How To Chose Quality Vitamins

I was recently asked what constitutes a quality multivitamin and how Herbalife vitamins compare to what I may recommend.   Here are some tips to help you determine if you are buying a quality vitamin:

First of all, a quality multivitamin must break down in your system within 30 minutes of ingestion or you are not getting any of the nutrients contained in it.  I cannot tell you how many times I have taken lumbar x-rays and seen a person’s multivitamin (as a shadow in their soft tissue) on the x-ray. Cheap multivitamins such as Centrum and One a Day are too bound up with binders and fillers that make it impossible for that vitamin to dissolve in your GI tract. Here is how you can test your multivitamin - put your multivitamin in a dish with enough vinegar to cover it.  If the vitamin dissolves within 30 minutes, it is made of quality ingredients that your body can readily absorb.

Second, quality multivitamins, such as Multigenics by Metagenics (which is what our office carries), Catalyn by Standard Process, and Douglas Labs multivitamin undergo rigorous testing.   A quality company will formulate supplements based on scientific research, use the best raw materials, and pay independent labs to make sure that their product is contaminant free and meets the nutrient claims.

Third, there should be an expiration date on your multivitamin. Without it, who knows how long ago it was made? 

Forth, look for red flags on the label; sugar, artificial colors and flavors, and preservatives are all unnecessary in a supplement.  Another red flag is added chemicals like chlorine. 

Fifth, a quality multivitamin should also have much more than 100% of the RDA for many of the nutrients. Why? The RDA was established only to ward off serious disease.  The RDA does not reflect our current scientific understanding of what nutrient levels promote optimal health.  As an example, the RDA for vitamin C is 60 mg per day to prevent scurvy.  Our bodies use  2-5 times that (or more) each day for tissue repair and collagen formation.  A quality multivitamin will have more than the RDA for each nutrient, but in a proper balance to support healthy body function and prevent excess of vitamins.

So how do Herbalife vitamins stack up? Their multivitamin has only 100% (or less) of the RDA for each nutrient, and that is only if someone takes it as directed, with each meal.  If you are looking for a quality multivitamin, consider the tips above and make an informed decision.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at patientservices@schubbeappleton.com.