A 2 Step Guide to Choosing The Best Multivitamin for Men
A 2 Step Guide to Choosing The Best Multivitamin for Men
Let’s be honest, looking for the best men's multivitamin is way too hard. Which ingredients are the best? How do I know it’s working? What form (Pill, Powder, gummy, etc.) is the best to take?
Let’s break it all down.
Why Should Men Take Multivitamins?
A multi's whole job is to fill the nutrition gaps your diet leaves behind* — and most of us leave plenty.
Let’s first look at the basic function of what a men’s multivitamin does, and why you need it. In simple terms, a multivitamins primary function is to fill nutritional gaps leftover from your diet. With a mind-numbing number of studies showing 80% of Americans don’t get their daily nutrition from food alone, that’s a pretty important benefit.*
Okay, so I don’t get ALL my nutrients from food. So What?
The vitamins you'd expect to run low on aren't the problem — it's the ones you've barely heard of.
Solid point my astute friend. Deficiency in more abundant vitamins such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, etc. exists, but it’s pretty rare, so who cares!?
Your body will for sure, as a deficiency in way too many other nutrients such as Vitamin D, Selenium or Manganese (Immune Builders), Folate, B9, or B12 (Energy Builders), and Choline (Cell Builders) is a lot more common.*
The nutrients men actually fall short on
The deficiencies that actually matter for most men cluster into three jobs: immunity, energy, and healthy cells.*
The best way to ensure you’re getting what you need daily is to take a highly absorbable, high-quality multivitamin. Check out this interactive supplement fact guide if you want to nerd out and learn about how every vitamin helps you.
Okay, but how do I know which one to take?
Three things separate a great multi from a waste of money: what's in it, how good it is, and whether your body can actually use it.
- Nutrient Content- When choosing a men’s multi, the most important thing to consider is its nutrient content. Does it contain a wide range of Vitamins/Minerals? You should be able to count at least 25 lines on the supplement fact panel. If not, you’re leaving yourself open to potential gaps.*
- Quality of Ingredients- The next thing to consider is the quality of the vitamin, and like most things in life, you usually get what you pay for.* There are several different ways to look for quality, and while we could go through every single one, the data on each is dizzying and, luckily, there is a quicker, easier way to search the supplement fact panel. (a super-easy way to do this outlined below!)
- Absorbability– Lastly, you’ll want to ensure you’re taking a form that is highly absorbable, to ensure your body is getting the most from your multi. Because our bodies only absorb around 22% of the average pill and gummy, powder/liquid vitamins usually are the best on this front, as they absorb almost immediately with 90% + absorption rates giving you the maximum benefit from your daily supplement!* If you can find an option with super greens and probiotics, like the options from Root’d, it will give you the ultimate boost in absorbability.*
How much actually gets absorbed
Our bodies only absorb around 22% of the average pill or gummy — powder and liquid vitamins land at 90%+.*
A 2 Step Guide to Choosing the Right Men’s Multivitamin:
Flip the box over and read six lines — the words tell you instantly whether it's quality or junk.
Turn around the box, and check to see if they use methylated, citrate, and glycinate sources. These are natural sources*, and is easier than it sounds, too, as you’ll be able to tell by looking for these words on six (6) lines.
Step 1: The B12 and Folate lines
If the B12 and Folate lines start with Meth, you're getting the methylated forms — the good stuff for energy.*
First, let’s look at the B12 line and Folate lines –
What’s inside His MULTI · the energy lines
If the B12 and Folate lines start with “Meth,” you’re getting the methylated forms — hello, better energy.*
If those lines contain a word starting with the letters “Meth” then you know you’re getting the best, Methylated forms. Hello, better energy!*
Step 2: The Magnesium, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium lines
Citrate or glycinate on the mineral lines = stronger; oxide is the cheap red flag to walk away from.
Next, let’s look for citrate or glycinate. Check out the Magnesium, Zinc, Manganese, and Selenium Lines.
What’s inside His MULTI · the mineral lines
All four end in citrate or glycinate — the stronger, gentler forms. Lines ending in “oxide” are the red flag to walk away from.*
Are all four included? Do they end w/ the words citrate or glycinate? Then, Check! Stronger immunity and stress relief are included in this one!*
- Watch Out! If these lines end in the word “oxide” be aware! Oxide forms can cause an upset stomach and their absorption rates are questionable at best.* An option w/ oxide is likely to be priced lower, because brands that use oxide here, are more likely to use cheaper ingredients across the board.* Cheapskates.
- A simple way to remember: Just like Carbon Dioxide, Oxide isn’t too good either, and If you would eat it, then the word should end in ate.
The 6-line cheat sheet
If you'd eat it, the word should end in “ate.” Just like Carbon Dioxide, Oxide isn’t too good either.
Okay, I get it! Which one should I be taking though?
Here are our three favorites — one in each form, so you can pick what fits your routine.
We hear ya. Let’s dive into our three favorites in each form option.
1. Liquid/Powder – Root’d - His MULTI - Nutrient Boosting Drink Mix For Men
The science moved on; most vitamins didn't. Root'd is a multi built for how absorption actually works.
The science around vitamins has evolved over the last 100 years, but for some reason, vitamins haven’t evolved with it. Pills were invented in the ’70s, and the sugar in gummies kinda destroys the whole purpose as sugar impairs immunity!*
Root’d formulated vitamins for the 21st century.
Root’d His MULTI
Typical men’s multi
Pick your Root'd
Choose your supply
🔒 100% Love Guarantee · 24 nutrients + electrolytes · 0g added sugar
2. Pills
If a pill's more your style, here's a solid one — just know you lose the super-greens absorption boost.*
Powder / liquid
absorbs almost immediately*
+ greens, electrolytes
Pills
no greens or electrolytes
solid nutrients
Gummies
watch the added sugar
a bit of a treat
Same three forms, three very different absorption stories — powder you drink lands highest.*
If you decide a pill is more up your ally, we like this one from Naturelo. As with any pill form, you won’t be getting the absorption power of super greens (pills average around 22%), nor hydrating electrolytes, but overall this one has a great balance of nutrients, and the quality of ingredients mimics what is in the Root’d formula.
3. Gummies
Gummies are a treat — watch the sugar and serving size, and you'll still miss the greens and electrolytes.
We know, the gummies are a bit of a treat. We like this one from Smarty Pants, but as with any gummy be aware of the sugar content, and the serving sizes (This one is 6 per day). Also, similar to pills you won’t be getting the absorption power of super greens, nor hydrating electrolytes. That said, overall this one has a great balance of nutrients, and the quality of ingredients mimics what is in the Root’d formula.
FAQs
Best multivitamin for men: your questions, answered
When choosing a men's multi, the most important thing to consider is its nutrient content. You should be able to count at least 25 lines on the supplement fact panel. If not, you're leaving yourself open to potential gaps.*
Because our bodies only absorb around 22% of the average pill and gummy, powder/liquid vitamins usually are the best on this front, as they absorb almost immediately with 90%+ absorption rates giving you the maximum benefit from your daily supplement.*
Turn around the box and check the B12, Folate, Magnesium, Zinc, Manganese and Selenium lines. If they use methylated, citrate, and glycinate sources you're getting the better, more absorbable forms.* These are natural sources*, and you'll be able to tell by looking for these words on six lines.
If the mineral lines end in the word oxide, be aware. Oxide forms can cause an upset stomach and their absorption rates are questionable at best. An option with oxide is likely priced lower, because brands that use oxide are more likely to use cheaper ingredients across the board.* A simple way to remember: if you'd eat it, the word should end in ate.
References
- Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (UPMC) — Magnesium oxide (Mag-Ox). Source
Thank you for sharing this informative article; it will really help us.
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