. Multivitamins are universal preparations that contain a fixed set of substances and do not take into account the individual characteristics of the body. In order for one of their species to suit everyone, manufacturers significantly reduce the dosage of vitamins and minerals. Usually it does not exceed a third of the daily requirement. Accordingly, such a dosage will not harm, but if there is an acute shortage of a particular element, then this cannot be solved. You need to pass laboratory tests and undergo a course of treatment with a single drug.
Myths and misconceptions about taking vitamins
There are quite a lot of them in modern society. Any ailment is considered to be a sign of a lack of vitamins, and therefore a trip to the clinic is replaced by the purchase of a bright box. This is not entirely true. Only a doctor can make a correct diagnosis and make an appointment for you. Whether it's overwork, banal acute respiratory infections or any other disease, comprehensive measures are needed, and not just multivitamins. The composition of these drugs includes several dozen useful substances, but all this can be obtained in a natural way, just by eating right.
Large-scale studies have been conducted that have shown that taking vitamin complexes does notprotects you from colds and flu, can not serve as a prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, natural biologically active substances that enter the body with food are absolutely safe, which cannot be said about tablet forms. This is already a medicine that should not be taken constantly and without good reason.
Natural sources of essential nutrients
Surely many of you bought multivitamins. The price for them is usually quite tangible. I really want to believe that such a beautiful and expensive package is fraught with a real salvation for your body. In fact, a complex preparation can contain only a dozen or two useful substances that are produced chemically. And it is still unknown how much they will be absorbed by the body. The simplest and most affordable foods give you several times more vitamins and minerals, and in exactly the form in which your gastrointestinal tract is ready to take them.
Speaking of he althy foods, everyone immediately thinks about fruits, less often vegetables. But that's not all. The irreplaceable vitamin B12 is found in seafood, fatty fish (salmon, trout), and beef. The second representative of this group - B6 - you will get from chicken meat, chickpeas, bananas and potatoes. Folic acid is found in beans, lentils, asparagus and orange juice. Vitamin E can be easily obtained by eating vegetable oils, nuts, carrots and pumpkins. And the familiar ascorbic acid (C) is extracted by the body from apples, cabbage, bell peppers and many other products.
Don't forget aboutthe need to eat eggs is a real pantry of amino acids and vitamins. Whole grains provide a complete set of minerals. And besides, also a lot of vitamins. Building a balanced menu is not so difficult. It should include fish, meat, vegetables and cereals, eggs and dairy products. Then you don't have to buy multivitamins. Their price today ranges from 250 to 1000 rubles per pack for 20 days. Multiply this amount by the number of people in the family and you will see how much you can save per month.
How to choose the right one
If the fast pace of life does not allow you to eat right, then pharmacy complexes of vitamins will come to the rescue. Today there is plenty to choose from, the shelves in pharmacies are full of elegant packages, among which you need to find your own. First of all, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer. More trust is caused by well-known brands, whose product quality has been tested by time. Be sure to check the package for important nutrients such as folic acid, iron, zinc, vitamins D and C. Requirements for these vary by gender and age, but this will be discussed below. In solving the difficult question of how to choose the best multivitamins, the reviews of friends will not help much, because we are all different, everyone has a different rhythm of life and, therefore, needs.
Children's he alth is the most important thing for parents
Probably the most pressing issue in this thread is multivitamins for children. The child is growing and changing rapidly, his energy costs are incommensurable with ours, even ifan adult leads an active lifestyle. Babies are so inquisitive and restless.
Often, parents are faced with the challenge of providing adequate nutrition for their child. He refuses meat and fish, does not eat cottage cheese, does not like vegetables. I have to persuade for hours to eat a spoonful of porridge or a piece of cheese. That is why multivitamins for children are perceived as a kind of lifeline that will help compensate for the lack of necessary substances.
Parents here can only be advised one thing: directly from the period of pregnancy, switch to a he althy diet yourself. It is known that we get food addictions while still in the womb, therefore, gobbling up cakes and sandwiches with sausage, waiting for the birth of a child, it is difficult to hope for a baby's love for porridge. From the first complementary foods, start giving vegetable rather than fruit purees, give up dry breakfasts and other convenience foods. Bring home sweets as little as possible.
The best vitamin complexes for children
The most popular brand is Alphabet. Made in Russia, they are distinguished by moderate cost and excellent quality. The main advantage is that vitamins and minerals are divided into groups and divided into three doses per day. At the same time, you give the child one tablet, and all its components not only combine, but also complement each other's action.
The second place is occupied by vitamins "MultiTabs", Denmark. These are fruit flavored chewable tablets that contain 11 vitamins and 7 minerals. Convenient shapeintake, one tablet once a day.
Syrups "Pikovit", "Sanasol" are intended for children from 2 months. This is a convenient shape for the little ones. But before buying this or that complex, be sure to consult with your local pediatrician.
Vitamins for beauty and he alth
Women's beauty is a very fragile thing. Silky hair, beautiful skin and neat manicure are the result of not only proper care, but also good nutrition. Often women complain that when they get married, they start to look worse. Worries, stresses, the birth of children, constant employment, snacks on the go, and diet abuse affect. If all this is about you, then it is advisable to start using multivitamins. Reviews of friends and a pharmacist can only serve as a guideline, when choosing a complex for yourself, pay attention to the content of the following substances:
- Vitamin D - at least 600 IU. He althy bones, strong immunity and normal blood pressure depend on it. It is indeed produced by exposure to sunlight, but if you work mostly indoors, how real is contact with the sun for you?
- Iron - at least 18 milligrams. This condition is mandatory, as monthly blood loss must be compensated.
- Folic Acid - 400 micrograms.
The best complexes for lovely ladies
The first in the ranking is the complex "Lady C" ("More than a multivitamin" formula). Reviews say thatit is this drug that seriously stimulates mental and physical activity, normalizes metabolism and hormonal levels, improves the condition of the skin and hair. In addition to vitamins and minerals, the complex includes extracts and extracts of various plants.
Alfavit is second in popularity. Next are the complexes Vitrum, MultiTabs, Complivit, and closes the list of the most popular complexes Centrum.
Stress resistance and performance
These are the qualities that men need to maintain daily. Daily serious workloads, stress, life at an accelerated pace - all this gradually undermines he alth. Nerve cells need special nutrition in order to have time to recover. When choosing multivitamins for men, you need to pay attention to the content of vitamins C, E and B. The first and last are used by the male body in shock doses. A sufficient amount of them allows you to maintain cheerfulness, energy and activity throughout the day, normalizes and strengthens potency, puts the nervous system in order. With an irregular or unbalanced diet, special multivitamins for men come to the rescue.
The best complexes for men
The “More than multivitamins” complex has proven itself best today. This is a drug specially designed for men who lead an active lifestyle. And for those who are subject to significant both physical and mental stress. This multivitamin ("Mens" formula) contains 20 vitamins, 11 minerals and 4extract of medicinal plants.
In addition, you can drink Duovit for men or any universal vitamin complex. In combination with good nutrition, they will not cause an overdose and compensate for the lack of those substances that are consumed the least.
Summary of conclusions
Vitamins and minerals are essential substances that must be present in the diet every day. You can go in two ways: diversify and optimize your menu as much as possible, or resort to the help of special complexes. Especially relevant is their use in childhood, as this is a period of rapid growth. Do not forget to take them during pregnancy, as the mother's body must provide the fetus with everything necessary for development. For adults, the need for vitamins remains relevant during periods of increased physical and mental stress, as well as recovery after a serious illness.
