Are you getting enough nutrition every day? If you’re like most modern American women, constantly juggling your career, your family and your personal life, then you can bet that you’re not getting all the nutrients that you need to stay healthy. Combining low nutrition and daily stress is a recipe for a health disaster! Luckily, you can fill the nutritional gaps in your life with the help of a daily multivitamin targeted specifically for women's health. Here is some important information to help you choose the right multivitamin.

Who needs multivitamins?

Women from age one to 100 can benefit from some form a multivitamin because they're designed for women's health maintenance through the various stages of their lives.

• Menstruating women need to watch out for iron deficiency.

• Women are at greater risk of osteoporosis than men. Extra calcium in a women's multivitamin can help maintain bone health and density.

• Post-menopausal women often no longer need iron and vitamin K supplements, but can benefit from added amounts of vitamin D and vitamin B12.

• Pregnant women and nursing mothers require higher amounts of folic acid, calcium and iron to insure their baby's healthy development.

• An ideal women's multivitamin contains a good variety of

o Water and fat soluble vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E and K.

o Minerals like calcium, zinc, iron and potassium.

o Antioxidants.

Choosing the best multivitamin in the market

It’s important to remember that there is no single best multivitamin for all women as health requirements change over time. It also depends on the woman’s age, fitness level and health condition. As a general rule, you should look for a multivitamin that offers nearly 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of all the essentials vitamins and minerals. The only exception is calcium, as it’s not possible to put 100 percent of your calcium requirement in a single tablet. It may also be beneficial to look for multivitamins that are geared toward your age and level of health. Check out the suggestions below to find out more.

Women of childbearing years

It's especially important for women in their childbearing years to have an adequate amount of calcium. If you are trying to conceive or hoping to in the near future, you should look for vitamins that have at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. Women who experience regular monthly menstruation should look for multivitamins with iron to help replenish their body's store of red blood cells. It's also important for women with menstrual disorders or heavy and prolonged bleeding to find additional iron supplements.

Pregnant and lactating mothers

Women carrying another human being inside them or those nursing their precious bundle of joy should take at least 600 micrograms of folic acid a day to help promote proper fetal and infant development. Sufficient daily amounts of beta-carotene are also important because it helps protect against serious birth defects like spina bifida. Prenatal multivitamins are especially good for pregnant and nursing women as these products have been specifically formulated to keep both mother and child healthy.

Postmenopausal women

A woman who no longer menstruates may not need any more additional iron. In fact, there are some studies that suggest a connection between high levels of iron in the body and heart problems. Aging women should also be cautious about taking in too much vitamin A, because going over 100 percent of the RDA can increase the risk of bone fractures. The most beneficial multivitamins for postmenopausal women contain high amounts of vitamin B12, vitamin D and calcium to help boost energy and maintain healthy skin and bones.

Modern women are always on the go, struggling to set a balance between their family and career. You may not always have time to sit down for a well-balanced meal, but thanks to multivitamins, you can still do something every day to keep yourself healthy.