Women’s Multivitamin with iron is a dietary supplement that contains key nutrients like vitamins and minerals, including iron, to target potential nutrient gaps in women’s diets. You may have seen iron-free multivitamin options in the market, but they are for post-menopausal women who do not need extra iron support.
Women need more iron than men. Dr Miriam at Nutriessential says, according to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, 29.9% of women aged 15-49 years had anaemia (iron deficiency) in 2019. People often ask: why do women need more iron? An easy and complete answer would be, “Iron is an important mineral women need and its deficiency arises due to two major factors: menstruation and pregnancy.”
If lab investigations show an iron deficiency, it is due to insufficient dietary intake (a plant-based diet lacks iron), poor iron absorption, increased demand during pregnancy and increased blood loss during menstruation. Multivitamin with iron for women can help bridge these gaps, maintain healthy iron levels and support overall health. In this article we will explore thoroughly all the details about women’s multivitamins.
Benefits of Women’s Multivitamin with Iron
Iron is a vital mineral for RBC formation. It is an essential component of hemoglobin which is involved in transporting oxygen throughout your body.
Till the age of 14, both men and women have the same iron requirement but during adolescence, females need more iron till 50 years of age. Women need to monitor their sources of iron. Some of the best food sources are meat, seafood, beans, nuts, dark leafy greens, soy foods, lentils, etc. If a woman does not eat an adequate amount of iron-rich food, she should take women’s multivitamin with iron.
Common health benefits of women’s multivitamin with iron include elevated energy levels, immunity, healthy haemoglobin levels, radiant skin, healthy hair, reduced oxidative stress,and improvement in stamina, joint and bone health.
If you have low energy levels, feel tired, or experience hair loss and a heavy menstrual cycle, the multivitamin with iron can be highly beneficial for you.
You can choose top rated women’s multivitamin from reputable brands like Pure Encapsulations, Garden of Life, and Metagenics. Their multivitamin formula has iron in the right dosage for women. The only consideration is to choose the option depending on your age to get the iron in the right form and dosage.
If you are planning for pregnancy or are already pregnant, your iron needs are more. So, you need prenatal multivitamins that address your increased nutritional demand of iron, folic acid, etc.
Vegans often have an iron deficiency because they rely on a plant-based diet for nutrition. Though a vegan diet has iron, it is poorly absorbed by the body. In such cases, women multivitamins containing iron are useful. Check the label before buying because not every multivitamin contains iron. Those supplements which do not contain iron are the best option for women who do not have iron deficiency.
What to look for while buying top-rated women’s multivitamins?
| What to look in women’s multivitamin? | Why it matters |
| Brand and quality | High-quality supplements from reputable brands like Pure Encapsulations, Metagenics, and Garden of Life are some of the best women’s multivitamin recommended by doctors. |
| Amount of iron | Not all multivitamins contain iron in the dosage you need. Choose the supplement that meets your demand depending on the level of iron deficiency you have. |
| Amount of vitamin C | Vitamin C enhances iron absorption. |
| Age-specific multivitamin | Always choose a supplement formulated for your age group. For example, multivitamin for women over 30, 40,50 and elderly are suitable for women belonging to that age group. |
| Understand the difference | Multivitamin for women over 30 will provide the nutrient support young women need at this age while multivitamin for women over 40 aim to help women deal with pre-menopausal symptoms. |
| Choose based on health goals | Consider, whether you want an iron or iron-free option. |
| Certified multivitamins | Reputable brands follow good manufacturing practices and strictly adhere to quality standards. Always choose GMP-certified multivitamins. |
| Product label | Check the product label to see the brand name, product name, age mentions, flavor of supplement, type (capsule, tablet, gummies) and get more details on supplements like natural/synthetic, raw, presence of additional ingredients, preservatives, colors, etc. |
How do I know I need a women’s multivitamin with Iron?
To decide whether you should start with a supplement or not, it is first important to consider laboratory findings and the symptoms you are experiencing. You should always perform a routine lab test and check your nutrient levels, including iron, to understand the needs of your body.
If your energy levels are low, you feel tired, you have hair loss, and your menstrual cycles are heavy, then you should consider taking a women’s multivitamin with iron. Your dietary patterns also impact your health. If you are a strict vegan, you are likely to be deficient in iron, vitamin B12, and many other nutrients.
In this case, you can choose a vegan women’s multivitamin containing iron.
What do you do next after you have taken the best women’s multivitamin with iron?
While choosing women’s multivitamins with iron, make sure to check the amount of iron it is providing. Multivitamins also contain vitamin C which will enhance iron absorption.
After you have started with the iron multivitamin, keep checking yourself for symptoms. You should notice the improvement in energy levels and start feeling much better than before within a few weeks to 2 months. If your gut is healthy, then you may notice these changes much earlier.
Also, take a lab test after 3-6 months of taking multivitamin. It is important to get your iron levels checked. If it is normal, switch to an iron-free multivitamin and continue to maintain a healthy diet. Make sure to include iron-rich food in your diet. Connect with an expert to know more.
The benefit of using high-quality iron multivitamins for women is that you will start noticing an improvement in iron deficiency symptoms in a few weeks. Choosing poor-quality options will not give you the results you are expecting.
Maintain a record of all your routine checkups and compare the iron values to determine which type of multivitamin is needed based on your current health status.
Different types of women’s multivitamins with iron
Every woman has a different choice when it comes to choosing the best for themselves. Here are some of the options for women multivitamins:
1. Multivitamin capsules with iron: Metagenics PhytoMulti With Iron, Kirkman Labs Women’s MultiVitamin formula has iron from ferrous bis-glycinate chelate.
2. Liquid multivitamin for women: These are available in different flavors, and they have more than 90 nutrients.
3. Liquid iron supplements: These are available in different dosages, such as 22 mg, 15 mg, or 18 mg iron.
4. Gummies: Women’s multivitamin gummies with iron have a pleasant taste and are easy to eat.
5. Whole food women’s multivitamins: In this multivitamin, nutrients are derived from whole food sources.
6. Fermented women’s multivitamins: These are absorbed well by the body and do not cause abdominal discomfort.
7. Age-specific women’s multivitamins: Many popular brands like Global Healing, Garden of Life, and New Chapter have multivitamins for women over 30, 40, 50, and above. Some have iron, and some do not have iron, depending on the age.
Real-life experience of women with nutrient and iron deficiency
Dr Miriam said I asked a woman over 30 named Alice with iron deficiency to describe how she feels. Alice replied I feel tired all the time, and my energy levels are so low. I sleep for 8 hours daily. I want to go on morning walks, work for long hours, and exercise daily, but my tiredness is not getting better. If I try hard to work, ignoring my energy levels, I feel sleepy. I am a strict vegetarian, and I do not eat processed food. I got my blood levels checked for iron, and I am confused about whether to choose an iron capsule or a women’s multivitamin with iron.
Dr Miriam recommends taking a multivitamin with iron. It has iron in the optimal dosage. If you take iron as a standalone supplement, it will provide iron in greater dosages, which is not required and is also harmful. Excess iron should always be avoided.
She further adds one should get iron levels checked before choosing a multivitamin. If iron levels are normal, choose a supplement like ONE multivitamin.
FAQs:
- What is the best multivitamin for women over 30 ?
The best multivitamin for women over 30 contains all the nutrients women need at this age. This is the childbearing age, and maintaining nutritional status is important for overall health, conception, and a healthy pregnancy. So, women over 30 must choose either a multivitamin for good health or a prenatal multivitamin if they are planning to have a pregnancy.
- What is the best multivitamin for women over 40?
Women over 40 may feel tiredness, hot flashes, stress, and many more issues. The best multivitamin over 40 would be the one that:
- Has organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs that most women look for. Garden of Life is highly popular among women due to its organic supplements.
- Contains organic ashwagandha and turmeric. These herbs have well-proven benefits for women over 40
- Wide range of nutrients to support and optimize general well-being.
- What is the best multivitamin for women over 50?
Women over 50 do not need extra iron support, so the best option would be to choose a womens multivitamin without iron. Women should specifically look for supplements containing a combination of vitamin D3 and K2 because bone health is very important at this age. After menopause, women often complain of joint pain. The risk of osteoporosis also increases. So, it is better to choose a supplement that has ingredients that can exclusively support bone health. High-quality brands like Smarty Pants. Country Life, Global Healing, and Garden of Life contain many useful ingredients, like
- CoQ10 for heart health
- Raw digestive enzymes to support gut health
- Citrus bioflavonoid complex
- Whole food blends
- Ingredients that relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes
Conclusion
Teens and premenopausal women are likely to benefit a lot from taking a women’s multivitamin with iron. It is advisable to take your Iron supplement with a meal to minimize digestive upset. Connect with an expert to guide you in selecting the right multivitamin with the right iron dosage.
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