Exercising, drinking plenty of water and eating right are all important to living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

Supplements can also be used as part of a diet to help give the body the nutrients it needs. A lot of bodybuilders and gym-goers use supplements to improve performance and aid recovery.  

But supplements are not just for athletes. 

In fact, one of the best supplements that EVERYONE should be taking is multivitamins. They have plenty of benefits and the results have a lasting impact on people’s health. 

Here are 6 reasons why you should take multivitamins in 2019.

1. They Prevent Diet Deficiencies

Deficiencies in micronutrients can have serious effects on your health. They can be the root causes of problems like fatigue and more serious conditions like bone loss. 

For anyone that is on a restrictive diet, you may be missing out on some of these important nutrients. For example, people that follow a vegan diet can often find that they have a deficiency in vitamin B12.

By taking a multivitamin, this does not become an issue and you get all the essentials from your daily diet.

2. They Promote Strong Healthy Bones

Bone mineral density naturally decreases as you get older. However, without the right vitamins in your diet, bones can deteriorate earlier than expected and can lead to serious problem, such as osteoporosis. 

However, by taking multivitamins as part of your diet, you can supply your body and bones with the vitamins and minerals it needs to stay strong even as you age. In particular, because they contain calcium and vitamin D, the potential for bone fractures can be reduced dramatically.

For women over 50, multivitamins that contain magnesium and phosphorous, as well as calcium and vitamin D, can really benefit from strong bones and reduce the chances of developing osteoporosis.

3. They Support Healthy Pregnancy

Pregnant women require vitamins and minerals in their diets to ensure that both them and their baby stay healthy. For the baby in particular, having enough vitamins and minerals is vital to growth and development. For example, calcium is important for growing bones and iron will keep the blood healthy.

This is where a multivitamin becomes invaluable. Women that are pregnant, or even those that are trying to get pregnant, should take multivitamins to ensure they get a well-balanced diet and have enough nutrients to ensure they stay healthy throughout their pregnancy.

There have even been some studies, including this one, that suggests multivitamins can reduce the chances of the baby suffering birth defects that could otherwise last throughout their life. 

4. They Improve Heart Health

There are plenty of foods that have a negative effect on heart health. With this in mind, vitamins and minerals can reduce the impact they have. For example, there are certain nutrients that can reduce levels of cholesterol and lower blood pressure, keeping the heart healthy and functioning at its best.

There have also been some studies that suggest that taking a multivitamin as part of a daily diet can reduce the risk of suffering a heart attack and dying from heart disease.

5. They Enhance Eye Health

Eye health also improves through taking multivitamins. The nutrients help prevent conditions like macular degeneration, an eye disease that causes a loss in vision and is regarded as one of the leading causes of blindness across the globe.

Studies show that multivitamins help to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration. Furthermore, other studies show that multivitamins can also reduce the risk of developing cataracts, another common eye condition that can contribute to a loss in vision in older adults. 

6. They Improve Brain Functionality

The first five reasons why you should take multivitamins in 2019 focused on physical health. However, they also have a great effect on improving brain function and boosting mental health.

A study published by the Centre for Human Psychopharmacology at Swinburne University in Australia found that taking multivitamins daily improves memory in older men and can even reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

Furthermore, another study published in Psychopharmacology showed that taking multivitamins can reduce anxiety and stress.

Best Multivitamins for Men

While both men and women both need vitamins and minerals, they have different needs to maintain, improve health and prevent deficiencies. Here are some of the best vitamins and minerals that men should be looking for in their multivitamin supplement.

1. Vitamin A to maintain eye health, increase skin cell turnover and regulate the immune system;
2. Vitamin B12 to aid red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis and improve overall brain functionality;
3. Vitamin C to act as an antioxidant to fight free radicals from harmful UV rays and for protection against illness and infections;
4. Vitamin E to improve heart health and fight inflammation;
5. Vitamin D3 to increase calcium absorption for better bone health and reduce the chance of fractures and bone loss;
6. Magnesium to help with stronger muscle contractions, improve brain health and increase metabolism for producing energy.

Best Multivitamins for Women

Women require varying amounts of vitamins and minerals at different points in their lives. This means that the best multivitamin for women should have a wide range of different vitamins and minerals that are tailored to their daily needs.

Here are some of the best vitamins and minerals that women should be looking for in their multivitamin supplement.

1. Vitamin A to maintain good skin health, prevent illness maintain healthy vision;
2. Vitamin B12 to increase energy, promote DNA production and keeping the brain healthy;
3. Vitamin C to support healthy hair and skin, prevent cell damage, enhance the immune system;
4. Calcium for bone strength, prevent conditions like osteoporosis and bone loss, especially during menopause;
5. Iron to produce healthy blood cells for transporting oxygen around the body;
6. Folate to prevent birth defects during pregnancy and encourage positive DNA replication.

Conclusion

There are many reasons that you should be taking multivitamins in 2019. They can improve overall heart health, reduce the risk of vision loss, keep bones strong, maintain good mental health and prevent deficiencies that may occur due to diet choices.