🧠💊 The Multivitamin Scam (and why “One-A-Day” often isn’t helping you)
💬 I keep seeing people proudly show off “200% DV” on big-brand multivitamins… but here’s the problem: DV is the minimum to avoid deficiency — not what’s optimal. A lot of these store-shelf multis are packed with cheap synthetics, fillers, and low-absorption forms that your body barely uses.
Here are the big takeaways from this breakdown 👇
✅ What’s wrong with most big-brand multivitamins?
🧪 Cheap synthetic forms + fillers
Many products use low-quality, lab-made versions of nutrients (often poorly absorbed).
🪨 “Rock vitamins” & junk forms
A lot of multis are bulked up with cheap mineral forms (think limestone-style calcium and ultra-low absorption magnesium forms).
🚫 Low absorption = expensive pee
If the form is weak, you may absorb a tiny fraction, and the rest gets flushed out.
🍽️ Timing matters
Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) need fat + food to absorb properly—taking them on an empty stomach wastes them.
🔥 What to look for instead (practical prepping mindset)
🥩 Food-first nutrition
If you can, prioritize nutrient-dense whole foods (organs like liver, eggs, quality meat, greens, seafood).
🌿 Whole-food based supplements
If you supplement, look for whole-food derived vitamins and better forms (and avoid mystery fillers).
📦 “Packet style” supplements can make more sense
If a company claims one tiny pill contains everything (plus adaptogens, enzymes, probiotics, etc.)… be skeptical.
🛡️ Prepper angle: why this matters
When stress hits (work, illness, shortages, winter, high demand), your body burns through nutrients faster. If your “multivitamin” is mostly junk, you’re not building resilience—you’re burning money.
💬 Question for the group:
Do you take a multivitamin right now? If so—what brand and why did you pick it?