Holistic Review A: all-purpose multivitamins for natural health. Last revised May 1, 2008. (Minor changes Thursday, October 30, 2008.)

    1. Multivitamins are usually the first supplements to consider.

Any health protocol will tend to have more positive results if you also take an all-purpose multivitamin (or the equivalent).

    2. For example, high doses of certain B vitamins may need to be balanced with other B vitamins.

A need for more energy, as well as more sleep, may also be helped by taking a full range of extra B vitamins. Many such concerns, both known and unknown, are automatically addressed with a good multivitamin.

    3. When buying a multivitamin, always look first at the B vitamin doses. 

Low quality multivitamins generally list most B vitamin doses as between 2 to 5 (whether "mg" or "mcg"). High quality multivitamins generally list list B vitamin doses as between 20 to 50. That's quite a difference.

Product guide a1: the best multivitamins.

    *   Adam Multivitamin by Now Foods.

Adam is labeled as a "men's" multivitamin, but in our opinion, is actually the best multivitamin for both men and women from age 18 to 98. This is because only 2-3 pills are needed--and yet, in addition to the basics, Adam includes a complete range of antioxidants: ALA, ginkgo, grape seed, CoQ10 and lycopene, plus a substantial dose of saw palmetto. For men, saw palmetto is well known for supporting the prostate and also may support stronger hair growth. However one of the earliest uses for saw palmetto by Native Americans was to support the development of young women. Saw palmetto is also currently used as an ingredient for female hormone balance. For elderly women, saw palmetto also may reduce facial hair and other masculinizing tendencies. All of this is because saw palmetto contains antioxidants which help to neutralize radical testosterone byproducts. For men this seems to result in a sort of "afterburner" effect producing better hormone efficiency. For women, the benefit of keeping a tighter leash on male hormones is perhaps even more obvious. Therefore Adam is a relatively simple formula, focused on basic health and including no so-called "men's only" ingredients. The only standard "women's" ingredient which is lacking is iron. However the best ways to obtain iron are from fresh vegetables, liver and chlorella (as discussed in chapter M).

    *   Liquid Multi-Gels by Now Foods

is less comprehensive and less expensive than the Adam multivitamin and requires fewer pills. Liquid Multi-Gels do not contain saw palmetto or extensive antioxidants, but do contain ALA and high quality Ferrochel(R) iron. The suggested dose is 2 pills. However 1 pill will supply a similar level of support as in most "one daily" multivitamins. Liquid Multi-Gels also contain flax oil which is an ideal delivery method. Beware of inferior products that contain soy oil.

    *   Vit-Min Caps by Now Foods

is our suggestion if you need to spend as little as possible, while still being sure of basic product safety.

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