Even if you stick to a balanced diet packed with the healthiest food sources and exercise regularly, you would still need to bridge the nutrition gap. This is because not everyone can absorb minerals and vitamins equally and get all the benefits of the food source. That’s where multivitamins come into the picture. Supplementation through proper diet and multivitamins can make the difference between feeling fit and healthy and sluggish and undernourished. While they are important, not all supplements are created equal, and consuming the wrong ones in the wrong way can be counterproductive.
This article lists some common mistakes people make while choosing the best multivitamins for men:
- Consuming too little or too much
You need to find the “Goldilocks Zone”, which is just the right amount of multivitamins you need to consume. There is no DV (Daily Value) or RDS (Recommended Daily Allowance) for consuming multivitamin supplements, and it is recommended to consult dieticians and health experts to know the right amount. Many health professionals recommend that the best multivitamins for men are the ones that are labeled “optimal” instead of “100% of daily intake.” A helpful tip is to read the labels and consult your dietician about the required percentage of nutrients. - Taking fat-soluble vitamins on an empty stomach
The best multivitamin supplements for men can also be ineffective if not consumed with the food. Vitamins like A, D, and K are better absorbed in our system when they interact with the fat in our food, and some fat-soluble vitamins can also cause gastric problems if consumed on an empty stomach. Many health experts suggest taking vitamin D supplements during breakfast as this helps in releasing serotonin in the system, keeping you active throughout the day. Similarly, vitamin K works with calcium to provide healthy bones and aids in getting deep sleep when taken with magnesium. - Taking vitamins at the wrong time
This is one of the most common mistakes people make while taking multivitamin supplements. As discussed earlier, even the best multivitamins for men will not work if not taken with the right food or at the right time. So, try consuming vitamin D supplements with magnesium at night as this helps in sleeping better. On the other hand, if you take vitamin B at night, it will boost your energy levels, hindering your ability to sleep. - Taking water-soluble vitamin doses in one go
Water-soluble vitamins can be easily flushed out from the body, which makes it difficult for them to be absorbed in the bloodstream. As a result, you will not get the right amount of multivitamins even if they are labeled as “optimal.” Also, taking all the multivitamins at once can result in peaks and valleys of vitamins in the blood. Several health experts suggest splitting the dose of supplements to ensure that the vitamin levels are even in the bloodstream throughout the day. - Clubbing the wrong multivitamins together
This is one of the easiest mistakes one can make when taking multivitamin supplements. Clubbing the right multivitamins together is as important as distributing the dosage throughout the day. Taking iron supplements along with Vitamin E can make both redundant as they block each other’s absorption. Health experts suggest that iron can be best absorbed if taken with vitamin C. - Not complementing the supplements with exercise
There is a general misconception suggesting that you may not require exercise if you are consuming an optimal amount of multivitamins. Even the best multivitamins for men might not work if not clubbed with proper exercise. Multivitamins can help with robustness and longevity of health if taken regularly before or after exercise as the increased blood circulation due to exercise aids in better absorption of multivitamins in the body. - Not paying attention to the labels
A lot of supplements, especially in the tablet form, include excipients that act as binders and fillers to make them easier to swallow. This makes it important to pay attention to the non-active ingredients in a supplement. Some ingredients that are added into the multivitamins for bulking are potential allergens like gluten, gelatin, hydrogenated oils, artificial coloring, and titanium dioxide. - Believing in the hype about synthetic supplements
Pharmaceutical companies manufacturing multivitamins mainly for profit deceive and confuse their customers by bulking multivitamins with fillers that provide no health benefit. So, ensure that you research well and read all the customer reviews before choosing a supplement that suits you. - Not considering prescription medications while choosing multivitamins
It is important for you to consider prescription medications before choosing the right multivitamin supplements. For instance, people on diabetic medications and proton inhibitors can experience vitamin B12 deficiency, and multivitamins rich in B12 can be recommended in such cases.
Our diets in this fast-paced world are making it less likely to provide enough vitamins and minerals for optimum health. Apart from this, exhaustive farming techniques and pesticides are stripping nutrients from the soil, which makes it more important to choose the best multivitamins. So, consult a dietician and health experts before choosing the best multivitamins.
