Rating of Multiple Vitamins

Comparison of Daily Multiple Vitamins

But, in the opinion of the editors here at Nutritional Supplement Info, if you are really serious about your health, you should look beyond basic multivitamin and mineral supplements. You should be looking for multinutrient supplements called nutraceuticals.

Let's get a little more specific on why you might want to look at more than just a rating of multiple vitamins.

First, we are not saying vitamins and minerals aren't important; they are. But there are many other nutrients out there that have been extensively studied and show a great deal of promise when it comes to optimal health.

For example, as you are probably aware, many vitamins have beneficial antioxidant activity.

Antioxidants are substances that can neutralize free radicals, which are highly reactive chemicals in the body that can damage cellular material. Some scientists speculate that free radical damage contributes to heart disease, cancer, and perhaps even the aging process itself.

Clearly, taking nutrients and substances that can neutralize these free radicals is important. Vitamins C and E are often touted as antioxidants, but what you might not know is that there are other nutrients literally hundreds of times more powerful as antioxidants than these.

Beyond a Rating of Multiple Vitamins

For example, researchers have discovered that green tea extract is an antioxidant 100 times more powerful than Vitamin C, and over twenty times more so than Vitamin E!

But you won't find green tea in any typical comparison of daily multiple vitamins.

Another example: recently, a major study made worldwide headlines by showing many of the potential health benefits of resveratrol. Resveratrol is a substance that has been isolated in red wine, and is believed to be responsible for many of its health benefits. The study was led by Dr. John Pezzuto of theCollege of Pharmacy at the UIC campus.

It has now been discovered that resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant, and is now being studied and used for its anti-cancer properties -- the initiation, promotion, and progression of cancer.

Let's cover a few more special nutrients you won't find in any rating of multiple vitamins.

Alpha lipoic acid, though you may not know about it, is regarded as a very special and powerful antioxidant, because studies show it is readily absorbed throughout the body (it is both water and fat soluble) and, as such, can protect the integrity of cells ranging from the brain to the liver.

It is now used in studies to treat and prevent a wide array of age related diseases, including diabetes, cataracts, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s, along with boosting the immune system.

L-Carnosine is of interest as an antiaging supplement because of its beneficial effects on advance glycosylation end-products (AGEs).

What are AGEs?

"AGEs are abnormal, cross-linked, and oxidized proteins that might play a role in the aging process. Carnosine may diminish the glycosylation of these proteins, preventing them from inducing cellular damage."

One last nutrient you won't find in your average comparison of daily multiple vitamins is N-Acetyl Cysteine.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC for short) has been shown to fortify the body by protecting it against various toxins -- toxins such as chemicals and byproducts found in such things as cigarette smoke and herbicides. N-Acetyl cysteine research also indicates that this substance is a powerful antioxidant.

"N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) has also shown the ability to improve immune function and retard aging. Other studies have shown that aged animals can have dramatic improvements in immune function after NAC supplementation."

If you are looking for a standard rating of multiple vitamins, then there are plenty of sites for that. But, our mission here at Nutritional Supplement Info is to inform people about other beneficial nutrients they may not be aware of yet.

Featured Product

However, if you're interested in finding a product where you can get a broad spectrum of not only vitamins and mineral, but all of the nutrients discussed above -- plus many many more, in one product, then read on.

We here at Nutritional Supplement personally take a product called Total Balance, made my Xtend-Life Natural Products. Total Balance contains all of the nutrients discussed above, plus many many more. In fact, it contains almost 70 nutrients in total.

Quite simply, you won't find Total Balance in any comparison of daily multiple vitamins because it's not a standard multivitamin at all. Xtend-Life describes their product like this:

"Total Balance is not a traditional multi supplement. Although we use a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals they are used primarily as 'carriers' for the molecules of much more potent nutrients that are in the formula."

Please remember that it's important to discuss taking supplements with your doctor. Click here to learn more about Total Balance.