If you want to keep your body healthy, it’s important to get the proper amount of vitamins and minerals. That’s why multivitamins are a great way to ensure you’re getting the nutrients your body needs.
They’re also a good option for pregnant women, as they can provide folic acid and other essential nutrients that may help with fetal development.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A, also known as retinol or retinyl esters, is essential for your immune and reproductive health. It can help create T-cells that fight infection and cancer cells, and it helps keep your gut working properly.
It can also keep your eyes healthy, including helping make rhodopsin, which is the light-sensitive photopigment that lets you see in the dark. Without vitamin A, you can develop night blindness.
Deficiency in this vitamin can be dangerous for a pregnant woman, as it can harm the baby during development. Talk to your doctor about the best way to get the vitamin A you need during pregnancy.
Generally, the best vitamins for women are fortified foods and supplements. Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, as well as lean meats and fish, is the best way to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin A in your diet.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help boost your immune system, heal wounds, and prevent age-related macular degeneration. It also promotes the production of collagen, which helps keep your skin looking youthful and firm.
As an essential nutrient, it’s important to get enough through diet alone. The National Institutes of Health recommends 75 mg of vitamin C per day for women and 90 mg for men.
Aside from eating a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, taking supplements can help ensure you get adequate amounts. Some medical conditions can reduce your body’s ability to absorb vitamin C, including thalassemia and hemochromatosis.
Although many people take vitamin C for its immune-boosting benefits, there isn’t much evidence that it can help prevent cancer or cardiovascular disease. Similarly, research suggests that it doesn’t reduce your risk of the common cold. However, there are still some good reasons to consider adding this nutrient to your daily regimen.
Vitamin D
Often called the “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D is made in the body by exposure to sunlight. It can also be obtained through dietary sources like fish, egg yolks and fortified dairy products.
It’s important for healthy bones and muscles, but it also helps regulate sex hormones in women. Low levels of vitamin D are linked to polycystic ovarian syndrome and other hormone disorders.
A deficiency can cause a range of symptoms, including bone pain and muscle weakness. If you experience any of these, talk to your doctor about testing your vitamin D levels.
Sun exposure is the most reliable way to get enough vitamin D. But it isn’t always easy to get the amount of sun that you need. For example, you may live in northern latitudes or spend most of your time indoors.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that helps your body fight free radicals, which can cause a variety of health problems. It also helps your cells communicate with each other and keep your immune system strong.
It is a fat-soluble vitamin that comes from many foods, including vegetable oils and nuts. It is also found in fortified foods and dietary supplements.
The best way to get adequate amounts of vitamin E is from a healthy diet. You should consume a variety of foods from all food groups to ensure that you are getting all the nutrients your body needs.
Your body uses the vitamin E isomer called d-alpha-tocopherol most often. However, there are other forms of vitamin E as well.
