Which Daily Vitamin Subscription is Right For You?
My wellness to-do list has always included taking vitamins, regularly sweating out my stress in an infrared sauna, and owning a reaaally nice blender to make my morning green smoothie—heavy on the green powder, of course. Of all these things, taking vitamins should be the easiest. If I can boost my calcium, improve my gut health, and get Blake Lively-level hair growth with a couple capsules and a glass of water, why wouldn’t I be swallowing them every damn day?
Somehow, I never quite got to it, and I know a lot of people like me. But, in the last year, vitamins have gotten a makeover. These days, my Instagram feed is stacked with “totally casual” snaps of aesthetically pleasing bedside tables, with an equally photogenic pill bottle front and center. As an admittedly aesthetics-oriented person, I officially wanted in.
But! Not all pretty wellness trends are safe or smart (looking at you, activated charcoal), so I enlisted the help of Tori Schmitt, MS, RND, LD of Yes! Nutrition LLC. My to-do list is now officially shorter, and I've even taken to trawling for blenders on Amazon. Is it possible that these vitamins have upped my motivation? Maybe not, but I like to think so. Read on for a breakdown of three of the best new daily vitamins on the market.
Photo by Alex Lau1/3Ritual
The pitch: Ritual takes the term “ingredient transparency” very literally—their packaging and vitamins are completely clear, putting the mineral contents on full display. The company only sells one product: the Essential for Women daily multivitamin. It contains nine key nutrients but leaves out some traditional multivitamin ingredients that most American women already get enough of, like Vitamin A, B Vitamins, Vitamin C, calcium, and trace minerals.
The fine print: The non-GMO, vegan vitamin is free of gluten, allergens, and synthetic fillers, and claims to be specially formulated to provide key nutrients most American women lack: Vitamin K2, Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12, Boron, Iron, Magnesium, Vitamin E, Folate, and Omega-3. The combination supposedly will boost your mood and energy, promote healthy skin, and fight aging.
Why we like them: Curious customers can trace exactly where each ingredient comes from, down to interviews with the manufacturer. Some vitamins can cause nausea, but Ritual’s delayed-release capsule is meant to minimize that.
The expert opinion: “As the Ritual website shares, buying lots of unnecessary vitamins can indeed get expensive and annoying! Their cost breaks down to just around $1 a day,” Schmitt says. “I like that Ritual simplifies dietary supplements by providing the nutrients that many women may not get enough of. But, if you’re not getting enough vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium or calcium in your diet—other nutrients of concern—these capsules won’t cover you there!”
Photo by Alex Lau2/3Care/Of
The pitch: Care/Of offers daily vitamins, tailored to your individual health needs and goals. An adorably illustrated online survey determines your lifestyle (asking about your diet, alcohol consumption, exercise, and daily screen time) and goals (which range from immunity and digestion to stress and skin), then provides you with a customized daily pack. Once assigned, you can sub nutrients in or out as desired.
The fine print: Well, there are lots. Packs contain a combination of vitamins, minerals, ayurvedic herbs, and probiotics. My daily pack contained iron, calcium, astaxanthin (an antioxidant), a probiotic blend, and ashwagandha, but other offerings range from prenatal vitamins and multivitamins to turmeric and evening primrose.
Why we like them: If you’re looking to target specific areas of your health, this is one of the only customized vitamin packs on the market. And, like Ritual, the ingredients and science driving their selection is readily available. It’s too soon to tell how it's working, but my mood has felt more stable after a few weeks of supplements. And I do admit that the customized approach really appeals to the part of my soul that insists I'm unique.
The expert opinion: “I like the personalized approach that this brand delivered when it came to choosing a dietary supplement that was right for me. And each recommendation was bolstered by research sharing the number of studies and the quality of the studies that led to the recommendations.” Schmitt says. However, she points out that focusing on “goals” instead of “needs” can create gaps—for example, a person with a family history of heart disease wouldn’t receive supplements tailored for optimal heart health. “ I would recommend that those interested still check with a qualified healthcare practitioner for a thorough assessment and recommendation for the dietary supplements they should take,” she says.
Photo by Alex Lau3/3Be Well by Dr. Frank Lippman Daily Dose
The pitch: The Daily Dose aims to promote internal balance, strengthen immunity, and combat the stresses of modern life through daily packets of several key supplements. The Be Well brand is all about maximizing everyday performance, an approach that has earned the significant support of Healthyish contributor (and noted supplement user) Seamus Mullen.
The fine print: Each packet contains fish oils, probiotics, Vitamin D3, and a multivitamin. The non-GMO, allergen-free pill packs are meant to be taken twice a day, so you’re really loading up on supplements. Be Well recommends taking one pack with breakfast and another with lunch or dinner, and Schmitt also advises spacing out the supplements throughout the day to help your body absorb as much of these vitamins as possible.
Why we like them: The Daily Dose is smack in the middle of the supplement spectrum, providing more than just a multivitamin but keeping the additional nutrients down to a minimum. The probiotic caplet contains eight different probiotic strains to boost digestive health, and vitamins D3, K1, and K2 bolster the immune system. The individual serving packs are super convenient, making it easy to stash a few in your bag or desk drawer.
The expert opinion: “It can sometimes be hard for individuals to remember to take their supplements once a day—and this brand recommends you take two packets a day!” Schmitt says. “There’s also no iron included in this pack, which may be of special concern if you menstruate, are an athlete, or choose a more plant-based eating pattern.”
