Best vitamins for women
Medically Reviewed by: Dr. Caley Scott, ND
Every woman strives to lead a healthy life, but the fast pace of the modern world can sometimes make it challenging to maintain a balanced diet.
That's where daily vitamins come in. Crafted with essential nutrients, daily vitamins can support various aspects of women's health, from cognitive function to heart health, gut wellness to muscle strength, and much more.
If you’re looking to maintain your immune system, bone health, or energy levels, the right vitamins can make a significant difference. Taking vitamins is about understanding what your body needs, when it needs it, and why.
This article will explore vitamins, their importance to women's health, and how multivitamins, especially gummies, can help fulfill your daily nutritional needs.
What are vitamins?
Vitamins are organic compounds that our bodies need in small quantities to function correctly. They are vital to our well-being, contributing to various bodily functions such as metabolism regulation, energy production, and immune system support. Vitamins can also sustain the production of collagen, hormones, and red blood cells.
The 13 essential vitamins include vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, and the eight B vitamins. Each one serves a specific role in the body. For instance, vitamin A encourages eye health, vitamin D supports bone health, and vitamin E helps support cell integrity.
While a balanced diet can provide most of these vitamins, factors like age, dietary restrictions, and health conditions may affect how your body absorbs or converts these nutrients. That’s where multivitamins come into play.
What are multivitamins?
Multivitamins are supplements that contain a combination of vitamins and minerals. They’re designed to compensate for nutritional gaps in your diet, ensuring your body gets the essential nutrients it needs for optimal health. Women’s multivitamins, in particular, can bridge the nutritional gap and cater to the unique needs that vary with each stage of a woman's life.
While a healthy diet is the best source of vitamins, getting all the necessary nutrients from food alone can pose a challenge. Multivitamins offer a convenient way to ensure your body gets the necessary vitamins, supporting everything from heart to cognitive function, immune health, and gut wellness.
One of the most popular forms of multivitamins today is gummy vitamins. They’re easy to consume and come in various flavors, making them a preferred choice for many.
What are the best vitamins for women?
Every vitamin serves a different function in women’s wellness. Incorporating a range of beneficial vitamins into your daily routine can help keep your body feeling and functioning at its best.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is helpful in maintaining good vision, but its benefits extend beyond eye health. Vitamin A also supports reproductive health and contributes to a healthy immune system.
Vitamin A also helps the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs work properly. It's crucial for maintaining growth and development, helping the body repair tissues, and keeping your skin looking healthy.
The right amount of vitamin A in your diet can help you sustain these bodily functions. Carrots, spinach, kale, and sweet potatoes all have vitamin A. However, if getting enough vitamin A from your diet is hard for you, multivitamins can help supplement your intake.
Vitamin B6 and B12
Vitamins B6 and B12, part of the B-vitamin family, are essential in helping keep our bodies running like well-oiled machines.
Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, is involved in over 100 enzyme reactions, mainly related to protein metabolism and immune function. It's also vital to supporting brain development during pregnancy.
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, helps keep the body's nerves and blood cells healthy. It also helps prevent megaloblastic anemia, which can make people tired and weak.
Another benefit of B vitamins is that they can significantly impact mood regulation. They contribute to the synthesis of neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine.
Vitamin C and E
Vitamins C and E are powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants help prevent damage to your cells caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that the body produces as a reaction to pressure.
Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is essential for supporting the growth, development, and repair of body tissues. It's involved in many body functions, including the formation of collagen, iron absorption, the proper functioning of the immune system, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.
Vitamin E is key for strong immunity and healthy skin and eyes. It acts as an antioxidant in the body, helping to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals.
Vitamin D and D3
Vitamin D is made in the skin when you’re exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D3, meanwhile, is usually the type that is found in supplements.
Both vitamin D and D3 play a vital role in maintaining bone health. They help the body absorb calcium, a key building block for bones. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen.
Beyond bone health, vitamin D also supports immune system function. It plays a role in maintaining immune cell activation and can help protect against illnesses.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K supports blood clotting, maintains bone metabolism, and helps regulate blood calcium levels as a fat-soluble vitamin.
The body needs vitamin K to produce prothrombin, a protein and clotting factor important for blood clotting and bone metabolism. Deficiency can lead to heart disease and weakened bones.
Folate and folic acid
Folate is a B vitamin naturally present in many foods. Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate found in supplements and added to foods.
Folate is helpful for the body's growth and development. It's particularly important for pregnant women as it helps form the neural tube, which can help prevent congenital disabilities.
Folic acid is often recommended in prenatal vitamins to ensure pregnant women get enough of this essential nutrient.
Niacin and riboflavin (B vitamins)
Niacin (B3) and riboflavin (B2) are part of the B-vitamin family and play crucial roles in supporting energy production and cell health.
Niacin helps make sex and stress hormones and maintains circulation and cholesterol levels. Riboflavin is helpful for red blood cell production and aids carbohydrates as they release energy.
Thiamin and pantothenic acid
Thiamin (B1) and pantothenic acid (B5) are also B vitamins that are vital to maintaining a healthy body.
Thiamin supports the body's use of carbohydrates as energy and is helpful for glucose metabolism and nerve, muscle, and heart function. Pantothenic acid is essential for supporting the production of cholesterol and hormones.
What minerals are important for women’s health?
Just like vitamins, minerals are pivotal for maintaining a healthy body. These inorganic substances help our bodies function properly, from energy production and bone health to a robust immune system and beyond.
Let’s explore some essential minerals that every woman should prioritize in their wellness routine.
Calcium
Calcium is renowned for its role in supporting bone health. It's the mineral you probably associate with milk and cheese — but did you know it's especially important for women as they approach menopause?
During menopause, declining estrogen levels can lead to increased bone loss, making women more susceptible to osteoporosis. That's where calcium comes in. It helps maintain bone density and strength, working hand in hand with vitamin D to ensure the body can effectively absorb the mineral.
A diet rich in calcium or a complete multivitamin is a practical way to meet your daily calcium needs.
Magnesium and selenium
Magnesium and selenium may not be the first minerals that come to mind when you think about dietary supplements, but their roles in promoting heart health are noteworthy. Magnesium is involved in over 300 enzyme reactions in the body, including those that help regulate heart rhythm. It's also beneficial in managing blood pressure levels.
Selenium, on the other hand, is an antioxidant that helps protect your body's cells from damage. It helps maintain a healthy heart by helping reduce oxidative stress and tension, which are key contributors to heart disease.
Omega-3 and DHA
Omega-3 fatty acids and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are nutrients typically found in fish oil. They’re renowned for their plethora of health benefits, particularly in supporting brain health and helping to reduce feelings of tension.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that the body cannot make itself. Because of this, they must be obtained through your diet. They’re supportive of brain health and play a helpful role in cognitive function.
DHA, a type of omega-3, provides structure to the retina and brain, making it particularly important for pregnant women.
Adding omega-3 and DHA to your diet, whether through fatty fish like salmon or a daily multivitamin, can contribute to maintaining a healthy brain and a well-functioning body. It's a simple step you can take for your long-term health.
What is the role of probiotics in women's health?
Probiotics are live bacteria that sustain your health, particularly your digestive system. While you might think all bacteria are bad, probiotics are often called "good" or "friendly" bacteria because they help keep your gut in a healthy state.
Probiotics can aid in balancing your gut's bacterial environment, promoting digestion, and supporting your immune system. They can also maintain nutrient absorption and may even encourage your mood. For women, probiotics can be particularly beneficial in maintaining a healthy vaginal flora.
What to consider when choosing a multivitamin
Picking a vitamin supplement shouldn't be stressful. Opt for non-GMO, gluten-free options for clean, safe nutrients. Consult with a dietitian for individualized healthcare, and remember that supplements are a part of a healthy lifestyle, not a replacement for a balanced diet or exercise.
At Sunmed, our Supergreens Gummies are crafted with care and quality to make your wellness journey as pleasant as possible. Each gummy harnesses a powerhouse of over 30 plant-derived ingredients, providing key nutrients, essential vitamins, minerals, probiotics, superfoods, and a blend of adaptogenic mushrooms.
Forget the mess of powders. Our multivitamin gummies come in a wild raspberry flavor, making your daily nutrient intake enjoyable. However, we don't just focus on taste. We believe in transparency, so our gummies come with third-party lab results, ensuring your formula is safe to enjoy daily.*
At Sunmed, we aim to enhance your life with premium wellness products. We offer a convenient, enjoyable way to supplement your diet with essential nutrients, promoting overall health and well-being.
The bottom line
Vitamins are crucial to women's health and support various bodily functions, from bone health and energy production to digestive health and immunity. Diet, exercise, sleep, and a good multivitamin like our Supergreens Daily Gummies can go a long way in supporting your well-being.
Here at Sunmed, our commitment to wellness and natural goodness is reflected in our premium products. Explore the Sunmed collection and celebrate a healthier, happier you.
Sources:
The Best Foods for Vitamins and Minerals | Harvard
Use of Dietary Supplements Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) | NIH
Neuropsychiatric manifestations in vitamin B12 deficiency | Pub Med