Buying vitamins can be difficult and daunting when you go to the drugstore or supermarket and see the endless array of vitamin brands on the shelf. You know in your mind some are top rated vitamins and some are most likely inferior, but how do you know which ones to choose?
What to Look For
Laboratory Tested: Make sure the label states that the vitamins have been laboratory tested for effectiveness and that they are approved by the USP.
Preservatives: Top rated vitamins will NOT contain a lot of preservatives as well as artificial coloring, sugars, and starches. These are usually ingredients that are included in inferior vitamin brands and are not useful to your body. Always check the label to see what exactly is in the vitamins and then check under “Other Ingredients.”
Most vitamin brands will list the top ingredients and then the extra ingredients such as gelatin separately. It should also list any ingredients that people with food allergies should be concerned about such as wheat.
Natural: The vitamins should be listed as natural instead of synthetically produced. Natural vitamins are absorbed by the body a lot easier than synthetically produced vitamins. It is very difficult to tell what is in synthetic vitamins so chances are your body will not absorb them and they will just pass through your system.
About Multi-Vitamins: Top rated vitamins that offer a multi-vitamin should contain the complete set of B vitamins. Some multi-vitamins only offer a few of the B vitamins such as Riboflavin or Folic Acid.
Expiration Date: Always check the expiration date that is listed on the bottle. Your body will not absorb vitamins that are beyond the expiration date, not to mention it is potentially unsafe.
A Few Things to Avoid
Extra Strength: Avoid vitamins that offer extra strength along with the extra price tag. This is not needed for the recommended daily vitamin intake.
Chelated Minerals: A lot of companies justify the higher price tag by offering chelated minerals. It is questionable as to whether chelated minerals really absorb faster in your body and the extra price tag is really not worth it. The fact is top rated vitamins will absorb well no matter what.
A Little Tip: One way to determine whether or not a vitamin pill is of high potency and in accordance with the expiration date is to place the pill in a cup of apple cider vinegar. If the pill does not dissolve within 10 minutes, the ingredients are old and the pill will only pass through your system without absorption.
A Few of the Best Brands
Here are a few of the general top rated vitamins on the market. You should also check with your physician because everyone has different nutritional needs depending upon the state of their health.
One A Day Men’s Health: One a Day has been around for a long time and has built a reputation. Consumer reviews give this vitamin a thumbs-up due to the fact the supplement has no iron which is important to men’s health. Price ranges around $10 for 100 tablets.
Centrum: This top rated vitamin is especially efficient for pre-menopausal women due to it high iron content. It also contains the right balance of vitamin A and folic acid. Price range is about $13 for a bottle of 180 tablets.
Nature Made: This is a top rated vitamin due to its purely natural ingredients which is important to bodily absorption. They offer a wide variety of vitamins based on your health needs and prices vary according to the type of vitamin you are seeking.
