What Make A Vitamin A Good Vitamin?

Daily vitamin supplements offer you certain health benefits, especially if your diet is lacking. In other cases, certain medical or physical conditions may prompt you to start taking a multivitamin. Whatever the case may be, there are certain things to look for when choosing the best multivitamin for you.

Dosages

When you are looking for a multivitamin, read the labels and compare. Some vitamin companies put mega-doses of certain vitamins in their pills. Try to avoid high mega-doses of certain vitamins, such as a pill that contains 200 percent of your daily value for one vitamin, but only 15 percent of another vitamin. Look for a vitamin that provides 100 percent of most of the vitamins and minerals it contains.

Vitamins To Look For

If you're taking a multivitamin, chances are you are trying to be healthier. Certain vitamins can help you do just that. Look for a multivitamin that contains vitamins E and D as well as carotenoids. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant vitamin that helps your body stay healthy and fight disease, so getting the right kind is important. Your multivitamin should contain the form of vitamin E known as d-alpha-tocopherol. Look for a multivitamin with 200 to 400 IU of vitamin D because this vitamin is important in calcium absorption. Finally, try to choose a vitamin that contains a variety of carotenoids such as beta-carotene, alpha carotene, gamma carotene, lycopene, lutein, eta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin or astaxanthin. Carotenoids also help to keep you healthy and they can fight chronic disease.

USP

Another indication of a good vitamin is the marking of "USP" on the label. This stands for United States Pharmacopeia and means that the vitamin has been tested by the United States Pharmacopeia, a non-government public health organization. The USP tests vitamins for safety, quality and purity. To be marked "USP," a vitamin must pass its strict standards.

Choosing the Right Vitamin For You

A good vitamin also depends on your needs. Women have different vitamin and mineral requirements than men. And if you are pregnant, intake of certain vitamins and minerals should increase. Many vitamin manufacturers produce vitamins made for special needs including gender, age and pregnancy. Look for the vitamin that will best suit your dietary needs.