As physicians people often ask us “What are the best vitamins for women to take?”. Many people walk down the vitamin and supplement aisle and are overwhelmed and confused. With good reason. The array of products seem endless and after a while, it’s hard to remember what you even set out to purchase.
It turns out that as doctors we are happy to help recommend which vitamins a woman needs to feel her best and find her best health. Being a woman is one of the many factors that helps to determine individual vitamin needs. Other factors include age, lifestyle, diet, exercise and certain health concerns or symptoms. Figuring out the best vitamins to take for any woman really depends on the individual.
As physicians we try to help guide people to find the best vitamins and supplements for their individual needs based on sound medical science, not ad hoc recommendations. Paying attention to which multivitamins for women you put in your body is essential, both in quality, ingredients and amounts of various nutrients.
We all have unique needs. Case in point, the vegetarian may need more iron than the person who eats a lot of red meat. Eating a lot of dietary calcium (through dairy and dark greens) may make taking large doses of calcium unnecessary and potentially harmful. We also may have different needs in different phases of life, especially pre and postnatally when women typically need extra iron, folic acid and omega 3s to support fetal brain health. Most women need to supplement vitamin D at every stage of life. However, the amounts may vary depending on where you live and other factors (including ethnicity and a variety of health concerns).
To sort through the endless stream of information on line and from various sources to try to determine, as a woman, what vitamins to take, can be overwhelming and seem impossible. However, as women doctors we have tried to clear the confusion around what vitamins are safe and useful for each individual. Taking the right vitamins for your individual needs can be addressed by taking an online personalized vitamin quiz and obtaining an all in one custom daily vitamin.
It is essential when choosing vitamins and supplements that you obtain high quality products with safe ingredients. Unfortunately, the vitamin industry is unregulated and there are actually many unsafe products found even in major retailers. For this reason, looking toward premium brands made under physician oversight and bearing independent verification seals (such as USP or GMP) is a must.
As female physicians we strive to help women everywhere find exactly the right vitamins to help them with their specific needs. Looking at diet, lifestyle and health concerns is key to determining which vitamins to take and in which doses. Even symptoms such as thinning hair, trouble with weight loss, fatigue, migraines and gut health can be addressed with the proper blend of vitamins. Taking a personalized vitamin quiz can help determine which is the right combination and amount of vitamins for each woman at a specific time of life.
