Q:

How do I know if my multi vitamin is good quality?

Byron: One of the key signs of a good multiple vitamin or a company’s line is to look at the B 12 form in the product. Anything that says cyanocobalamin is not in your best interest as it has to be detoxified and then converted before it can even be used by the body. Cyano = cyanide. A high quality multiple vitamin should contain over 400 mcg of B 12 at the recommended dose. Additionally look to see that herbal ingredients are standardized and also not from third world countries or from China. Always avoid these products.

Minerals for dietary supplements are typically bound to another substance. What they are bound to has a profound affect on how they are absorbed and even more importantly – where they go and what they do in your body. Avoid inorganic calcium carbonate, calcium gluconate, bone meal, oyster shell, or dolomite. Once in your body they are not very biologically useful and run a risk, depending on your underlying health, of calcifying your arteries, causing alarming breast lumps, gall stones, or kidney stones. Magnesium oxide is the cheapest form of magnesium, often appearing in products using low quality calcium. Oxides use up valuable antioxidants to deactivate them once they are absorbed.

The best sources of calcium for absorption and usage by the body are found in coral calcium, MCHC, or calcium coupled with amino acids for transport. The best sources of magnesium are magnesium glycinate, malate, and coral magnesium. We use magnesium malate in our Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin because this form not only absorbs well but the malic acid is also helps turn on the energy-producing citric acid cycle. We also use high quality coral calcium from ocean waters which has a natural ratio of 2 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium.

Other multiple vitamins to avoid are those in liquid or tablet form. Liquid forms lose their potency at a greater rate while tablets are hard to absorb. Capsule form is the best way to preserve the minerals and receive maximum absorption. Synthetic vitamins should also be avoided, as natural forms of the vitamin produce much greater benefits.

Related Products:
Daily Energy Multiple Vitamin

Related Articles:
What’s in Your Multiple Vitamin? Detecting Real Quality. Part 1 – Minerals
What’s in Your Multiple Vitamin? Detecting Real Quality. Part 2 – Vitamins

More Questions:
What is a good source of calcium?
I feel my thyroid is sluggish. How can I improve this naturally?