Multivitamins consistently rank as the most popular dietary supplement. According to a 2023 survey, over 70% of Americans take dietary supplements, and multivitamins are the most commonly used. 

If you are one of the millions of Americans who take a daily multivitamin, are you certain that it supplies the essential nutrients you need and is formulated with high-quality ingredients?

If you don't take a daily multivitamin, is it because you think you get enough from your diet? Or perhaps you believe one of the many myths floating around about vitamins? 

Whatever category you fall into, it's important to separate multi-vitamin fact from fiction and learn the host of benefits that taking a daily multivitamin can provide. 

What are Multivitamins? 

Multivitamins are dietary supplements that contain a mix of different essential vitamins and minerals. They're designed to help you get the essential nutrients your body needs, especially if you struggle to get them all through food alone. Think of a daily multivitamin as a convenient way to fill in the gaps.

Multivitamins are the most commonly used dietary supplement in the U.S., with about one-third of all Americans taking them regularly. They typically come in pills, capsules, powders, chewable tablets, or gummies.

Why Multivitamins are Important 

There are essential vitamins and minerals your body needs but can't make on its own. You either have to get them from your diet or a supplement. And if you think it's a short list… you are mistaken. There are 29 essential vitamins and minerals that humans need but cannot synthesize, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that a substantial portion of Americans are deficient in at least one of these key nutrients.

While multivitamins are not a replacement for eating a balanced diet, they can be a helpful boost to ensure that you're not missing out on important nutrients that contribute to immunity and overall health and well-being. 

Here is a list of the essential vitamins and minerals that humans need but cannot synthesize and why they are important for your health:

Essential Vitamins: 

• Vitamin A: Supports vision, immune function, and reproduction.

• Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): Important for the growth and repair of tissues, immune function, and antioxidant protection.
  
• Vitamin D: Promotes calcium absorption and bone health.
  

• Vitamin E: Acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from damage.

• Vitamin K: Essential for blood clotting and bone health.
  

• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Helps convert nutrients into energy and is vital for nerve function.
  

• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Plays a role in energy production and cellular function.
  

• Vitamin B3 (Niacin): Supports digestive health, skin health, and nerve function.
  

• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid): Involved in energy production and hormone synthesis.
  

• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Important for amino acid metabolism and red blood cell production.
  

• Vitamin B7 (Biotin): Supports metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.
  

• Vitamin B9 (Folate/Folic Acid): Necessary for DNA synthesis and cell division.
  

• Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin): Essential for nerve function and DNA and red blood cell production.

Essential Minerals:

• Calcium: Crucial for bone and teeth health, muscle function, and nerve signaling.
  

• Iron: Vital for the formation of red blood cells and oxygen transport.
  

• Magnesium: Supports muscle and nerve function, blood sugar control, and bone health.
  

• Phosphorus: Important for bone health and energy production.
  

• Potassium: Necessary for muscle function, nerve signaling, and fluid balance.
  

• Sodium: Helps maintain fluid balance and is crucial for nerve and muscle function.
  

• Chloride: Works with sodium to maintain fluid balance and is important for digestion.
  

• Zinc: Supports immune function, wound healing, and DNA synthesis.
  

• Iodine: Essential for thyroid hormone production.
  

• Selenium: Acts as an antioxidant and supports immune function.
  

• Copper: Important for iron metabolism and the formation of red blood cells.
  

• Manganese: Involved in bone formation, blood clotting, and reducing inflammation.
  

• Chromium: Helps regulate blood sugar levels.
  

• Molybdenum: Required for the function of certain enzymes.
  

• Fluoride: Important for dental health.
  

While many of these essential vitamins and minerals can be found in similar food sources, for instance, you can get vitamins A, C, and K from leafy green vegetables like spinach and iron from red meat, it is still difficult to eat the variety and quantity of foods needed to meet daily requirements.

Yes, whole foods are best. But relying on food alone to provide all essential nutrients is impractical for most people. To achieve optimal nutrition, most people need to fill the gaps with a quality daily multivitamin. 

Benefits of a Quality Daily Multivitamin

While it's true that many essential vitamins and minerals can be obtained through a balanced diet, multivitamins have many benefits and there are several reasons why most people take a daily multivitamin supplement.

Convenience

Preparing and consuming a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods can be challenging and very expensive. Multivitamins provide an easy and cost-effective alternative to ensure you get essential nutrients.

Instead of preparing and eating multiple servings of fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains every day, you can take one or two pills that provide a bit of everything your body requires to function well. 

Again, we can't state enough that a multivitamin supplement does not replace a healthy diet. However, they can be a helpful way to ensure you're not missing out on any key nutrients.

To Fill Dietary Gaps

Look at a daily vitamin as nutrition insurance! Busy lifestyles, dietary restrictions, and food choices lead to gaps in nutrient intake. Multivitamins offer a convenient way to fill these inevitable gaps.

Also, it's important to consider that much of our food is poor quality, and not all foods provide nutrients in optimal forms or amounts. High-quality multivitamins can offer a well-balanced dose of essential nutrients that may be more bioavailable or easier for the body to use.

Manage Health Conditions and Lifestyle Factors 

Certain health conditions or medications can affect nutrient absorption or increase nutritional needs. Supplements can help address any of these deficiencies. 

Additionally, older adults, pregnant women, and people with certain diets may benefit from additional nutrients that are difficult to obtain in adequate amounts from food alone.

For Preventive Health

While many people don't start taking a multivitamin until they start having symptoms of nutrient deficiencies or their healthcare provider suggests it, it is always better to be proactive rather than reactive.

There are many young and healthy people that take a daily multivitamin as a preventive measure to support overall health and well-being, especially if they know their diet isn't on point most days. 

For Cognitive Health

New research shows that taking a daily multivitamin may help support brain health, including cognitive function, such as reasoning, attention, and memory recall.

Numerous rather large studies suggest that multivitamins can slow cognitive aging by approximately two years compared to a placebo.

To Enhance Energy Levels

Most quality multivitamin supplements contain B vitamins and/or iron, which are well known to help boost energy and reduce fatigue.

To Promote Healthy Skin, Hair, and Nails

While the best supplement for better skin, hair, nails (and joints) is arguably a quality collagen supplement, a daily multivitamin that supplies vitamins A, C, and biotin is also an excellent way to support the growth and health of skin, hair, and nails.

For Better Digestive Health

There isn't a single person reading this that hasn't had an upset stomach; that is common. What shouldn't be common (but is extremely widespread) is just how many people have ongoing stomach issues and poor gut health.

Statistics show that at least two-thirds of American adults experience some form of recurrent digestive symptoms like gas, bloating, and abdominal pain. Furthermore, three in five Americans are unaware that an unhealthy gut can increase the risk of some pretty major issues, including heart attack, stroke, and dementia. 

Taking a daily multivitamin or a daily greens that support a healthy digestive system and reduce bloating can be very beneficial for digestive health. 

To Help Manage Stress

No matter how hard we try to relax, stressors are everywhere! B vitamins and magnesium in many quality multivitamin supplements can contribute to stress management and support a more balanced mood.

Managing stress is crucial for various aspects of overall well-being, including weight. Stress impacts your hunger hormones and the "stress hormone" cortisol. If you are chronically stressed, in addition to a daily multivitamin, you might want to consider a supplement designed to support your body's response to stress. 

To Support Heart Health

There are certain essential vitamins and minerals that have scientific evidence supporting their importance for cardiovascular health. Some that are often found in a daily multivitamin include Vitamin D, potassium, B vitamins, magnesium, and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Multivitamin Myths (Debunked)

Myth #1: You Can Overdose on Multivitamins

We aren't going to say that it is impossible to consume vitamins and minerals in amounts that could be toxic. However, it's unlikely to experience toxicity from multivitamins if they are taken as directed.

Any risk of overdose would likely be due to someone taking extremely high doses of specific vitamins or minerals, mainly when combined with having a certain health condition. For example, excessive iron intake can be harmful, especially for those with conditions like hemochromatosis, and high doses of vitamin A can lead to serious health issues if not managed correctly.

So, while it is possible, the idea that simply taking a multivitamin as directed will lead to an overdose is mostly a myth. Generally, sticking to the recommended dosage of a multivitamin is safe and effective.  If you are uncertain if you should take a particular vitamin or mineral, you should always consult your doctor. 

Myth #2: All Multivitamins are the Same

It's a common misconception that the multivitamins you can purchase at a drugstore are no different from any other multivitamin that might cost a little bit more. While there might be some quality brands on store shelves, it is a myth that all vitamins are the same. 

Multivitamins vary widely in terms of quality, nutrient composition, and effectiveness. 

Different brands and formulations contain varying amounts of vitamins and minerals, and their bioavailability—the extent to which your body can absorb and use these nutrients—can differ significantly.

For instance, some multivitamins, such as Relive Multivitamin, include additional beneficial ingredients like malic acid, which can help promote energy production and fight muscle fatigue; the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine, which is great for lung function; and green tree and broccoli extracts, which are known to promote weight loss, disease prevention, and exercise recovery. 

In contrast, other lower-quality vitamins might lack essential nutrients altogether. Additionally, the source of these nutrients and how they're processed can impact their efficacy and sometimes even their safety. 

It is crucial to choose a multivitamin brand that is lab-tested, doctor-formulated, and uses only filler-free, quality, and natural ingredients.  

Myth #3: Multivitamins are Unnecessary 

While it's ideal to get all your nutrients from a balanced diet, many people face dietary gaps or are deficient in nutrients due to busy lifestyles, food preferences, or specific health conditions. If you don't fill these gaps, many health problems can occur. 

Multivitamins are a convenient way to ensure you get essential vitamins and minerals that might be missing from your diet, supporting overall health. While they shouldn't replace healthy eating habits, multivitamins are necessary for many to help meet their nutritional needs. 

Myth #4: Multivitamins are a Substitute for a Balanced Diet 

Nothing can substitute a healthy, balanced diet. Food is fuel, and a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats is essential for overall health. Multivitamins should complement, not replace, a nutritious diet.

Myth #5: You Only Need a Multivitamin if You Have a Nutrition Deficiency 

It's true that those with nutrient deficiencies likely need a multivitamin to address specific gaps in their diet. However, even if you eat a healthy diet, factors like stress, age, lifestyle, and certain medical conditions can affect nutrient absorption and dietary needs.

Multivitamins can help ensure you get a consistent supply of essential vitamins and minerals, supporting your overall health and well-being. They act as a nutritional safety net for anyone, not only those with nutrition deficiencies.

How to Choose the Right Multivitamin for You

There are vitamins formulated for men, vitamins for women, vitamins for kids, vitamins for pregnant women, and more. It is true that there are certain vitamins and minerals that women might need more of than men and vice versa. The same holds true for the elderly and pregnant or nursing women. Also, if you have been told you are deficient in specific vitamins or minerals, you might need to take specific vitamins in higher amounts. 

However, generally speaking, most adults do not need to take a multivitamin labeled for him or her. As long as the multivitamin you choose is lab-tested, doctor-formulated, and made of high-quality natural and filler-free ingredients, it should provide you with the "nutrient insurance" you need to ensure any vitamins and minerals you aren't getting from your diet are covered.

Reive Multi Vitamin provides vital nutrients that support cellular energy production and overall health. Our Revive Daily Greens are another excellent way to support overall health and wellness. 

Each dose of Relife Daily Greens provides your body with a nutrient-dense formula containing a blend of potent ingredients, including Wheatgrass, Spirulina, and Chlorella, that work synergistically to promote energy, vitality, and overall well-being. This supplement is also formulated with digestive enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics to help support healthy digestion and gut health.

As with all Relive supplements, both Revive Multi-Vitamin and Relive Daily Greens are: 

• Made with Natural Ingredients
• Doctor Formulated
• Free of Fillers
• Lab Tested

Conclusion

Various factors, such as lack of sleep, high stress levels, poor nutrition, and certain prescription medications, can weaken our immune system. This can lead the average adult to use essential nutrients faster than they can be replenished, potentially leading to diminished health.

Additionally, most Americans do not get enough variety in their diet or eat enough fruits and vegetables to meet their nutritional needs, and many others are deficient in at least one essential micronutrient.

A daily multivitamin, especially when combined with a daily greens formula, is a safe and affordable way to fill gaps and ensure you receive a consistent supply of essential vitamins and minerals.