I have always been told about the benefits of taking vitamins. They give you an added source of the vitamins and minerals you need to keep your body healthy. Food alone doesn’t always provide all the nutrients you need. I have tried many different vitamins over the years, and most of them are huge pills that are hard to swallow. The two products compared here are different- one is a smaller pill to swallow and the other is chewable…
What are the comparisons between Viactiv Chewable Vitamins and One Source Micro Multivitamins?
1. How you take them. The Viactiv Chewable Vitamins are just that- chewable. Not only are they chewable, but they are quite tasty. The flavor is chocolate cherry. I used to be able to find a tropical flavored version, but I don’t see this flavor available anymore, at least not locally in Hagerstown, MD. You can get plain chocolate flavor however. The One Source Micro Vitamins are taken as a caplet that is swallowed. The caplet is smaller than most horse-pill size vitamins, and it is coated. This makes them easier to take. However, you have to take two instead of one pill.
2. Effect After Taking Them. I call this whether or not the vitamin contains iron. The Viactiv vitamins do not contain iron, but the One Source vitamins do. I tend to have a problem with vitamins with iron- they make me a little sick on my stomach. I would get a little sick after taking the One Source vitamins. However, if I take either vitamin on an empty stomach, I will feel sick. Sometimes I might even experience mild diarrhea.
3. Benefits for Women. The Viactiv Vitamins are made especially for women. The One Source vitamins are made for adults. This means that the Viactiv vitamins are geared toward the type of nutrition that women specifically need, providing an added benefit.
4. What they contain.
Viactiv contains 12 essential vitamins- a, c, e, b6 and b12, d, biotin, folic acid, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and calcium. One Source vitamins also contain these twelve. The only difference comes in the amounts of each:
Viactiv One Source
Vitamin A 50% dv 70% dv
Vitamin C 100% 200%
Vitamin E 110% 200%
Vitamin D 100% 100%
Thiamin 100% 300%
Biotin 10% 13%
Niacin 75% 150%
Folic Acid 100% 100%
Calcium 20% 18%
B6 100% 300%
B12 100% 300%
The One Source vitamin offers more of almost every vitamin than Viactiv. Additionally, the One Source vitamin has Vitamin K.
One Source also contains minerals, such as magnesium (25% dv), zinc (100%), selenium (286%), manganese (150%), and potassium (2%) to name a few.
Each mineral serves a vital function in the body. Magnesium for example, helps nerves and muscles function. Potassium additionally helps the body maintain the balance of water in the blood and body tissues.
5. Specific purposes. Viactiv was designed for women, to promote key areas of health. The specific things promoted are heart health, bone strength, energy activation, eye and skin health, and immune health. Because One Source also has all of the vitamins found in Viactiv, it would serve these functions just as well or better (because it has more of each vitamin in it.) Vitamins C, E, B6 and B12 work for heart health. Bone strength comes from Calcium and vitamins a and d. Eye health and immune health are supported by vitamins a, c and e. Skin is maintained with a, c and biotin and niacin. Energy activation is promoted by thiamin, biotin, niacin, riboflavin and vitamin b6.
One Source has minerals with additional functions. As noted above, Magnesium and Potassium help the functioning of nerves and muscles. Selenium is an antioxidant to protect from harmful free radicals which damage cells. Lutein helps maintain healthy eyes. Iron works with red blood cells to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Phosphorus is important for strong bones and teeth. Zinc is used for strong immune systems and wound healing.
6. Packaging. Viactiv vitamins come in a cute box, and are individually wrapped. This means you can take a few with you on a trip or for overnight without having to take the whole bottle. One Source vitamins come in a pill bottle, just like tylenol or ibuprofen.
7. Overall Effectiveness. I find that both Viactiv Chewable MultiVitamins and One Source Micro Multivitamins work well to help keep you healthy with a well-balanced diet. I would never recommend replacing healthy eating choices with Vitamins. As mentioned above, not eating and taking vitamins, at least for me, can make me sick on my stomach. Food and drink also help the absorption of vitamins. I prefer the Viactiv vitamins because I don’t generally like taking pills and I love the flavor! If I don’t take them on an empty stomach, I don’t normally feel sick when taking Viactiv.
8. Tips. Did you know that some vitamins are replaced by the body each day while others are absorbed and can be used later? Fat soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K can be stored in the body. Water soluble vitamins like B and C are not stored, so must be replaced every day. Additionally, I have found the best effectiveness when taking the vitamins at night. This seems to be a great time for the body to absorb them, especially if I have just eaten.
