Here at Woodstock Vitamins, Dr. Neal’s supplement strategy concept serves as our guiding philosophy — and not just because the wellness wisecracker is our founder! This strategic approach is key for wellness seekers who don’t want to waste time or money on their health journey.
The Vital5, a humble yet essential quintet of nutrients, is a crucial facet of the supplement strategy.
Micronutrients are one of the Vital5, but what are they? Micronutrients are nutrients (duh) that benefit multiple body systems, are often missing from even some of the best diets, and have the best science to support their importance.
To meet our unique micronutrient needs, we recommend multivitamins.
Multivitamins are supplement products with a collection of micronutrients: vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals packaged up in convenient capsules, tablets, powders, gummies, and more.
Most people think of multivitamins as one-a-day tablets that kinda stink a little. Unlike other retailers, we’re not married to that idea (in fact, the relationship is estranged). We often recommend any combination of supplement products — even multiple capsules a day — that provide these needed micronutrients.
Today, we’re looking at the three top choices for multivitamins, comparing them, and sharing our recommendations for success with these important supplements.
In This Article:
- Why do you need a multivitamin
- Our top 3 favorite multivitamins
- Comparing the top multivitamins of 2023
- Choosing the right multivitamin for you
Why Do I Need A Multivitamin?
Let’s say you want to be super awesome and make yourself as healthy as possible. You pop your gummy vitamin, and now you’re invincible:
We get a few yuks out of this, but honestly, many people truly believe a multivitamin will imbue them with special powers.
For a deep discussion around the usefulness of multivitamins, choosing multivitamins, and all the dirty tricks the industry plays, we highly recommend Dr. Neal’s recent podcast 3-episode series on the subject:
- Episode 10 – Multivitamins: Both Useless and Vital
- Episode 11 – Multivitamins: Safely Buying in 2022
- Episode 17 – Multivitamins: Whole Food or Whole Fraud?
After you’ve listened to those episodes, gotten the facts, and decided whether or not a multivitamin is vital for you, come back to this blog! And then scroll on to see our top picks and how they compare to one another.
The Woodstock Vitamins Top 3 Multivitamin Options
Our top 3 multivitamins are:
- Coenzyme Multi Capsules | Woodstock Vitamins
- Vital Greens and Reds Powder | Woodstock Vitamins
- Whole Food Tablets or Powder | Nutriplex Formulas
1. Coenzyme Multi
Coenzyme Multi is formulated to contain the most absorbable forms of each nutrient in common sense dosages.
Modern multivitamins often use the cheapest, “super-synthetic” versions. Doses are honestly ridiculous, oftentimes in the thousands of percent of RDA.
Coenzyme Multi really shines compared to other multivitamins especially when it comes to the B-vitamins, which are found in their activated ‘coenzyme forms’ and the minerals, found in chelated forms.
The one downside: Vitamin D3 is from lanolin, so Coenzyme Multi is not suitable for vegans.
Coenzyme Multi is available as a capsule, powder, and chewable tablet for kids (that doesn’t taste bad at all!).
Learn More: Choose the Best Multivitamin Supplement: Dr. Neal’s Do’s and Don’ts
Sidenote: Should I Take an Iron Free Multivitamin?
We formulate two versions of Coenzyme Multi: Coenzyme Multi and Coenzyme Multi No Iron. If someone must be SUPER careful about iron intake, Coenzyme Multi No Iron is for them. Otherwise, the difference between the two is minimal (there is only 2.5mg of iron in 2 capsules of Coenzyme Multi).
2. Vital Greens and Reds
Vital Greens and Reds is a vegan-friendly mix of vitamins and food powders that’s minimally processed to guarantee the integrity of the nutrients.
This multivitamin blend is a powder, so it’s mixed in a smoothie, shake, or just plain water and drank.
This product is great for people specifically looking to up their ‘servings’ of greens and reds temporarily as they implement dietary changes or for folks looking to go from an A to an A+ in antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetable intake.
Learn More: 4 Steps to Buying the Right Supplements in 2024
Whole Food by Nutriplex Formulas
If you listened to Neal’s podcast episode about Whole Food Multivitamins, you’ll know that he is VERY selective about the brands he promotes, especially ones claiming to be “whole food.”
Nutriplex Formulas Whole Food is a collection of whole food ingredients formulated to supply those needed micronutrients from their natural food source.
Foods in general have a lower vitamin count than “isolate” (read: traditional) supplements do, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It does explain the big dose in the suggested use section of the label; this is no one-a-day, but instead a 2-4 tablet-a-day product.
Also, because it’s food ingredients, micronutrient content is NOT measured. You won’t see Vitamin A, B, C, or any of the vitamin alphabet measured or placed on the label.
The Nutriplex Formula philosophy is that those crazy high numbers we all chase don’t matter, but eating and being exposed to healthy foods does.
Putting our Multivitamins Head to Head
Let’s compare each of the three multivitamins by putting each head to head against the other!
Coenzyme Multi vs Vital Greens and Reds
Coenzyme Multi provides a standardized dosage of absorbable micronutrients, whereas Vital Greens and Reds provides a combination of food powder and fiber blends — no specific counts of any micronutrient except for A and C.
So, Coenzyme Multi provides a comprehensive micronutrient mix, in defined amounts. Vital Greens and Reds is more about the unique, properly processed foods and the combinations than it is about the specific micronutrients and their quantities.
Vital Greens and Reds focuses on powerful antioxidants and even fiber, whereas Coenzyme Multi will have none of those ingredients.
Coenzyme Multi vs Whole Food
In theory, Whole Food by Nutriplex Formulas will have a similar mix of micronutrients as Coenzyme Multi will.
With Coenzyme Multi, you’re 100% certain of what you are getting and how much. With Whole Food, you’re certain you’re getting micronutrient-rich, properly processed foods, but there’s no specific (read: guaranteed) amounts of micronutrients.
The Whole Food supplement requires 4-6 tablets a day for a proper serving, whereas Coenzyme Multi can achieve those results with 2 easy-to-swallow capsules.
Whole Food vs Vital Greens and Reds
Whole Food is available in a tablet or powder form, whereas Vital Greens and Reds comes as a powder only.
The former provides more variety of micronutrients, and more closely resembles the mix found in conventional multivitamins. Vital Greens and Reds skews more towards fibers and antioxidant-rich foods, along with water-soluble vitamins like A, C, and E.
Whole Food will have small amounts of vitamins and minerals (and that’s not a bad thing!), while Vital Greens and Reds will have higher concentrations of the good nutrition it provides.
Choosing the Best Multivitamin For You
Now that we’ve talked about the pros and cons of each, and compared them against each other, let’s decide on the best one for you.
Looking for a true whole food product? If your philosophy is real whole food, then look no further than Whole Food.
Looking for a great addition to a shake or smoothie? Want to skip the multivitamin pill and just bump up your smoothie game while getting healthy micronutrients? Vital Greens and Reds is your choice.
Looking for the best, comprehensive, and easy-to-take option? We love Coenzyme Multi as the best daily multivitamin that guarantees absorbable and reasonable doses of micronutrients.
Looking for a great supplement for vegans? Vital Greens and Reds is the best vegan-friendly option.
Which Multivitamin is Best for Me?
If you’re a fan of quality supplements done right, then look no further than Woodstock Vitamins.
If you’re serious about micronutrient supplementation and want it to be as vital as Dr. Neal believes it should be, we have lots of great options.
In particular, Coenzyme Multi is a real winner, and it’s our top recommendation for multivitamins.
But, if you’re looking for non-conventional micronutrient supplementation, Whole Food by Nutriplex Formulas or Vital Greens and Reds by Woodstock Vitamins are excellent choices as well, each with their own unique advantages.
Remember, true holistic care involves supplementing healthy choices with best-in-class supplements. Strive for your 5-10 servings of fruits and veggies a day, and then use a high-quality multivitamin to guarantee daily micronutrient goals are met.
Learn More: Multivitamins for Brain Health: 3 Things to Know Before Buying