In an ideal world, we would get all the vitamins and minerals our bodies need from three healthy meals a day. In reality, however, there are myriad reasons why our vitamin quota might be insufficient. Fortunately, there is a range of vitamin supplements for women that are designed to fill these gaps, ensuring that our bodies perform at their best, even if we don’t always eat a balanced diet.
Some key nutrients are especially essential for women, including folate, vitamin D, calcium, and more. Also, as women age and hormone levels fluctuate more and more, our body’s need for these vitamins increases. You may think it’s enough to go for the cheapest multivitamin on the market, but that won’t optimize your health. Instead, with the help of your doctor, examine your diet and determine which vitamins your body needs most and which you can forego.
Below, you’ll find the most important vitamins for women’s health, and before we reveal our top pick for the best vitamins for women, you can read how to choose the best vitamins for you.
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Best vitamins for women: at a glance
How to choose the best vitamins for women
Which vitamins are most important for women?
There are certain nutrients that women need to stay healthy at all stages of life, and especially as they get older. They understand:
Calcium – This mineral is important for strong teeth and bones throughout our lives, but especially for women as they age. Calcium is essential to prevent bone loss, which increases the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis, following menopause.
Vitamin B – There are more than half a dozen B vitamins, including B1, B2, B3, folate and B12. Vitamin B plays a number of roles in your health, including energy production and healthy skin and hair. Folate is especially important for pregnant women because it can help reduce the risk of birth defects.
Vitamin D – Similar to calcium, vitamin D contributes to healthy bones and teeth. Known as the sunshine vitamin, it is important to supplement at least during the winter, when the sun is not strong enough to provide adequate levels of vitamin D.
Vitamin C – This antioxidant is necessary for tissue growth and repair. It also plays a role in the production of collagen, which is integral to maintaining healthy skin, cartilage, blood vessels and more. It helps the body heal wounds and absorb iron.
Omega 3 – This unsaturated fat is good for the health of the heart and blood vessels. It helps prevent heart disease and develop the baby’s nervous system during pregnancy. It is also associated with brain, eye, bone, skin and joint health.
Other Considerations
Besides your diet, there are other factors that will determine which supplements you may need. Certain vitamins may be recommended to help with health problems (for example, ingesting vitamin C when you have a cold). If you are on your period, pregnant or over a certain age, you will have specific nutritional needs. A blood test is the best way to determine which vitamins and minerals your body may be lacking.
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Best Vitamins for Women to Buy in 2022
1. Centrum Women Multivitamin: Best Overall Multivitamin for Women
Price: £7.49 | Shop now at Boots
Centrum is one of the most popular and well-known vitamin brands in the world. This particular multivitamin is designed for adult women under 50 and contains 24 essential nutrients, including higher levels of vitamin D.
Many of these 24 nutrients specifically target areas where women might need a boost. Vitamins B6, B12 and iron can reduce fatigue, while the latter also contributes to cognitive functions. Vitamin C supports the immune system, while biotin, zinc and selenium improve skin, hair and nails.
Centrum Women Multivitamin supplements are designed to be easy to swallow, making them ideal for those struggling in this area, and they are gluten, nut and wheat free – although they do contain gelatin and are therefore not not vegan. . Take one tablet daily, preferably with food, to help fill in any nutritional gaps in your diet.
Key Details – Type: Tablet; Provide: 30 days; Vegan: Nope; Gluten free: Yes
Shop now at Boots
2. Vegan Vitality Multivitamins & Minerals: Best vegan multivitamin for women
Price: £17 | Buy now on Amazon
It may come as a surprise that many vitamins on the market contain animal products. It might be in the form of gelatin, lanolin, or other sneaky ingredients — but these multivitamin tablets are completely free of animal products. They are also free of gluten, lactose, wheat, soy, GMOs, sugar, eggs and nuts. All in all, they are a safe choice for most women.
The main vitamins in this supplement include B12, D3, and iron. They also contain K2, which promotes bone and heart health, and zinc, which helps with immune system and metabolism function. Selenium also supports metabolism, while iodine helps thyroid function.
One bottle contains enough tablets to last you half the year, making these supplements an economical choice. Vegan Vitality is a UK based company that independently tests its products to ensure the highest quality. These tablets are designed specifically for vegans, but are suitable for everyone.
Key Details – Type: Tablet; Provide: 180 days; Vegan: Yes; Gluten free: Yes
3. Wellwoman 50+: The best vitamin for women over 50
Price: £11 | Shop now at Boots
As mentioned earlier, your body’s need for vitamins and minerals changes with age. Women over 50 have an increased need for calcium and vitamin D, as the latter helps the body absorb calcium. B vitamins 6 and 12 are also important for the proper functioning of the brain, nerves and blood vessels.
This Wellwoman 50+ supplement offers a good range of nutrients including B vitamins for a healthy heart, magnesium for good energy release from food, pantothenic acid (also known as vitamin B5) to help the body produce energy and iron to reduce tiredness and fatigue.
Suitable for vegetarians – although not vegan or gluten-free – this supplement is also a good option for women going through menopause, helping these women maintain a healthy, active lifestyle even as their bodies change.
Key Details – Type: Tablet; Provide: 30 days; Vegan: Nope; Gluten free: Nope
4. Bassetts Vitamins in Pregnancy: Best Vitamins for Pregnant Women
Price: £14 | Shop now at Boots
When you’re pregnant, it’s not just your nutritional needs that you need to worry about, but those of your baby as well. Your body is going through a number of changes that will cause your dietary needs to change – and the baby has their own needs. This is the reason why vitamin supplements are often recommended for women during pregnancy.
This multivitamin from Bassetts includes folic acid for tissue growth throughout pregnancy, as well as iron and B12 to help improve energy levels. Vitamin B6 contributes to healthy cognitive function, while vitamin D plays a huge role in maintaining healthy teeth, the immune system and muscle function, as well as helping to absorb calcium. Vitamin D also helps build your baby’s bones, and omega-3 fatty acids and iodine are both important for brain development.
Arriving in the form of a chewable, strawberry and orange lozenge, this could be a great choice for women who find it difficult to take tablets and are already dealing with pregnancy-related issues such than morning sickness. It has no added sugar and uses natural colors and flavors.
Key Details – Type: Pellet; Provide: 30 days; Vegan: Nope; Gluten free: Yes
5. WeightWorld Omega-3 Fish Oil: Best Vitamin for Women’s Heart Health
Price: £22 | Buy now on Amazon
This Harvard article claims that omega-3 fatty acids make “an essential contribution” to our health. Our body cannot manufacture these fats on its own, so we must obtain them from external sources. The best source is fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel, but not everyone will include servings of seafood in their diet every week.
Also noting that omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help prevent heart attacks and strokes, the article also references the role of omega-3s in helping conditions such as lupus. , rheumatoid arthritis, eczema and more. Studies indicate that it may also help with depression, period pain, and ADHD, among other concerns.
As such, adding two WeightWorld Omega-3 capsules to your day is likely to have a significant long-term benefit to your overall health. The capsules are gluten and dairy free and the fish oil is of natural origin. And for those worried about having to go through their day with the threat of a fishy aftertaste, that was no problem.
Key Details – Type: Capsule; Provide: 120 days ; Vegan: Nope; Gluten free: Yes
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