Hi there! Collier recommends products from this brand for people looking for whole-food supplements. I eat more of a plant based diet with eggs/fish/chicken a few times a week. Im 6 months postpartum. On a label, this may read as methylfolate or L-5-MTHF and methylcobalamin. And YES, I would switch to fish oil to manage vitamin A intake xxo!! xxo, Hi Megan, During pregnancy (depending on your own vitamin D levels) you want around 4000 IU a day. Hi, thank you for the article. "The term 'whole food vitamin' can mean several different things," says Kara Collier, RDN, LDN, CNSC, vice president of health at NutriSense. Do you have an opinion on taking prenatals as well as doing the tissue salt program? and magnesium supplement. Thank you for your article, it was very helpful to know what to look for! For example, I recently looked into heavy metals in shellfish and it turns out *where* theyre sourced matters a lot. Is it possible to take too much vitamin d? If youre able to get a gene test, that might give more information on what specifically you might need. So I do the D/K combo based on my vitamin D needs. YES especially if breastfeeding. When reading labels, also check to see if your prenatal contains vitamin D2 or D3. Ive been using USANAs prenatals and taking extra vitamin D3 Hi! These are the two Im using. every time you buy. a day. choline can support mamas with folate deficiency, higher supplementation of choline during pregnancy, anti-inflammatory effect during pregnancy, mamas who took 930 mg of choline a day during their third trimester, both MK-4 and MK-7 do good things for bone development, the carotenoid lutein is concentrated in babys brain, iron deficiency can be a problem for some mamas, resolve restless leg syndrome during pregnancy, https://megangarcia.com/liver-pate-recipe-for-baby/, http://resources.seekinghealth.com/california-proposition-65, https://megangarcia.com/anemia-during-pregnancy/, more here and its importance during pregnancy. This offers big time immune and gut support!! Would love to support you! I *think* I may have the MTHFR gene so Id like folate only. For example, 3 ounces liver might have 6582 mcg of vitamin A whereas an egg = 75 mcg. Which one would you recommend? And in that case, Ritual might be a good fit. So, liver is a biggie. And sometimes, the contents listed on the label do not match what's in the supplement. This budget-friendly multi is free from synthetic vitamins and GMO ingredients. Im worried I will have to supplement with iron in that case. What do you think about the boron in the ritual vitamins. Thank you! As for the Prop 65 warning, its almost lost meaning because companies are required to use it on many natural products sold in California. This one also has other plant compounds (not vitamins, more like herbs) that support pregnancy!
That said, both MK-4 and MK-7 do good things for bone development. I would probably add a D3/K2 supplement to the Thorne prenatal. Seeking Health is well below that, so its not on my radar as an issue. I dont see any vitamin K2 in Goops prenatal. And for your vitamin D supp, I would take with vitamin K2. What do you like for extra Iron during third trimester? I like Designs for Health over Pregna-Plan. 100 % natural vitamin C,only natural vitamin C,protective antioxidant activity,your healthy immune system, organic vitamin c,vitamin c absorption,two delicious Liquid Spray flavors,Organic Vitamin,the immune system, Natural Liposomal Vitamin C Immune System & Collagen Booster, Virtee Natural Liposomal Vitamin C - 200 Capsules, 1500mg, NutriFlair Liposomal Vitamin C 1600 mg High Absorption Higher Bioavailability Immune System. Thank you so so much! Its pretty low in vitamin D3 (400 IU) and contains a harder to absorb form of iron. Do you have thoughts on the Mamma Bird Prenatal? We begin by collecting and combining the purest, most potent ingredients including our pure USP vitamins and minerals and an abundant array of entirely certified organic fruits, vegetables, sprouts, grasses, essential fats, carbohydrates, and proteins all ideally suited to grow each individual vitamin and mineral. Would you suggest Ritual or Seeking Health? I wish I wouldve discovered you earlier. New Chapter offers a variety of multivitamins per your unique needs based on your age and sex assigned at birth. Just found out I am anemic and currently I do not eat red meat. Thanks. Which is nice since most mamas are taking their prenatal for a year or more. If you want extra support for iron levels during pregnancy, instead of cod liver oil you could eat liver regularly or take desiccated liver capsules. Otherwise, the only thing that really stands out to me is that vitamin D is a little low. to verify your account. Whole food vitamins offer nutrients from a variety of plant foods. Ive heard good things about the program but am worried about overdosing with whats already in the prenatals.
Or is there a different one you would recommend? Im currently taking the MyKind Organics Prenatal Once Daily and have been supplementing with Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA and Vibrant Health Vitamin D3. Like vitamin d? I would look into switching and saw the new Needed. Since the body makes and stores MK-4, I prefer to supplement with MK-4. Hi Megan, We also looked at an analysis of supplements made with whole foods done by ConsumerLab, an independent organization that tests and reports on the quality of health products. Hi Megan, FullWell Prenatal is very similar to Seeking Health and another favorite of mine. Including those genes that influence behavior. Thanks for your help! TIA! Is there anything here you would suggest changing? Vitamin A is extremely important for baby immune development. I want whats best, what would you take? "They're typically made from dried powders of fruits and vegetables, but sometimes include herbs and grasses, which are rich in plant nutrients.". Recent research on carotenoids(like lutein and zeaxanthin) tells us that these special compounds may safeguard against preeclampsia, preterm birth, and growth restriction. Hi Megan! Im currently taking Naturelo Prenatals and will take the extra supplements you mentioned in one of the comments. Please e-mail us on support@bestviewsreviews.com, *Disclaimer: BestViewsReviews earns a commission from qualifying purchases. So if youre eating red meat and dark poultry meat daily, I would keep doing that. It looks pretty good. Ive just found out I need to be on Lovonox for the remainder of my pregnancy & postpartum for clotting issues. This was extremely helpful. Thanks so much for all your information and guidance! Which of the 2 do you recommend for breastfeeding. Its a teensy bit high in vitamin A; in general, youd want a supplement thats no more than 1500 mcg daily. Direct post-natal, Im looking at nutrients like DHA (looks good) along with choline (baby brain support) and vitamin A (baby immune tolerance support). if not received. My strengths are nutrition and traditional Chinese medicine. Unless you have direct need to supplement.
So I would add in a D3/K2 supplement. Theres so much information out there to disseminate so Im very grateful for this resource! Its a bit low in both of these. So liver or cod liver oil. Multivitamins from Garden of Life are only made with food-derived ingredients (with one potential exception), according to ConsumerLab. Each serving offers a full 4000 IU, rather than 2000 IU. If its still relevant, I would probably only do a prenatal or multi if youre feeling depleted and like you need the extra support. Its low in vitamin D3 and is has a form of vitamin B12 thats harder for the body to use. I heard boron could be unsafe to take? I am postnatal and breastfeeding with my 6 month old, and wondering if I should continue with a prenatal or swap to a multi at this point. I eat a primarily vegetarian diet, but do eat plenty of eggs, fish, quinoa, nuts, beans, tempeh, etc. Youd also want to look at diet. The other one I found is a UK based prenatal called Prenga-Plan by Cytoplan. It could be better. Youll sometimes see chelated minerals with the TRAACS name and this is a form of the mineral thats very easy for mama to use. And finally, if youre sensitive to methyl donors like choline and methylated B vitamins, Seeking Health has you covered.
Choline is the precursor to acetylcholine, aneurotransmitter thats essential for the growth and maturation of brain cells. Thanks for your perspective as always!! Don't rely on supplements for all of your nutrients use them to fill in gaps and optimize your overall nutrition, Davis says. Hope this helps xxo!! Its a little low in vitamin D3, providing BELOW the RDA for vitamin D (400 IU). Before you start shopping, consider all of the pros and cons of whole food vitamins. Im currently taking Ritual prenatal plus PeaPod Cal-mag for Calcium as I try to avoid Dairy and Eggs. And if breastfeeding, 6500 IU daily. Seeking Health Optimal Prenatalalso contains chelated minerals (read: easy to absorb) along with methylated vitamins. Some level of supplementation is a really good way to make sure baby has a robust start in life. Along with cod liver oil. Thank you for your support! Required fields are marked *. The only thing that pops up for me in your question is iron levels. For vitamin D3/K2 drops, theres no upper limit on vitamin K, meaning its safely recycled in the body even at high doses. Im currently taking the Seeking Health prenatal and wondering if you recommend continuing that one post-partum? My favorite prenatal supplement is NOT a whole food prenatal. numeric digit, Your password has been reset successfully, Comparing: Pure Synergy Pure Radiance C Made with Organic Ingredients, Email has been sent, please check your inbox, Remote & App Controlled Figures & Robotic Toys, Made with non-GMO and gluten-free ingredients that make it safe to consume, Blended with camu camu and acerola that offers antioxidant properties, Features Vitamin C that offers nutritional support for healthy immune response, Contains Vitamin C that helps to promote tissue and skin health, Made with natural ingredients that offers a better taste, Features no alcohol that makes it safe to consume. Ive done a tone of research but always suspect Im doing something wrong. The reason Im asking is because Rosita can get pricey every month along with the prenatal, and Im wondering if I switch to Seeking Health if I could cut out cod liver oil? -Autumn. What are your thoughts? Didnt see any comments regarding this combo and would sincerely appreciate your feedback. Also, has Cal Prop 65 warning? "Although they may not contain therapeutic amounts in all cases, another benefit of a whole food vitamin is that a specific nutrient has not been isolated (such as with synthetic vitamins), so we're taking in the nutrients as nature intended as part of our food," Collier says. Im concerned about high amounts of folate and B vitamins. Also, is the DHA acceptable in this prenatal? I cant take methylated folate because it makes me super anxious! Eggs are a good source of preformed vitamin A, especially free range. Rainbow Light Prenatal One? Any input? Like asthma, allergies, and autoimmune disease. If so, YES. Also what is your recommended amount of DHA and EPA? Hi! It seems to have a lot of the vitamins and in the methylated forms but I dont hear a lot of ppl speak about it. LIVESTRONG.com may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. "I always recommend that people talk to their primary care doctor and/or dietitian about what type of vitamin they believe they need and why," Davis says. In your opinion do you feel the optimal is worth the extra costs over the basic? These multivitamins are also certified organic, and the ingredients come from an impressive variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs. Love these recommendations! https://www.vitaminiq.com/products/whole-food-prenatal-vitamin, https://thisisneeded.com/products/prenatal-multi, Your email address will not be published. Given my circumstances which prenatal would you suggest or additional supplements? Is it okay to take cold pressed coil oil while pregnant? I know this isnt a natural food sourced supplement but would like your thoughts if possible. I am taking baby and me and Nordic naturals DHA xtra along with a probiotic. Right! Now looking at it, the Choline is low (55mg). I am looking into the seeking health prenatals. Many prenatal vitaminsoffer less than the bare minimum, 400 IU. Innate Response Baby & Me Multi is my go to along with Nordic Naturals ProDHA. I would double-check with your provider. Along with other certifications, Garden of Life has earned the NSF Certified for Sport mark, which means it does not contain substances banned by athletic organizations. Vital Choice has 2 oz tins, super yummy) with Ritual is perfect. Supplements from New Chapter all come with a NSF-certified label on them. So, YES if youre taking Rosita cod liver oil and eating eggs. Hi Thank you for all the information on your page! https://www.vitaminiq.com/products/whole-food-prenatal-vitamin. This Utah-based brand is committed to extensive testing to ensure quality. Of the two, I would probably lean towards Thorne. Thank you so much!!
Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. then move this delicious pulp through a series of tanks where we integrate in more Vitamins for potency. Plus, it's vegan and gluten-free, per the Kirkland website. Thanks for sharing this. Thanks for your time . The Seeking Health prenatal is a blend of pro-vitamin A and preformed. Hope this helps and thank you for your feedback!! And even though I love real food and keep a cabinet full of herbal remedies, Im not convinced that natural prenatal vitamins are the best. This is mainly because its hard to tell what forms of micronutrients manufacturers might be using. Which suggests that current recommendation for choline may be too low. Seeking Health is pretty rigorous about product quality, and thats something that I look for when products are sourced from China since that can be an issue. prenatal which also looks good but taking 8 capsules a day seems like a lot for me. It's important to consult your doctor before starting a new supplement. Im also taking additional Vitmain D3 and K2 drops. I was also thinking about starting high vitamin oil with cod liver oil now that Im nursing. 
Whole food multis from Garden of Life are made with organic produce. Its so overwhelming to know what to look for with all the information and options that exist. Thank you SO much for sharing this, you are such an incredible resource! According to the Vitamin D Council, pregnant mamas need 4000 6000 IU a day to meet the demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Ive been using Goops mother load with DHA, choline + methylated folate/Bs, expensive so deciding between that and Seeking Health next round curious if you have thoughts on that one! If youre interested in your babys brain development, take note of choline. Prepregnancy, pregnancy and PP Im still taking Pure Encapsulation prenatal. Is there any additional supplements that youd recommend with the Seeking Health prenatal (fish oil?) And of course eggs + seafood or DHA supp!! If youre taking Seeking Health, I would steer clear of foods high in pre-formed vitamin A. I focus on babys wellbeing during pregnancy and throughout the first few years. That is, they don't really have anything to do with your local Whole Foods grocery store although you may very well find yourself purchasing them there! These supplements come highly recommended thanks to rigorous third-party testing. Thanks! "They also test the bioavailability of the beneficial nutrients in their products [which many brands don't do]," Davis says. CDP Choline sounds like the better choice, but then I wonder about dosage when you are trying to reach 930 mcg of choline per day. Is there too much preformed vitamin A if I also take cod liver oil AND dessicated liver capsules? If iron levels are low or you have a history of anemia, you could do their beef spleen (more info here). Would you recommend switching to a different one ? It looks great. The big benefit of whole food supplements is that they do contain co-factors and sometimes enzymes that can support absorption. High folate and B vitamins is something I will address later on; but for now I would say that I think its okay to keep things simple. Liver is a great source of choline if eggs arent an option. Instead of synthetic ingredients crafted in a lab, whole food vitamins are made with "condensed fruits, vegetables and other whole foods," says Mascha Davis, RDN. Targeted nutrients (vitamins and minerals) are added to the yeast solution. Look for certification from organizations such as NFP and USP, which you can typically find on product labels or on the company's website. "Whole food vitamins may be more bioavailable, meaning your body recognizes and can use them right away," Davis says. Are these any good? Please note that some of the products on this page may be an affiliate link. Mega Food Baby + Me 2 doesnt have choline and its not clear on how much vitamin K2 is in the product. Im a vegetarian but eat some fish occasionally (usually shrimp 2x a week and egg whites 1-2 times a week). Same goes for folic acid. So much amazing information here! Youre amazing. I do not eat red meat (beef/pork) and unable to eat cows milk (Sheep/Goat only). (The SE optimal prenatal was sold out.). I heard Thorne has too much iron and vitamin A. That is, it may be easier for your body to absorb nutrients coming from a whole food than a synthetic source. Please check spam folder if not received. Did you decide to go with Seeking Health? or is it basically a one-and-done deal? Great post, thank you!!! This is the recipe that I use: https://megangarcia.com/liver-pate-recipe-for-baby/.
Do you think I could still take some of Ancestral Supplements? While iron deficiency can be a problem for some mamas, there are other mamas who dont need the extra iron. And youre already supplementing with vitamin D. Sounds like youre eating a lot foods you and baby need. Keep going! As long as youre eating 2 3 egg yolks daily along with dairy and animal-based foods, youll be getting over the minimum for solid choline requirements. Some of my favorite herbs come from China (like Blue Poppy) and theres a lot of testing that goes on to ensure quality. The biggest potential advantage of whole food vitamins is that your body may absorb the nutrients better than from a synthetic vitamin. And now I am wondering if it is a good prenatal or not. I have spent months looking at prenatals and feel like none of them are great. Vitamin K2 helps vitamins A and D do their job, ensuring strong bones, beautiful teeth, and robust immune health. Would the ritual prenatal be ok for postpartum or go with the essential for women ritual supplements? Thanks again and really look forward/appreciate your feedback. But I need the eggs for extra choline ! When choosing the best prenatal vitamin, I like to look for a specific set of non-negotiable nutrients. Whereas Pure Synergy describes the process like this. The best prenatal gives mama what she needs to have a healthy baby. Finally, look to the label to determine if a vitamin is actually made with whole foods. Choline also has an anti-inflammatory effect during pregnancy, which is importantsince inflammation is associated with growth restriction and premature birth. Didnt receive an email? And you would want to supplement with vitamin D and iron, since you know your levels are low. Hi I was wondering what you thought of Nutri Gold prenatal? Hi Megan,
Hi, this is great information. What about Full Circle Prenatal? I am wondering if you have a favorite DHA supplement that you could take in addition to either of these.
On top of lots of veggies with vitamin A? THis has been a very stressful process finding the right choice. I noticed seeing health has two options = optimal (8 capsules) and a less expensive basic option (2 capsules). If youre breastfeeding and not supplementing her, you want to get around 6500 IU a day of vitamin D3. And be sure to take a whole food source of vitamin C with all meals. Hi, Im a big fan.
I would probably add Seeking Health D3/K2 drops and make sure youre eating a couple of eggs (from healthy, happy hens!) How do you feel about Pure Encapsulations Nutrient 950 Plus K? I used to use Seeking Health, then Thorne, the Designs for Health Prenatal Pro is what I have been taking during the pregnancy and now with nursing. Can you explain why I should be worried about vitamin A? Do you have a prenatal vitamin rec that is complete but sans K vitamins as I cant take the one Im currently on. B certification requires that companies (and their products) meet social sustainability and environmental performance standards, and that they are accountable and transparent to the public. I was going to switch over to Ritual, but thats also sold out for now. Not only will it support your energy levels, but many of the nutrients in the Seeking Health prenatal will transfer to breast milk. This is because vitamin D3 is what the body makes, meaning its easy to pick up and use. I would continue the cod liver oil because its a good source of vitamin A. Again, cant thank you enough for putting this info together. Recommend daily intake for pregnant mamas is 450 mg of choline. I am currently 18 weeks pregnant and have been taking Vitafol Ultra Prenatal vitamins. When I saw that Seeking Healths Prental was unavailable I felt like I was going to have a meltdown when I started to look for an alternative!!! Apologize for the delayed response!! Your breast milk gives your baby a form of vitamin K2 called MK-4. I would stick with the Ritual prenatal during postpartum UNLESS you suspect (or know) you have autoimmune thyroid issues, since the prenatal doesnt have any selenium. An email with a link has been sent to reset your account. I took the Metagenics Plus One daily prenatal packs, along with CDP choline from Klair labs, along with a few other supplements like DHA and CoQ10 which I was deficient in. Davis is a brand ambassador for Pure Synergy, a certified B-corporation. Would that be too much DHA? I was wondering what are your thoughts on needed prenatal and also Vitamin IQ? Im pregnant and taking ritual prenatal, along with vitamin d/k drops, and now trying to decide if I should continue taking cod liver oil to make up for vitamin A Or just switch my prenatal to seeking health. Thanks! I also eat 2-3 egg yolks everyday to make up for choline but not sure if thats enough. Almost out and wondering if I should switch? My understanding is that there arent any interactions between Lovenox and vitamin K; this is really only something to be aware of with meds like warfarin. I am extremely D deficient so I am also taking 5000IU D3 daily from Pure. Ive noticed how you stress K2 intake. *Disclaimer: BestViewsReviews earns a commission from qualifying purchases. I would probably switch it up and try something else. You could switch over Seeking Health *and* take an additional fish oil supplement for DHA. And it packs some serious mojo when it comes to immune balance and related disorders. Just check the label to see what youre getting. Now Im in a situation where they are sold out everywhere! Would it be ok to switch prenatals at 4 weeks pregnant. Megan Thank you so much for the extra resources/links. However, I am planning to switch over to Seeking Health Essentials this week because of Vitafols synthetic dyes, form of B12 and no K2. Cod liver oil? The types of magnesium in each band is different. In each case, the packaging and marketing might lead a mama to believe that shes getting all of her prenatal nutrients from food. Theres some interesting science around vitamin A sufficiency at birth and the development of allergies. So 3 capsules even though the daily intake according to the bottle is 1? This response is suuuuper delayed but I wanted to hop in and respond: NFH Pre Natal SAP looks okay, especially if you need to supplement with iron. 
Just posted on your Instagram too. In the case of trace minerals, the label may not tell you what form of mineral was used. You could also switch to Seeking Health and see how you like it. So Im trying to weight cost-effectiveness during this brief in-between period! Whats more, the carotenoid lutein is concentrated in babys brain and thought to play a role in developing connectivity and cognitive function. I recently read another article that suggested both Seeking Health Optimal Prenatal and Full Circle Prenatal. Whats more, higher supplementation of choline during pregnancy is linked to fewer emotional self-control problems in children. Or, at least make them special occasion foods. Are these referral links on your website? Im currently breastfeeding and on the Thorne multi but my LO has an egg sensitivity. And for others, has forms of vitamins that are less expensive for manufacturers but harder for mama to absorb. Mamas choline levels are associated with cognitive development in children up to 7 years old. Our team would love to hear from you on any topic. 