Women’s nutrient needs differ in a lot of ways from those of men’s. While whole foods should always be our first and major source of essential vitamins and minerals, adding a multivitamin to one’s diet can boost nutrient intake or help fill in some nutritional gaps, if there are any. The best multivitamins for women are determined by age, health condition, and overall lifestyle. Read on to learn more.
When Should Women Take Multivitamins?
No man-made multivitamin can beat the nutritional benefits that you can derive from a healthy diet consisting of whole foods. But there are instances when vitamin supplements can give you some much-needed nutritional boost.
A woman’s nutritional needs change through various stages of life. You’ll need a higher daily intake of iron, for example, during menstruation. During pregnancy, you will also need to supplement your diet with both iron and folic acid. As you age, you may need to start taking calcium supplements to boost your bone health. And if you’re on a special diet, you may also require multivitamins to make up for the lack of certain nutrients in your diet.
You can easily derive the nutrients you need more of from whole foods – and this is always the ideal option. But taking multivitamins also provides many benefits. Just always consult your doctor regarding any dietary supplements that you may need.
The Best Multivitamins for Women
Garden of Life Vitamin Code Women
Special formulation made from nutritious and raw whole foods.
Provides key nutrients that support women’s optimal health and energy, including calcium, folate, magnesium, zinc; vitamins A, C, D3, E, and B-complex; as well as live probiotics, enzymes, and antioxidants.
Formulated to support breast health, reproductive health, bone health, skin health, heart health, and digestive health.
A vegetarian multivitamin that is gluten-free and dairy-free, and does not contain binders or fillers.
Recommended dosage is 4 capsules daily/2 capsules twice a day taken with or without food. Capsules may be opened and mixed with water or raw juice.
Other variants include Vitamin Code 50 & Wiser Women and Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal.
Garden of Life mykindOrganics Women’s Multi
Made from organic whole foods, formulated with 16 vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, D3, E, K, B6, B12, folate, iron, and selenium, which provide 100% or higher of recommended daily values.
Organic ingredients include over 30 fruits, vegetables, and herbs, such as amla, berry, broccoli, ginger, holy basil, kale, parsley, sea kelp, and more.
Supports healthy skin, nails, blood, heart, and metabolism, and promotes energy.
Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and with no synthetic binders or fillers.
Recommended dosage is two tablets per day taken with or without food.
Other variants available include Garden of Life Multivitamin for Women – mykind Organic Women’s 40+ and Garden of Life Multivitamin for Women – mykind Organic Women’s Once Daily
Optimum Nutrition Opti-Women
Formulated for the active woman with 23 vitamins and essential minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc for immune support, and vitamin E.
With 600 mcg of folic acid and 18 mg of iron.
Contains 17 “specialty ingredients” to create a “comprehensive and multifaceted multivitamin.”
Comes in Vcaps capsules, which are non-GMO Project verified, gluten-free, and preservative-free capsules for the health-conscious consumer.
Available in 60 and 120 capsules.
Recommended dosage is 2 Vcaps capsules taken with food.
New Chapter Every Woman’s One Daily Multi
Provides whole-food fermented nutrients and unique blends of complementary herbs, including whole-food fermented vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D3, and zinc, plus ginger, turmeric, and maca.
Also contains probiotics.
The fermented formulation makes it easier to digest and absorb.
Formulated to provide bone, immune, energy, and stress support.
Made with Certified Organic vegetables and herbs.
Non-GMO, vegetarian, gluten-free, kosher, and with no animal gelatin or synthetic fillers.
Recommended dosage is one tablet taken with or without food.
MegaFood Multi for Women
Made with real foods and formulated with Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D3, E, Vitamin K1/K2, Niacin, Folate, Iron, Iodine, Zinc, Selenium, Copper, Manganese, Potassium, and other essential vitamins and minerals.
Supports healthy energy production, already healthy bones, and helps replenish iron levels lost during menstruation.
Non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and kosher.
Recommended dosage is two tablets per day taken with or without food.
Other variants available include MegaFood, Women Over 55 One Daily and MegaFood, Multi for Women 40+
Rainbow Light Multivitamin Womens
Food-based multivitamin formulated with probiotics and plant-sourced enzymes.
Contains B-complex, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and iron to support bone health, skin health, breast health, and heart health.
Support the body’s stress response with a nourishing blend of dong quai, organic spirulina, and red clover.
Also contains vegetable juice complex consisting of beet, dandelion, kale, and spinach to boost natural energy.
Non-GMO, vegetarian, and gluten-free; no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, or sweeteners.
Recommended dosage is one tablet per day taken with or between meals.
One A Day Women’s Multivitamin
A complete multivitamin formulated to address women’s major health concerns, such as bone health, skin health, immune health, heart health, and energy support.
Contains vitamins A, B6, C, D, E, and K, plus riboflavin, thiamin, and niacin.
Formulation is free of gluten, wheat, dairy, artificial sweeteners, and artificial flavors.
Recommended dosage is one tablet per day taken with food.
Multivitamins for Women – Bottom Line
We can get all the essential nutrients we need from a well-balanced diet consisting of whole foods. Taking multivitamins can provide many health benefits, too, especially for women who are following a special diet, need an energy boost, or are of a certain age. If you have a medical condition, you should consult a doctor to find out if supplementing your diet with multivitamins is recommended/advisable.
