Why A Multivitamin And Why Personalized?

personalized vitamins: the real deal or a passing fad

Multivitamins first came onto the scene in the 1940s, and have become increasingly more popular over time. Nowadays, more Americans take some sort of multivitamin than not, which has turned the supplement industry into a 30 billion dollar per year venture. Now we have begun going a step further with vitamin and supplement companies expanding into the personalized nutrition segment. But, to really understand why you should even consider buying into what seems like just another fad, it’s important to know why you need to be taking a multivitamin in the first place. 

What Is The Purpose Of A Multivitamin?

Multivitamins are the most popular form of vitamins taken. In 2018, a study showed that 75 percent of American adults took a multivitamin, and 87 percent of them were confident in the quality and effectiveness of what they were taking. 

People most commonly take multivitamins in order to obtain some sort of healthy lifestyle, in whatever that looks like to them. To be clear, taking a multivitamin is not going to increase your chance of immortality. Realistic expectations are needed when taking any supplements.

Picked For You: 8 Reasons To Take A Daily Multivitamin

Here’s what you can expect from your multivitamin:

  • When combined with a proper diet, your multivitamin will be more effective and have better health benefits. You can not rely on vitamins alone, it’s a group effort.
  • Because it really isn’t easy to fit in all those daily requirements of nutrients from diet alone, a good multivitamin will fill in those gaps. 

People who would benefit from a multivitamin (especially a personalized one):

  • Women who are considering becoming pregnant, are pregnant, or breastfeeding should be taking a prenatal vitamin
  • Teenagers who historically don’t get proper nutrition
  • If you have a weak immune systems
  • Elderly people
  • If you’ve been diagnosed with a deficiency
  • Vegans and vegetarians
  • If you’re diet is not very balanced
  • If you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol

Do Vitamins Really Even Work?

This is a weighted question. Again, it comes down to realistic expectations placed on the multivitamin, or vitamins in general. If you’re only taking a multivitamin because you believe it’s going to allow you to live forever, beat every type of illness that has the potential to be thrown at you, or give you some type of superpowers, then no. Your multivitamin, even if it’s personalized, is not going to work the way you expect it to.

If you’re taking vitamins to make up for what you aren’t getting from your diet and lifestyle, and you’re taking the appropriate dose, then it absolutely works. If you’re making sure to take supplements that don’t have fillers, dyes, and anything other than actual vitamins, then you’re even better off.

Do I Have To Take It Every Single Day?

Listen, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. But, in order to reap the rewards of a nutrient balanced body, then you probably should consider taking your daily multivitamin, well, daily. 

If your diet is super healthy and well-rounded, and you don’t seem to have huge gaps in your nutrient intake, then it may not be a big deal to miss a dose here and there. 

There are recommended daily values for each vitamin which is based on age and gender of healthy people. Your doctor may determine through blood work that you need more or less of the recommended dosing. If you’re on any type of medication, you must check with your doctor to make sure there are no contraindications. For example, you don’t want to amp up your Vitamin K if you’re on a blood thinner.  

To get the most out of your multivitamin, then taking it every single day is considered best practice. And, some supplements need to be taken daily because they need time to build up in your system before you can feel the positive effects. 

How Long Does It Take For Vitamins To Work?

You aren’t feeling great, and you know it’s because you’re deficient in certain vitamins. It’s only natural to be curious about how long it’s going to take till they kick in and you start feeling better. Multivitamins are not like prescription or over-the-counter medications, which, depending on what you’re taking can give you quick relief. 

The thing about taking vitamins is, it depends on how severely deficient in the vitamins you are as to how long it will take to notice that they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing. It could take a few days. It could take a few weeks. Or somewhere in between. 

You also will need to take into account the quality of the vitamins you’re taking, what dosage you’re on, and how well they absorb into your system. If you’re working on your diet in conjunction with taking your supplements, then most likely you’ll notice when you’re feeling better. 

Read: Megadosing: What It Is And Why Companies Are Doing It?

Is A Personalized Vitamin Worth It?

Your body make up and my body make up are not the same. Neither is your next door neighbor, spouse, or best friend. We all have different needs. Multivitamins from the vitamin store takes care of a more generic, one-sized approach to the vitamin taking ritual. Going the personalized vitamin route will give you more of what YOUR body needs. 

By taking the personalized quiz, you’ll end up with a daily multivitamin tailored specifically toward your nutritional gaps.

Pair our powder to liquid multivitamin with the Tespo Connect dispenser for a perfectly blended vitamin serving. 

For Further Reading:

The Truth About What’s In Your Vitamins

References:

http://www.crnusa.org/CRN-consumersurvey-archives/2015/