The Benefits of Multivitamins: What You Need to Know

Getting all of your nutrients is necessary if you want to achieve and maintain optimal health. A multivitamin and mineral supplement can supply essential nutrients to support your body.* These are some benefits of multivitamins, and why you should ask your healthcare provider about multivitamins such as PatchAid Multivitamin Patches.

Multivitamin Versus Food

Foods contain all of the essential nutrients, but not everyone gets enough. Even a healthy diet may not supply each of the essential vitamins and minerals, in adequate amounts, every day. Taking a multivitamin is not a substitute for healthy eating, but it can give you peace of mind knowing that you are getting your nutrients every day.*

Top Benefits of Multivitamins

If your multivitamin and mineral supplement is helping you overcome or prevent a deficiency, these are some possible benefits of taking it.

Nutrients such as folic acid help reduce levels of homocysteine, which is linked to heart disease. Calcium and magnesium are necessary for normal heart function, while vitamin C is needed to maintain normal blood pressure. 

A number of B vitamins are necessary for breaking down protein, fat, and carbohydrates from food so your body can use them for fuel. Iodine is required for maintaining your body’s temperature, which is part of metabolism.

Iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium are just a few nutrients that are needed for your body to produce energy from food you eat. You also need iron to allow cells to get the oxygen they need to support normal movement. 

Antioxidants, such as vitamin C and selenium, help your body resist damaging effects of compounds called free radicals.

Vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, and vitamin A are just a few nutrients that are necessary to maintain a strong immune system to fight infections, as well as to reduce the risk of developing conditions such as autoimmune diseases.

Calcium, vitamin K, vitamin D, and magnesium are all essential for maintaining strong bones.

Magnesium, vitamin B12, and vitamin D are just a few nutrients that are linked to depression or other mood disorders if they’re deficient.

It’s not just protein that you need to keep up these structures. Biotin, vitamin A, and vitamin C are all necessary to keep skin, nails, and hair strong and healthy.

Antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin A, as well as vitamin D, are known for their roles in lowering the risk for cognitive decline and possibly Alzheimer’s disease during aging. The Kids Multivitamin Patch by PatchAid also has omega-3 fats, which are essential for brain development. 

Muscles need calcium and magnesium to contract and relax normally. 

Severe vitamin B12 deficiency can cause neuropathy, or tingling in the hands or feet. 

While you need folic acid, iron, and vitamin B12 to product normal red blood cells, you also need nutrients such as vitamin K to support normal blood clotting and prevent hemorrhage. 

Your body needs vitamin C to product cartilage, which is used for many functions, including for cushioning joints.

Adequate amounts of vitamin D and other vitamins are linked to lower risk for certain types of cancers, including prostate, colon, and breast. 

Chromium is an example of a mineral that supports the action of insulin, which is the hormone that lowers blood sugar.

Choosing a Multivitamin

The first thing to know when choosing a multivitamin supplement is that it’s not just a multivitamin. Technically, you need what is called a multivitamin and mineral supplement. They may be called “multivitamins,” but there are “multivitamins” out there without minerals. So, be sure you check the list of nutrients to make sure there are minerals in there, too.

These are some other considerations when choosing a multivitamin and mineral supplement.

• Vitamins. It should have each of the 13 vitamins, or vitamins A, C, D, E, and K, as well as the B vitamins: biotin, vitamin B1 or thiamin, vitamin B2 or riboflavin, vitamin B3 or niacin, vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid, vitamin B6 or pyrodoxine, folic acid or folate, and vitamin B12.
• Key minerals. It should have key minerals, such as zinc, copper, selenium, chromium, iodine, manganese, and more. 
• Iron. Some people need an iron supplement; others don’t. Ask your healthcare provider if your multivitamin supplement should include iron. PatchAid Multivitamin Patch comes in versions with and without iron.
• Quantity of nutrients. Some multivitamin supplements don’t have high levels of some nutrients, and may not meet your needs.
• Form of the supplement. Some people don’t mind swallowing capsules or timing their meals around their supplements. Others do. A topical patch, such as PatchAid Multivitamin Patches, lets you get your vitamins without swallowing anything or worrying about possible gastrointestinal side effects. Kids may prefer sticky patches to swallowing vitamins, too.

Ask your healthcare provider which may be the best choice of multivitamin for you. 

The Best Multivitamin Patch

PatchAid Multivitamin Patches with or without Iron, and the Kids Multivitamin Patch, are all easy to use. They have the following characteristics.

• Hypoallergenic, with no soy, gluten, or dairy
• Designed to be compatible with your lifestyle, as they are flexible and can stay on you during showers and while sweating.
• Special design to avoid tearing patches (and wasting them!) when you peel off the backing to reveal the sticky side.

A multivitamin can have many benefits,* but it is important to find the right one for you. PatchAid Multivitamin Patches are packed with more than 26 essential vitamins and minerals, and they’re easy to use. Ask your provider which may be right for you and your family!

*The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. PatchAid products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Anyone with a medical condition should seek the advice of a licensed medical practitioner. Individual results may vary.