Ever wonder, which multivitamin is better? Each time I run out of vitamins I always cringe because that means another trip to the pharmacy store to go through the numerous amounts of multivitamins. I guess it is the price that everyone must take though for a brighter, healthier future. So, which is better, Centrum or One-A-Day?
For years I have been taking Centrum since it was just about the only product on the market shelves in my smaller city in the Midwest. When I finally went to college and moved into a larger city, I was amazed on how many choices were out there on the market for multivitamins. Centrum was the most accessible however my eyes were open to new products that were on the market specifically formulated to increase activity and health for certain types of people.
One-a-day Weight Smart Multivitamin is specifically formulated with ECGC, Green Tea and some other essential vitamin B supplements to increase the metabolism in women. Unlike most multivitamins, this product is Ephedra free which is a load off my mind. Ephedra is a dangerous Chinese supplement that has been known for years to be used in weight loss drugs however the FDA passed a law to forbid the sale of Ephedra unless it is a prescription weight loss drug since it causes serious side-effects. Not only does it help in the aid in weight loss, it also provides 100% vitamins for each day. The company that produces it is Bayer.
Centrum is strictly a multivitamin that is for adults, it does not provide assistance in weight loss or cholesterol such as One-A-Day. Centrum provides 100% of the daily vitamins that are needed to last through the day. This multivitamin is great for those that want to stick to the name-brand vitamin with the fewest choices. The company that produces it is Wyeth.
One-a-day Weight Smart Multivitamin comes in a turquoise box with a more traditional white bottle with child-resistant cap. The Centrum Multivitamins for Adults comes in placed on top of a piece of cardstock with a plastic shrink holding the white bottle with child-resistant cap together for sale. A few years ago, the Centrum products were sold in white boxes, so your bottle may still be found in these boxes depending on where you live. One-a-day comes in three sizes: 50, 100 and 175. The 100 count is usually around $12.58 and will last 100 days. Centrum is always changing the quantity however it is usually around 30, 50, 100, or 130. It all depends on when you purchase the bottle though, it seems like the quantities never stay the same in my area. The 100 count is usually around $22.00 and will last 100 days. Before purchasing either product, double check on their coordinating websites since they generally have discount coupons which will knock-off a few dollars each time you purchase the product. They can be printed out on your computer.
As for the quality, I prefer to use the One-a-day Weight Smart Multivitamin since it helps out with weight loss and energy. So far, I have not noticed a change in my metabolism however I have noticed a slight increase in my energy after using Centrum products for around ten years. In addition, I have found that the One-A-Day pills are slightly smaller than the Centrum pills. I have issues with swallowing the pills; therefore I prefer to find the smallest pill available on the market that provides the same quantities of vitamins. In addition, our household likes to use One-A-Day because it has special options for children vitamins, men’s’ vitamins, women’s vitamins and even special condition vitamins such as cholesterol vitamins. It is easier to have everyone on one brand instead of walking around the store getting different brands. And finally, the price is quite a difference, especially if you are purchasing more than one bottle for different people in your family. Hands down, I recommend One-a-day Weight Smart Multivitamins instead of Centrum Multivitamins for Adults.
