femMED

There are many factors to consider when choosing a multivitamin.

Do

- Look for one that contains a complete array of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants in one supplement. This will keep the amount of pills you take to a minimum and will also be easier on your budget. Depending on your diet and needs, you may still need to take additional vitamin C, E and calcium as it is difficult to fit all of these nutrients into one tablet.

- Buy from a reputable company. Ask your pharmacist or health food store adviser for a recommendation.

- Remember it may take four to six weeks or longer to notice benefits and a multivitamin for women that is taken for prevention may not offer benefits that you can feel.

- If you are pregnant, nursing a baby or have a chronic medical condition, be sure to consult a nutrition specialist before purchasing or taking a multivitamin for women.

- Read the labels carefully. Look for an expiration date and make sure the product hasn’t reached that date. If there is no expiration date on the label, don’t buy it.

- If you have questions about a certain brand, call the manufacturer and ask your questions.

Don’ts

- Don’t take a multivitamin for women with sugar, starch, corn, wheat, iron, dairy, salt, artificial flavourings and colourings (dyes) and preservatives. These are unnecessary ingredients that can cause allergic reactions in some people.

- Don’t choose a supplement based on price. Some vitamins are more expensive due to company marketing and advertising costs and are not necessarily made with better ingredients.

- Don’t continue to take a multivitamin for women if you have a bad reaction, such as prolonged upset stomach or rash.

- Don’t stop taking a prescribed drug or substitute a supplement for a prescribed drug unless under the advice and supervision of your health-care provider.

- Don’t take a higher dosage of a product than is recommended on the label unless advised to do so by your health-care provider.