Let’s say that you work out, eat well, avoid processed sugar, and are good at managing your stress. Do you really need to take a multivitamin?
The answer is yes, according to so many health practitioners we trust. Sometimes, the simplest wellness habits are also the easiest to overlook.
We’ve partnered with mindbodygreen to take a closer look at their advanced solution to filling daily nutrient gaps, the ultimate multivitamin+. For about $1.95 a day, this multi will help you cover a broad range of essential nutrients (plus phytonutrients), most of us could never get from diet alone.
Registered Dietitian Ella Davar, R.D., CDN calls mbg’s multi “the best on the market”, mainly because it contains resveratrol, glutathione, vitamin D, selenium, zinc and other functional nutrients that so many other multivitamins simply don’t include.
Let’s break down why, yes, you really do need a daily multivitamin, how to select one that your body will actually absorb, and why mindbodygreen’s version makes a really smart choice.
My Own Aha Moment: The Body Does Not Lie
After recently working with a nutritionist on a ton of testing and bloodwork, we discovered that – despite what I consider to be a top notch diet and my slew of daily supplements — I had some major nutritional gaps.
She quickly assured me that she sees it all the time amongst those with healthy diets and noted that she’d met many wellness editors and health enthusiasts that, while well-acquainted with superfoods and the latest trends, still have nutrient inadequacies.
Lesson to be learned? You just can’t skip over the essentials. The body doesn’t lie, as they say, and those nutrient gaps were showing me what I needed to see.
The Daily Multivitamin: Back To The Basics
In this modern environment, an essential daily multivitamin has simply become a non-negotiable.
Think you don’t need a multivitamin because you eat so well? Clearly, we were once in that camp too. But almost everyone has gaps in their nutrient intake — and it’s not always their fault. Here are the facts:
+ Millions of Americans fail to meet their nutritional needs for essential micronutrients (aka vitamins and minerals) from diet alone.†
+ While it’s obvious that a diet of drive-thru burgers will leave you lacking in vital nutrients, most healthy eaters need a daily multivitamin, but do not realize it.
+ Many nutrition pros fault these modern-day factors:
Depleted soil quality
Lack of food freshness
Poor nutrient absorption from a wide variety of lifestyle factors
Suboptimal gut health
Yes, a well-balanced diet is crucial, but, as I quickly learned from my own experience, chances are you need a modern-day multi to fill essential gaps and feel your absolute best.*
All that said, let’s take a look at mindbodygreen’s ultimate multivitamin+.
Your Chewable Vitamin Might Not Cut It:
A Closer Look at mindbodygreen’s ultimate multivitamin+
As supplement aisles seem to get longer and longer every year, it’s hard to know what to buy and which qualities truly matter for the money.
These are two key factors when shopping for supplements:
+ Formula: Technically, any supplement with ‘multiple’ vitamins could be called a ‘multivitamin’, right? But what you want to look for is as many high-quality, essential vitamins and minerals as possible: vitamins A, C, D, E, K and minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, iodine, and potassium are non-negotiables.
ultimate multivitamin+ contains everything above, plus a thorough profile of antioxidants, trace minerals and longevity botanicals. Read the brand’s impressive notes on sourcing here.
+ Bioavailability: A supplement label may list a certain amount of a nutrient like vitamin D, but it’s crucial to know the ‘form’ that the vitamin or mineral is in. That nutrient must be ‘bioavailable’ if your body is able to absorb it well — this is where all those expensive urine jokes come into play!
mbg’s ultimate multivitamin+, for example, contains all the B vitamins in their most bioavailable forms. That includes the much buzzed about methylated folate (5-MTHF) and vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin).* These forms provide a crucial distinction for many who cannot absorb other forms of B’s — read up on the science around it here.
We asked mindbodygreen’s Vice President of Scientific Affairs, Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN, LRD to explain what really makes the ultimate multivitamin+ so unique:
+ A “complete” multi: We’re talking 33 ingredients in this high-potency multivitamin: 6 botanical bioactives, 14 essential vitamins and 13 minerals.
+ Designed for ease: We hear so much about pill overload! The ultimate multivitamin+ gives you this truly comprehensive array for nutritional sufficiency in just 2 capsules.*
+ Fights stress: Longevity botanicals and bioactives like glutathione, resveratrol, piperine, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene have been curated to fight oxidative stress, support cellular resilience, and promote graceful aging and longevity.*
+ The first multivitamin to feature clinically studied Setria® glutathione, our body’s master antioxidant.*
+ Built-in B complex: High-potency B complex delivers cellular energy via the full family of B vitamins, optimizing the bioactivity of each nutrient and even leveraging methylation technology.* Some of us have trouble utilizing certain B vitamins which has become a big hot topic in wellness lately, especially as it relates to fertility and immunity.*
+ Bioavailable + gentle: ultimate multivitamin+ contains the optimized dose, bioavailability, bioactivity, and gentleness for each ingredient:*
Organic, vegan, algal vitamin D3
Chelated and marine minerals
Methylated B vitamins
Vitamin E from sunflower oil (instead of soy, the usual source)
Carotenoids from red tomatoes and marigolds; and much more.*
Making mindbodygreen’s ultimate multivitamin+ A Routine
Like drinking enough water or fitting in movement every day, it’s all too easy to skip on the daily essentials our bodies really need most.
Consider having your blood work done to discover where you stand on basic nutrient needs. Chances are highly likely you’ve got some gaps and taking up the habit of a daily multi is the way to address.
We’re big fans of this product so far and the team at mindbodygreen has extended a limited time offer for TCM readers for 20% off your first order. Use code CHALKBOARD20 to get the mindbodygreen ultimate multivitamin+. The formula serves the needs of all adults, regardless of age or gender and is clean sourced: vegan, GMO-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and major food allergen-free.
Happy shopping! Let us know your supplement experience in the comments. The code applies to one-time orders or your first month of subscription. Code cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
This story is brought to you in partnership with mindbodygreen. From time to time, TCM editors choose to partner with brands we believe in to bring our readers special offers. The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs.
