Multivitamins and minerals: how to make the right choice?

Due to the hectic pace of life, meals are increasingly eaten “on the go”. Everything has to go quickly. We do our shopping for the week, loading our shopping carts with industrial products. It is therefore sometimes difficult to adopt a healthy, varied and balanced diet.

But even when we buy fruits and vegetables, they are often grown on nutrient-poor soil. And they grew too fast, then were picked too soon. The cause ? The yield requirements of agriculture (as we told you about in a blog article , today there would be as much vitamin C in an apple from 1950 as in 100 apples today)

Some diets, such as veganism among others, also lack essential elements for our body. These choices, although good for the planet, create risks for our bodies.

Whatever the cause, the facts are there. Our bodies, exposed to the risk of nutritional deficits, are less resistant.

To fill these glaring gaps, it becomes interesting to opt for a supplement that meets the needs of our body. A good multivitamin and mineral supplement is ideal for meeting all of our needs.

A Multivitamin can be defined as an additional supply of vitamins and minerals. It is most often presented in the form of capsules or tablets. It is a proven, effective and accessible solution to maintain our immune defenses , reduce fatigue and increase our resistance to stress . In short, to be in better shape.

Of course, this does not prevent you from having a healthy, varied and balanced diet (it is even the basis)!

To be called a "multivitamin", the supplement must contain at least three vitamins or minerals .

As there is a wide variety of compositions, it is essential to know the benefits of each micronutrient to be sure to choose the right Multivitamin supplement. Its effectiveness will lie in the adequate mixing of the different components. It's like a vegetable garden: you must regulate the nutrient supply carefully for phenomenal growth.

Here are the active ingredients that make up a multivitamin:

• Vitamin A : antioxidant par excellence;
• B vitamins (B1, B2, B5, B6, B8, B9 and B12): essential for metabolism, DNA synthesis and repair as well as the proper functioning of the nervous system...;
• Vitamin C : very well known to the general public and so useful for our body (reduction of fatigue, fight against free radicals, absorption of iron, etc.);
• Vitamin D : supports immune defenses and helps capture calcium for bones;
• Vitamin E : important antioxidant and companion of the nervous system;
• Vitamin K : essential for good cardiovascular functioning and bone regeneration.

• Calcium : fundamental for bones, but also coagulation and muscles;
• Chromium : support for digestive functions and maintenance of blood sugar levels;
• Iron : linked to hemoglobin and oxygen in the blood;
• Iodine : absolutely essential for the proper functioning of the thyroid;
• Magnesium : well known for its effect on the general condition of the body (proper functioning of the muscular and nervous systems, reduction of stress, etc.);
• Phosphorus : associated with calcium for bone regeneration;
• Manganese : contributes to immune defenses;
• Zinc : more particularly intended for the integrity of the skin, hair and nails;
• Silicon : to combat joint problems and contribute to bone integrity;
• Selenium : acts against premature aging.

Other assets can also be added. Those that should not be overlooked: plant extracts (also called “plant cofactors”) which, in addition to their antioxidant effects, will facilitate the assimilation of the vitamins and minerals present in the formula.

Examples: bioflavonoids, lutein, quercetin, anthocyanins, sulforaphane, polyphenols, lycopene and zeaxanthin.

Vitamin or nutrient deficiencies cause disruptions in the functioning of the human body. These deficiencies can come from multiple factors: diet, problems with their assimilation, temporary deficiency, growth, etc.

Because of these deficiencies, the beautiful mechanism that is our body seizes up, weakens, becomes disrupted and wears out much faster than normal.

To make up for your deficits, it is important to choose the best multivitamin and mineral supplements.

Thanks to its contribution of vitamins and minerals, the multivitamin supplement rebalances the machine and provides a wide range of benefits which will promote the general well-being of the body.

A multivitamin can help:

• to maintain the proper functioning of the immune system;
• to reduce fatigue;
• to promote energy production;
• to protect cells from oxidative stress;
• to maintain the comfort of tendons and joints;
• to promote recovery after sports exercise;
• to promote good vision.

The multivitamin is a food supplement designed to be suitable for everyone (children, adults, pregnant or breastfeeding women, athletes, seniors) and can be taken continuously to compensate for dietary deficits.

However, certain formulas contain substances that will target it to a specific target. This is for example the case of coenzyme Q10, which is especially recommended during intensive physical activity.

If you want a good “general” multivitamin, opt for a formula that provides a global supply of nutrients and complements the diet as naturally as possible.

Choose a formula incorporating a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and plant cofactors. This will allow for a good general balance and help to fill any deficiencies.

Take the example of iodine. Iodine allows the heart, muscles and brain to function properly. It serves to regulate our external temperature and contributes to the proper functioning of the thyroid gland. However, thyroid disorders resulting from a lack of iodine could affect up to 1.6 billion people worldwide (source: Journal of Medical Sciences ).

When choosing a multivitamin supplement, it is therefore not a question of settling for a formula simply containing the most popular vitamins!

Be careful about the choice of active ingredients and their dosage. Opt for a formula containing vitamins and minerals in their active and assimilable forms , as natural as possible. And dosed according to the body's needs (i.e. neither underdosed nor overdosed!). Also, avoid formulas that use chemical additives!

Multivitamin supplements from France provide a guarantee compared to products from “less careful” sources in terms of manufacturing quality and personal protection. So choose Made in France. Likewise, avoid purchases on questionable platforms where the composition of the products is not guaranteed.

Multivitamins can be offered in different forms: capsules, tablets, powder, liquid or even gummies. It's up to you to see what suits you best (we opted for a multivitamin in capsules !).

There you go, you now know the main thing about how to choose (and find!) the best multivitamin and mineral supplements.

But remain vigilant before taking a multivitamin, precautions must be followed. First of all (and we insist!), despite its high concentration of nutrients, this type of supplement is not made to replace a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle!

Furthermore, we must not turn a deficit into an excess! Do not take more than indicated and do not combine multivitamins from several brands.