Recently, I was visiting with a couple of girlfriends and one of them asked, “Should I be taking a multivitamin?” I’ve known her for several years. I know that she eats well and she takes care of herself and her family. But, she just wasn’t sure if this was enough for her at this stage in her life. My other friend spoke up and said that she too often wonders if she is getting everything she needs from her diet alone. This is a growing concern for many women including myself and it’s an important conversation for women to have with each other and our health care providers.
It’s true that as we age, our nutritional requirements change and sometimes our bodies require more of certain nutrients to maintain optimal health. Eating right is the most beneficial way to get all of the nutrients we need which I go into detail in my newly released book, “The Simply28 Real Food Cookbook” which gives you everything you need to know to look and feel your best with real food nutrition plus is has over 100 gluten-free and grain-free recipes. But sometimes we still need a little extra help and adding a multivitamin, or specifically targeted vitamins to address known deficiencies, can be a helpful addition to our daily routines.
Benefits of a High Quality Multivitamin
As we age, our bodies require more nutrients to maintain optimal health. This is especially true for women over the age of 40 who may be experiencing hormonal changes, decreased bone density, and a decline in overall health. While a healthy diet is essential for obtaining these nutrients, many women may benefit from taking a multivitamin to supplement their nutritional intake.
A multivitamin is a dietary supplement that contains a combination of vitamins and minerals that are essential for overall health. While many people believe that multivitamins are only necessary for children and pregnant women, they can be beneficial for women of all ages. In fact, as we age, our bodies can become less efficient at absorbing nutrients from our food, making it even more important to supplement our diets.
Women over 40 begin to experience four major areas of depletion when it comes to their nutrient levels including bone health, hormonal imbalances, immune system, and our mood and energy levels.
Bone Health
One of the main benefits of taking a multivitamin is that it can help fill in any nutritional gaps in your diet. Many women may not be getting enough of certain vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D, which are important for bone health. By taking a multivitamin, women can ensure that they are getting the recommended daily intake of these nutrients, which can help prevent bone loss and osteoporosis.
Hormone Imbalances
Nutrients that help us balance cortisol, estrogen and the thyroid are commonly deficient for women over 40 particularly as we enter perimenopause and menopause. For example, the thyroid requires iodine and selenium to make and utilize thyroid hormones. Other nutrients required for natural hormonal balance include magnesium, vitamin D, zinc, and many of the B vitamins.
Immune System
Vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc are essential for immune function and can help prevent infections and illnesses. Additionally, many multivitamins contain antioxidants, such as vitamin E and beta-carotene, which can help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Mood and Energy Levels
In addition to supporting bone health and the immune system, taking a multivitamin can also help improve energy levels and mood. Many multivitamins contain B vitamins and vitamin D, which are essential for energy production and can help combat fatigue. Additionally, some studies have found that taking a daily multivitamin can help improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
What to Look For In a Multivitamin
While multivitamins can be beneficial for women over 40, they are more of a “blanket” supplement aimed to cover the most common nutrient needs. If you know that you are deficient in particular vitamins and minerals it may be better to choose targeted supplements that are specifically designed to address these deficiencies. It is important to choose the right supplement for your bio-individual needs. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can be targeted through a Nutritional Assessment which is included in my Nutrition and Health Coaching Program. Click the link to learn more.
When choosing a multivitamin, look for one that contains the recommended daily intake of key vitamins and minerals, as well as any specific nutrients that you may be lacking. Additionally, be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any new supplements, especially if you are taking any medications or have any underlying health conditions.
While a healthy diet should always be the first line of defense for obtaining essential nutrients, taking a multivitamin or specific targeted vitamins can be a beneficial addition for many women, particularly those who are over 40. By filling in any nutritional gaps in your diet, a multivitamin can help support bone health, hormonal balance, the immune system, energy levels, and elevate your mood. While taking vitamins of any kind is no substitute for eating a nutrient rich diet, if you’re over 40 and not already taking a multivitamin or specific vitamins that you know you are lacking, it may be worth considering to include as part of your daily routine.
To learn more about how you can increase the nutrients you need with REAL food, order your copy today of
“The Simply28 Real Food Cookbook”
