Wellness Blog
This Is Why You Need More Than 9 Ingredients in Your Multivitamin
Americans love vitamins and other dietary supplements. More than half of all American adults take supplements,¹ and multiples are more popular than any other supplement category. This is good because scientific surveys consistently find that vitamin and mineral deficiencies are widespread. Degraded soil quality, excessive processing and other chemical manipulation of our foods deplete their vitamins, minerals and other nutrients important for our health. Taking a scientifically-designed multiple can be nutritional health insurance. How to Select a High-Quality Supplement The dietary supplement marketplace can be confusing, though. With thousands of supplements to choose from, it’s difficult to know if you’re getting truly high-quality supplements that can actually deliver on what they promise. After all, how can you know for sure that you're not wasting money on supplements that won't improve your health? The simplest answer to this question is that not all supplements are created equal. When you shop for supplements, you definitely will get more healthful products if you're better informed. Try to develop reliable criteria for choosing a supplement brand. Here are some of the top factors to keep in mind: Additives First, the additives. Many supplements have agents added only for cosmetic reasons, titanium dioxide for example. Others have artificial dyes, some of which are linked to cancer. Some supplements, including many being marketed to children, even have substantial amounts of sugar added. Many products that contain minerals have revealed lead contamination when tested. Absorption Next, there’s the issue of absorption. Many ingredients are known to be poorly absorbed yet are used simply because they are cheaper or take up less space in the tablet or capsule. BrainMD's product development team know that it's impossible to make a truly healthful multiple in one capsule or tablet per day. Even two per day are going to be far short of being optimal or even just sufficient. One common example is magnesium oxide, found in the majority of multiples yet known to be not as well absorbed as magnesium citrate, malate, or glycinate. Calcium or zinc oxides are similarly bad, and the sulfates and carbonates of minerals are also inferior. Safety Another crucial issue is whether the particular ingredient has been verified safe and effective in well-designed human studies. The very commonly used folic acid form of the folate B vitamin is a synthetic substance very rare in nature and known to negatively interfere with the body's healthy utilization of folate. The common cyano-cobalamin form of vitamin B12 actually contains cyanide, which is not safe for smokers, women taking certain oral contraceptives, or for anyone, really. The BrainMD supplements use methylfolate and methyl-vitamin B12, the most active forms of these vitamins and naturally occurring in the body. Testing Then there are the "whole foods" promoters, who premix vitamin ingredients into dried foods and claim they're better absorbed that way. This is nothing more than aggressive marketing with very little, if any, science behind it. The best supplement ingredients are those which are actually tested in double-blind trials and found to relieve deficiencies while improving the functioning of the brain and other organs. Deficiencies These are some of the factors that will help you develop your personal, well-informed criteria for choosing a multiple. What's at stake is no less than your survival: research has established that for humans, long-term deficiencies in vitamins and essential minerals can result in loss of energy, the breakdown of bodily functions, and eventually death. For example, vitamin D deficiency is on the rise in some U.S. states.² And that's not all. Every few years the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducts a large national survey, which identifies widespread deficiencies in the population. Besides more than 93% of the population not getting enough vitamin D, over 90% aren't getting enough vitamin E, over 54% not enough magnesium, even 36% not getting enough vitamin C! A glass of orange juice doesn't come close to supplying enough vitamin C for good health (besides being loaded with sugar). With vitamin and mineral deficiencies on the rise, think of supplements as nutritional health insurance to help maintain health and optimize brain and body function. In a market inundated with multivitamin supplements, BrainMD is proud to offer its advanced, proprietary formula... NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin The BrainMD product development team has over 60 years of combined dietary supplement experience. We follow the clinical research very closely and rely on objective scientific findings to develop and upgrade our supplement products. We are focused on the brain, but it's a reality of cell biology that the vitamins and essential minerals that help our brain cells also help all our other cells, and consequently maintain our whole-body well-being. Vitamins and essential minerals are the "nuts and bolts" of human biochemistry — they are indispensable to the structure and functioning of the enzymes that generate and use the life energy that keeps us alive, alert, mental and physically competent. BrainMD's NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin combines more than 50 vitamins, essential minerals, conditionally-essential nutrients and plant extracts, in their most active forms to provide you with whole body-mind nutrition that far exceeds the quality of drugstore multivitamins.* Conditionally essential nutrients don't get a lot of respect, yet (as the term implies) can be as essential for survival for some individuals under some conditions.* 5 Key Benefits of NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin Though the benefits of this dynamic, broad-spectrum multivitamin are numerous, NeuroVite Plus can support your daily health by: Nourishing your body’s cells, tissues and organs with a wide range of essential and conditionally essential nutrients, all very important for energy, health and survival.* Going beyond other multiples to further promote optimal brain function with important phytonutrients that help sustain brain cells.* Supporting the health of ALL the body's organ systems with the full range of vitamins, the essential dietary minerals (except iron and copper-see below), lutein and zeaxanthin for the brain and eyes, resveratrol and hesperidin for the brain and circulation, coenzyme Q10 ("CoQ") for the heart.* Shoring up the body's antioxidant defenses with the antioxidant vitamins C and E, the essential minerals zinc, selenium, and manganese, the conditionally essential alpha lipoic acid, CoQ along with lutein and zeaxanthin.* Further including a careful selection of beneficial food concentrates, as well as digestive enzymes to help ensure digestion and absorption.* Head-to-Head Supplement Comparison In head-to-head comparisons, here’s how the ingredients in NeuroVite Plus measure up to the ingredients of other leading multiple supplements: [wc_box color="inverse" text_align="left" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" class=""] Vitamin D Vitamin D used to be known just for building bones. But within the last decade, a surge of research established that this vitamin is converted by the liver and kidneys into a hormone that regulates practically all our organs, not least the brain. Vitamin D promotes the health of the brain, heart and circulation, immune system, bones, joints, muscles and other organs. Vitamin D promotes attention, socialization, memory and learning, positive mood, and brain function overall, while generally enhancing health and well-being. Other Brands: 500 - 1000 IU on average* NeuroVite Plus: 2000 IU of vitamin D3 (superior to vitamin D2) Methylfolate Folate is crucial for supplying methyl, a deceptively simple chemical group essential for everything from making our DNA to producing key brain neurotransmitters, and for recycling homocysteine which is a potentially lethal toxin naturally made in the body. All but a few really sophisticated multiples provide folate as folic acid. This synthetic substance doesn't occur in plants or in any of our foods and is so chemically different from natural folates, it gunks up our folate enzymes and impairs our natural folate utilization. Growing numbers of Americans have high levels of unconverted folic acid in their blood, linked to adverse health effects. By providing methylfolate, NeuroVite Plus promotes smooth and efficient folate metabolism for those who need it most: women of reproductive age, the elderly, the high proportion of individuals who carry folate enzyme mutations.* Other Brands: 100 to 400 mcg of folic acid* NeuroVite Plus: 400 mcg of methylfolate as the glucosamine salt, stable and well absorbed Vitamin B12, as Methylcobalamin Our arrays of enzyme systems that use methylfolate to obtain methyl and recycle homocysteine also need vitamin B12. Plants don't make this vitamin, so vegans and vegetarians can have low levels. Also, its absorption is highly complicated and vulnerable to blockade by antacids, histamine type 2 receptor blockers, and proton pump inhibitors. Certain antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and metformin also can deplete B12. Rather than use cheap and potentially harmful cyanide-laden B12, BrainMD uses methylcobalamin (methyl-B12), the best dietary form of vitamin B12.* Other Brands: Typically cyano-cobalamin, as low as 8 mcg up to 150 mcg on average* NeuroVite Plus: 500 mcg of methyl-B12, known to be absorbed when taken by mouth Choline This conditionally essential nutrient is practically a vitamin since some people need to get it from their diet. It supplies methyl groups as an important backup for those coming from methylfolate and methyl-B12. It also supports the production of acetylcholine, our most abundant nerve transmitter, both within and outside the brain. Choline is crucial for healthy liver function and is very important during pregnancy. Other brands: Very rarely present* NeuroVite Plus: 25 mg Vitamin C This vitamin is widely known as an antioxidant. But it doesn't get sufficient recognition for being highly concentrated in the brain and essential for brain enzymes that regulate the neurotransmitters acetylcholine, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Vitamin C is a crucial brain antioxidant, an important cofactor for the production of nerve cell electrical insulation (myelin) and helps ensure healthy blood flow to the brain. During the age of sea exploration, sailors who developed vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) often went insane. Other Brands: 50 - 100 mg (many only contain 60 mg, which is 100% DV on average)* NeuroVite Plus: 200 mg Vitamin E This vitamin is the major antioxidant protector for cell membranes – where our most dynamic enzyme assemblies are located. NeuroVite Plus provides the full spectrum (alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherol) of vitamin E forms present in a healthy diet.* Other Brands: 10 IU on average* NeuroVite Plus: 30 IU alpha-tocopherol, plus another 30 mg beta + gamma + delta tocopherols. Boron Though not formally proven as a dietary essential, boron supports the body's utilization of vitamin D and magnesium, and there's other clinical evidence it promotes health. In a human study, controlled lowering of dietary boron intake impaired memory and attention functions. Other Brands: Many multivitamins don’t include Boron – those that do usually contain 1 mg or less* NeuroVite Plus: 1.5 mg Lutein and Zeaxanthin These two carotenoid nutrients are practically vitamins since the body cannot make them. They are the yellow-orange pigments of the retina, protecting it against light damage and facilitating glare discrimination. But recently they were discovered to be actively accumulated by the brain, and clinical findings suggest they are involved in memory and likely other cognitive brain functions.* Other Brands: Very few have them, and in very small amounts* NeuroVite Plus: 3 mg lutein, 300 mcg zeaxanthin [/wc_box] Brain-Boosting Blend NeuroVite Plus supplies substantial daily doses of key nootropic nutrients.* These are all costly ingredients, but we included them to make NeuroVite Plus a more fully brain-directed multiple.* These ultra-pure, high-potency ingredients include: PhosphatidylSerine (PS) has the best clinical track record for memory, and as a major cell membrane building block works closely with the omega-3s to maintain nerve cell connections.* Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC) is fundamentally important for our cells' mitochondria to generate energy, as well as for gene regulation, and production of the major neurotransmitter acetylcholine.* Like PS, ALC facilitates nerve growth factor actions to sustain nerve cell survival.* Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) is required for two major enzymes that generate energy, and besides being a powerful antioxidant also helps maintain blood sugar within healthy range.* Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) is centrally involved in mitochondrial function in addition to being antioxidant; numerous clinical trials document its importance for the brain, heart and circulation, immune system, and other organs.* But wait, there’s more... 2 Additional Blends Some leading supplement companies claim that less is more and only include 9 or fewer ingredients in their multivitamins.* At BrainMD, we believe that more is more and that’s why we’ve included over 50 essential nutrients in our multivitamin-mineral. In addition to high doses of core ingredients, NeuroVite Plus rounds out its formulation with: The Fruit and Vegetable Blend that emphasizes antioxidant versatility.* The Digestive Enzyme Blend to support healthy digestion.* NeuroVite Plus is the most essential dietary supplement for everyone to take.* NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin FAQs [wc_box color="inverse" text_align="left" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" class=""]  1. What Makes NeuroVite Plus Unique? NeuroVite Plus is a highest-quality, multifunctional dietary supplement that surpasses conventional brands in its range and potency.* Compared to other leading supplement brands, NeuroVite Plus has nearly 3 times more ingredients than the average multiple, all of them optimized for their applications.* It’s concentrated, naturally derived and made with integrity. Its diverse set of over 50 nutrients makes NeuroVite Plus the dietary supplement of choice for anyone seeking optimal physical and mental fitness.*  2. Can Children Take NeuroVite Plus? NeuroVite Plus is fine for older kids to take if they're okay with capsules. For kids aged 9 or younger, we developed a sugar-free multiple called Kids’ NeuroVite Multivitamin Chewables. It has a delicious orange flavor in its penguin-shaped, chewable tablets that kids love.  3. Why Doesn't NeuroVite Plus Have Omega-3 Fatty Acids? The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are conditionally essential nutrients, building blocks for healthy cell membranes, which are vital for all our cells and mandatory for our brain cells to make the trillions of connections that enable peak memory, mood, behavior, and even personality.* From the clinical research, it's clear that the cheap, basic "18/12" fish oil doesn't come close to supplying enough EPA+DHA.* Rather than risk destabilizing the powder ingredients of NeuroVite Plus with a mass of sticky oil, BrainMD supplies an ultra-high-powered fish oil called Omega-3 Power.* Two Omega-3 Power soft gel provides 860 mg of EPA and 580 mg of DHA, sufficient to raise your omega-3 cell membrane levels into the optimal range after a few months.* [/wc_box] The Multi with More The modern diet isn’t providing sufficient average intakes of various essential nutrients. While failing to get enough of these vitamins and essential nutrients may lead to serious, long-term health issues, feeding your brain and body with healthy foods and high-quality supplements can provide tremendous nutritional health support for you and everyone in your family. Nutritional research³ makes clear that everyone can benefit from taking a multiple vitamin-mineral supplement that’s concentrated, naturally derived, and made with integrity. For all the above, take NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin daily.*  At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin and our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD. *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.  References: 1. Mishra, S., Stierman, B., Gahche, J. J., & Potischman, N. (2021, February). Dietary supplement use among adults: United States, 2017–2018 (NCHS Data Brief No. 399). National Center for Health Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db399.htm  2. Tangpricha, V. (2007). Vitamin D deficiency in the southern United States. South Medical Journal, 100(4), 384–385. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.smj.0000209229.90862.03  3. Fletcher, R. H., & Fairfield, K. M. (2002). Vitamins for chronic disease prevention in adults. JAMA, 287(23), 3127–3129. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.287.23.3127
Learn moreStay Healthy This Summer On-the-Go with Daily Vitamin Packs
Warmer weather is here, so it’s a great time to head outdoors for some fun in the sun. Getting outside is important for everyone, especially for those who live a sedentary lifestyle or those who’ve been cooped up at home for the last several months. Benefits of Outdoor Activities Whether you enjoy jogging, horseback riding, or just a long walk, being outdoors can have an overall positive effect on your brain and body. Physical activity also has been associated with improved mood and a more optimistic outlook on life. Aerobic exercise, sufficient to make you sweat for 30 minutes, increases blood flow to your brain as well as your muscles and other tissues. This helps deliver nutrients and remove waste products. It can even increase the growth factor BDNF which promotes improved brain function. Regardless of which outdoor activity you choose, here are some tips to help streamline your fun time while on the go this summer… 4 Ways to Stay Healthy This Summer On-the-Go 1. Stay Hydrated Your brain is 80% water, so anything that dehydrates it (such as too much caffeine or alcohol) should be avoided. Even mild dehydration can impair performance in tasks that require attention, immediate memory skills, and physical performance. Dehydration is also associated with brain atrophy, poor concentration, memory difficulties, and increased sensitivity to pain. It’s recommended that you drink plenty of water each day to keep your brain and body adequately hydrated. The current recommendations from Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine of the U.S. National Academies are that women consume at least 91 ounces of water and men at least 125 ounces daily, from their foods, beverages, and drinking water. Running out of water can lead to dehydration, heatstroke, and even death. Always take more water than you think you need, especially on hot days or if you live in an arid region. Having extra water at the end of your activity is far better than running out and suffering from heat exhaustion. 2. Bring Healthy Snacks Two popular snacks often taken on outdoor excursions are trail mix and power bars. While generally considered healthy, these snacks may contain unhealthy elements (like M&Ms) or added sugar. As an alternative, consider packing healthy snacks. Put celery slices, snap peas, or baby carrots into snack bags. Whole foods – such as oranges, apples, or bananas – are super portable since they come in their own containers. Grab a handful of seeds (pumpkin, sunflower) or nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts) for a fiber-packed snack. High-protein foods will give you more energy and high-fiber foods will help you feel full longer. Take fiber along with protein to ensure a balanced, nutritious meal. Try to eat a healthy snack every 2 hours or as often as you feel hungry. 3. Use Sunscreen One benefit of engaging in outdoor activities is that you can get some vitamin D3 from sunshine. But there’s a danger of getting too much sunlight, specifically exposure to harmful UV rays. To limit your exposure to these rays, it’s wise to use sunscreen. Make sure to cover areas that tend to burn the easiest: face, ears, neck, and limbs. On sunny days, be mindful of reflections from glass or water, which can amplify the sun’s intensity. Also, be aware of overcast days since you can get a sunburn even through clouds. Be sure to monitor how much sun you’re getting – too much exposure can lead to severe sunburn and serious skin conditions. To prevent these detrimental outcomes, always use sunscreen when spending significant time outside. For sufficient protection against damaging sun rays, it’s recommended to use SPF 30 or higher. Remember to bring along some sunscreen in case you need to reapply after a few hours. 4. Get Nutritional Support with Daily Vitamin Packs Whether you’re hanging out at the beach, hitting the trail for a hiking or mountain biking adventure, or just taking a road trip to get out of town, don’t forget to pack the one thing that will supercharge your day from the start…your vitamins! Maybe it’s due to their tiny size, but many people forget to pack supplements or vitamins when leaving for a vacation, weekend outing, or day trip. Although getting off your vitamin regimen is never a good thing, it’s particularly detrimental when you head off on a trip or outdoor adventure. Without the proper nutrients, you may find it difficult to engage in activities that require sustained physical exertion. To prevent periods of energy depletion, low mood, and memory issues, always remember to take your supplements with you. Your supplement regimen should include ultra-pure vitamins and nutrients that are proven essential for your health, energy levels, mental focus, and physical performance. There’s no need to pack bottles or a weekly vitamin organizer – BrainMD offers ultra-pure, brain-directed supplements in convenient daily vitamin packs. We’ve developed two different daily vitamin packs to fit your on the go lifestyle: Brain & Body Power Brain & Body Power is a supplement system that was designed for essential everyday performance.* It’s a potent daily regimen of 3 supplements for total brain and body health, offered in convenient packets.* Each packet contains: NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin (2 capsules) This powerful combination of 50 vitamins, essential minerals, standardized plant extracts, and digestive enzymes (carefully selected for optimal bioavailability), is foundational to your supplement regimen.* Omega-3 Power (1 capsule) Omega-3 Power provides a high dose of omega-3 fatty acids (essential for your brain and overall well-being), is made from sustainably harvested fish stocks, and is screened for over 250 potential contaminants to ensure maximum purity.* Brain & Memory Power Boost (2 capsules) Our bestselling, brain-boosting formula provides an unparalleled mix of potent nutraceuticals and herbals to support the brain’s energy, connectivity, blood flow, oxygen supply, information processing, and memory performance.* This supplement system provides high-quality, comprehensive nutritional support for optimal brain and body health.* Brain & Body Power Max Brain & Body Power MAX is for those who want a truly powerful dietary supplement system that provides superior memory and brain support.* It offers an additional allowance of vitamins, minerals, omega-3s, concentrates of herbal and food plants, and other nutrients that support, promote, and enhance the brain and body.* This all-in-one supplement system makes it easy to stay healthy on the go with portable packets for your purse or pocket.* For optimal benefit, we recommend taking 2 packets each day. Each packet contains: NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin (2 capsules) Over 50 vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, and other nutritional ingredients (all in their most active forms) combine in NeuroVite Plus Multivitamin to give you the clinically-proven groundwork for your supplement regimen.* Omega-3 Power (2 capsules) To operate at peak performance, a healthy brain, heart, and body require plenty of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids.* This fish oil concentrate provides a much higher potency than the typical fish oil product and undergoes the most advanced purification process in the industry to ensure safety.* Brain & Memory Power Boost (3 capsules) Brain & Memory Power Boost contains brain-directed nutrients, grounded in solid clinical science to support healthy brain and memory performance.* With its all-star lineup of potent ingredients, Brain & Memory Power Boost promotes the brain’s basic functions including its energy, connectivity, and overall performance.* Stay Active Physical activity is perhaps the single most important thing you can do to keep your brain and body healthy. Both aerobic and isometric exercise can improve brain health. Exercise is a great way to feel better, stay healthy, and just have fun. As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of some form of physical activity at least 5 days a week. If you’re looking to lose weight, you may want to extend the duration and increase the intensity of your workout sessions. Be sure to properly warm up with basic stretches before beginning any exercise or physical activity. Putting these tips into practice can give you the support and nutrients you need to stay active and enjoy a brain-healthy life.  At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality supplements to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD. *These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This content is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical or healthcare advice from a physician, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new health regimen.
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