Multivitamins for women provide the nutrients they need to make up for shortfalls caused by aging, poor diet, illness and other causes.
The best multivitamins for women are also rich in antioxidants, the frontline soldiers in the fight against the destructive effects of free radicals.
A well-formulated multivitamin for women will produce a host of benefits including stronger bones, healthier skin, lower risk of heart disease and stroke and many more.
18 Benefits Of Multivitamins For Women
A high-quality multivitamin for women is a powerful ally helping to ensure overall health in both the short and long-term. Below are 18 benefits of multivitamins for women.
1: Multivitamins for women may help prevent cancer.
There is research that suggests taking a multivitamin on a regular basis may actually reduce a person’s risk of developing colorectal cancer (1). Colorectal cancer is a highly deadly, but also highly preventable cancer. Though more extensive research is needed, a multivitamin may be a useful strategy along with other healthy lifestyle behaviors in preventing some cancers.
2: Multivitamins for women boost the immune system.
When a woman’s immune system is compromised by nutrient deficiencies, it can leave her susceptible to all kinds of short and long-term health problems. Vitamins C, D, and B6 are known to boost immune function (2). All three are common ingredients in the best multivitamins for women.
3: Multivitamins for women may help prevent osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis (3) affects an estimated 8 million women in the US alone. And while the vast majority of those are older women, the fact is osteoporosis does not simply appear out of nowhere. It has many causes. When a woman is calcium deficient in her teens, 20s and 30s, it can set the stage for osteoporosis later in life. A multivitamin for women that contains calcium, or calcium-enhancing and bone-supporting nutrients like vitamin D and magnesium, is a good idea for women of every age.
4: Multivitamins for women can help prevent heart disease.
There is some debate among health professionals regarding the overall effectiveness of multivitamins. Some say they help in numerous ways. Others are skeptical. There is, however, no disagreement among scientists that antioxidants are good for your heart (4), though the ideal source is from food. The best multivitamins for women are typically rich in vitamin A and C, both well-known antioxidants.
5: Multivitamins for women fill nutrient gaps caused by dieting.
Young women tend to be very weight conscious, due to both societal and health pressures. Obesity can lead to scores of health problems (including type 2 diabetes), and can shorten your life (5). Keeping your weight in check is a good idea. The problem is that dieting can often lead to nutritional shortfalls. If you are on a weight loss diet, make sure you are taking a good multivitamin for women to fill any nutrient gaps.
6: Multivitamins for women are essential if you work out.
Workouts help you build lean, strong muscle and stay physically fit. At the same time, however, the process of working out can deplete your body of electrolyte minerals like magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Magnesium is critical to dozens of metabolic processes. Calcium is vital to maintaining healthy bones. And potassium helps your muscles function smoothly and effectively. If you work out on a regular basis, make sure you’re taking a multivitamin that includes both magnesium and potassium, electrolytes that will be in higher demand than calcium after exercise.
7: Multivitamins for women contain potent antioxidants.
Antioxidants (6) are our frontline defense against free radicals and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is responsible for a host of age-related health conditions, including heart disease, and is also believed to play a central role in the development of cancer. Multivitamins for women typically include generous amounts of the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E. For the most oxidative stress protection, the supplement should also contain the antioxidant mineral selenium and CoQ10.
8: Multivitamins for women can provide anti-inflammatory benefits.
This is a little known benefit of multivitamins, but a very important one. Inflammation (7) is the culprit behind numerous chronic health conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and heart disease. Keeping it in check is vital for maintaining long-term health. Several vitamins found in most multivitamins for women assist in the anti-inflammatory process, including vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Bonus if the supplement contains omega-3 fatty acids.
9: Multivitamins for women are good for your eyes.
Over time, a woman’s eyes can fall prey to numerous chronic conditions, including cataracts (8) and macular degeneration (9). Once these conditions set in, there is nothing a multivitamin can do to reverse them. The smartest approach is to make sure you give your eyes the vitamins A and E they need, as well as other nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and lutein, so that you have a lower risk of developing those conditions.
10: Multivitamins for women can make it easier to deal with stress.
Stress is like acid on a woman’s system. Headaches, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, anxiety, irritability, weight gain and more are all common side effects of stress (10). Stress is largely a function of the nervous system, so giving your nerves the B vitamins, magnesium and other nutrients they need to function smoothly is important. B vitamins help convert the food we eat into energy, while magnesium relaxes the mind and muscles, both of which ensure smooth nervous system function and a tempered stress response.
11: Multivitamins for women are good for hair and skin.
The calories a woman consumes are used to power her muscles and a multitude of metabolic functions. But what about hair and skin that are not tied to any particular physical function? What keeps them looking and feeling healthy? The answer in part is micronutrients, i.e., vitamins and minerals. Vitamins A, C, E, niacin (B3), and biotin, are all essential for maintaining healthy skin, hair and nails too.
12: Multivitamins for women can increase energy levels.
Our bodies run on calories. They produce the energy that enables us to wake up, stand up and get through the day. But beyond that, the body needs micronutrients. Micronutrients – vitamins, minerals and antioxidants – help create energy from calories and make sure it is passed into our cells. If we don’t get enough micronutrients, we may feel listless and tired. Multivitamins for women can prevent that.
13: Multivitamins for women enable your busy lifestyle.
One of the benefits a multivitamin for women can provide is that it may help you find the energy you need to make it through another meeting, another presentation, or another night of cramming for your final exams. A large percentage of women today juggle motherhood and career. A good multivitamin can make that process a lot easier by bridging nutrient gaps that often result in decreased energy.
14: Multivitamins for women may enhance memory.
Vitamin B12 plays an important role in maintaining brain health and memory (11). So making sure you get enough B12 is important for staying mentally sharp. While there is debate about whether or not B12 can actually help restore memory in those suffering from cognitive decline, there is little doubt that if you want to prevent that decline, B12 can help.
15: Multivitamins for women may reduce the risk of stroke.
The B vitamins are present in nearly all multivitamin formulations. And for good reason. They help facilitate red blood cell production, play an important role in determining mood, bolster memory, improve the quality of your skin, and much more. Recent studies are also suggesting that B vitamins may play a role in reducing the risk of strokes by decreasing homocysteine, a key influencer in stroke risk (12). B12 in the form of methlycobalamin or hydroxycobalamin appear superior to cyanocobalamin. There is some conflicting information, and no hard and fast rules can be determined yet, but the data is promising. Considering supplemental B vitamins carry a very low toxicity risk, they are a great family of vitamins to include.
16: Multivitamins for women will lay the foundation for good health later in life.
Everything we do now affects how we will feel at some point later in life. Even if you are in your 20s or 30s, the food you eat (or don’t eat) and the amount and type of activity you engage in will decide whether you face middle age vibrant and healthy, or run-down and prone to illness and injury. Taking a multivitamin is one way for a healthy young woman to hedge her bets and help ensure she becomes a healthy older woman.
17: Multivitamins for women may improve your mood.
People who feel listless and tired typically suffer from a general lack of enthusiasm. Multivitamins for women can help restore energy levels and lift a woman’s mood if she is deficient in B12. In addition, vitamin B12 plays an important role in the health of the nervous system and is connected to depression and anxiety (13). So when choosing a multivitamin to help lift your mood, make sure it includes lots of B12.
18: Multivitamins for women may help you feel better.
Given all the benefits listed above, there should be little doubt that taking a multivitamin for women every day will help you feel better, especially if your diet is lacking. You’ll likely have more energy, feel more alert, look better, perhaps enjoy a more positive outlook, be able to fight off colds and infections more effectively, and be less stressed out. Given all of that, plus the possibility of reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis, not taking a multivitamin every day is something to carefully weigh out.
Conclusion
A well-formulated multivitamin for women is an essential tool in the quest to achieve and maintain robust health. From helping to strengthen bones and fend of osteoporosis to increasing energy levels, improving skin quality and reducing the odious effects of inflammation every health-conscious woman should have a quality multivitamin on their supplement shelf.