Hulk Hogan, at the height of “Hulkamania” always said, “To all my little Hulkamaniacs, say your prayers, take your vitamins and you will never go wrong.” As we grew, we discovered, life isn’t always quite that simple. Even “taking our vitamins” has become a lifelong chemistry experiment for which every expert, doctor and scientist has an opinion. We hear conflicting reports daily about what we need more of, what we need less of and what our vitamins contain that are of little to no value at all!

It is hard to wade through all the “wonder pill” claims and pyramid schemes to determine what is truth and what is a line of bull when it comes to multivitamins. Our number one priority should be to find a multi that contains the quality vitamins and minerals we require on a daily basis. While whole foods will always be the best source of these vitamins and minerals, lets be real. I don’t know a single person who gets their 2 ½ cups of veggies daily. Nor have I encountered anyone who manages to consume enough calcium, whole grains, or fruit every single day in order to cover the RDA requirements. Additionally, even whole foods are not as nutritionally dense as they used to be. In years past, foods where grown from natural nutrient rich soil, not festering with pesticides, and pollutants from the air. As time goes on and the world changes, so then does our food supply. It is no great epiphany that people need to supplement with multivitamins.

So we’ve answered the question, “Do I really need a multivitamin?” Now the issue is, “Which one is the best?” This can be answered in a variety of ways. First of all, it is important that the vitamin/mineral supplement you choose have 100% of the recommended daily allowance of the following vitamins:

• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B2
• Niacin (B3)
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Folic Acid

Also, it is better if the Vitamin A in your multivitamin is derived from Beta Carotene. Too much vitamin A has been associated with hip fractures in older adults and there is less risk of this when the vitamin A is converted from beta carotene.

Secondly, look for minerals like Chromium, Copper, Magnesium, Selenium and Zinc.

While there are plenty of multivitamins available that target specific age groups, genders and lifestyles, it is important that added ingredients don’t crowd out the essentials listed above. For instance, some multivitamins are geared toward women and may contain extra calcium. However, it is unlikely that the full daily calcium requirements would fit into a multivitamin without sacrificing the quality or other ingredients. So you deny yourself vitamins and minerals you need, and still require an additional calcium supplement!

Also, it is important to watch the cost of your multivitamin/mineral supplement. Cheap alternatives may contain fillers including silica or starch or they may be less expensive because the quality of the ingredients is sub-par. However, don’t be fooled by the pricey “designer” vitamins either. Those vitamins you can only get through a ‘sales consultant’ aren’t necessarily better because they are exclusive. Check the ingredients and look for expiration dates. Those vitamins that don’t have an expiration dates should be avoided.

Multivitamins can be a vital part of your health and wellness regimen. They can help prevent chronic disease including heart disease, osteoporosis and cancer. Just make sure you read labels and consult your physician to determine your multivitamin and mineral needs so you may make the best informed decision possible.