Your No-Nonsense Guide To Multivitamins And Real Absorption

Most people pop a daily multivitamin and hope for the best. We go deeper, showing how the form, timing, and quality of your nutrients determine what your body actually absorbs—and how that translates into steadier energy, stronger immunity, better recovery, and a clearer mood.

We start with the real reasons food alone can miss the mark: soil depletion, processed convenience, and changes in digestion with age. From there, we unpack bioavailability in plain language, comparing methylated folate to folic acid and chelated minerals to cheap salts so you can stop wasting money and start fueling well. You’ll learn why vitamins A, D, E, and K need dietary fat, how to pair your multi with meals for better uptake, and which MVPs matter most for everyday performance: B vitamins for energy and stress, vitamin D and K2 for bones, vitamin C and E for antioxidants, magnesium for sleep and muscle relaxation, zinc for immune repair, and selenium for thyroid health.

We also share what distinguishes a quality formula from a flashy label: active nutrient forms, transparent dosing, minimal fillers, and smart additions that support gut health and absorption. Robin explains why she’s stuck with Plexus X Factor Plus, highlighting bioavailable forms, antioxidant and phytonutrient support, and a focus on digestion, while encouraging you to choose what works for your body and to loop in your healthcare team. You’ll leave with a practical checklist to evaluate your current bottle, tips to build a consistent habit, and a reminder that real results come from patient, steady steps—not overnight promises.

Ready to rethink your daily multi and feel the difference? Subscribe, share with a friend, and email info@spandexandwine.com or text 913-392-2877 for product data sheets and personalized guidance. Your small, consistent choices can power big health changes.

Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome And Wellness Mission
• 0:35 Do Multivitamins Actually Help
• 1:27 Energy, Immunity, Bones, Brain, Skin
• 3:16 Bioavailability And Real Absorption
• 4:18 Fat-Soluble Vitamins And Food Timing
• 4:43 The MVP Nutrients To Know
• 6:18 Why Plexus X Factor Plus
• 8:07 How To Evaluate Your Multi
• 10:30 Patience, Consistency, And Safety
• 11:34 Recap And How To Reach Us
• 12:35 Reviews, Subscribe, And Community

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Hello and welcome to the Spandex and Wine Podcast. I'm your host, Robin Hackney, and I'm so happy that you're here. This podcast is a place for conversations about balancing a healthy lifestyle and being happy. More specifically, happy hour. Together we'll explore all things wellness and wine. I hope you learn a little, laugh a lot, and along the way, know you're not alone on this balanced wellness journey. Ready to jump in? Pour something in your glass that makes you happy because it's time for Spandex and Wine. Hey friends, welcome back to the podcast. It's Robin here, and today we are talking about something that's small, colorful, and probably sitting in just about everyone's kitchen cabinet. Multivitamins. So before we jump in, I know that I said that I had lots of guests lined up. Oh my gosh, you guys, I feel like October is just, everyone is just so busy this time of year. So I thought that we would talk about something that is so common but people know little about. So you might be taking a multivitamin every morning without thinking much about it. Or maybe you've wondered if they really do anything at all. So today we're gonna break it down why multivitamins matter, what to look for in a good one, how to tell if you're actually absorbing it, and I'll share my personal favorite. So let's get started. Okay, so even when we eat pretty well, most of us don't meet all of our nutrient needs from food alone. And there's a few reasons why. Our soil isn't as rich in minerals as it used to be. We eat way more processed and convenient foods than we used to. And as we age, our digestion slows and absorption becomes less efficient. So a good multivitamin helps fill in those nutritional gaps. Think of it as like your safety net, not a replacement for healthy eating, but an insurance policy to make sure your body has what it needs to perform at its best. And when your body gets those nutrients consistently, it supports energy production. So vitamins like B12 and B6 help convert food into fuel. It supports immune function. So vitamin C, D, zinc, and selenium all play big roles in that. It supports bone health, calcium, and we most of us know that, and vitamin D and magnesium, they all work together for that. It also supports mood and brain health. So folate, omega-3s, and vitamin B12 support neurotransmitters. It also supports skin, hair, and nail strength. So vitamins A, E, and biotin contribute there. It also supports cell repair and antioxidant protection. So vitamins C and E help combat oxidative stress. When you're missing these, even a little bit, you will notice by feeling probably a little more tired or sluggish or even foggy, or you just don't recover as quickly after workouts. And here's where most people get tripped up. It's not just about what's in your multivitamin, it's about what your body can actually use. And that's what we mean by bioavailability. You can have all the nutrients in the world, but if they're in forms your body can't absorb, you are wasting your money. You're literally just flushing it down the toilet. Because that's why your pea turns neon yellow. If you um are, you know, taking all those things and they're not getting absorbed, then they're just going to be excreted, right? So a few examples: folic acid versus um methylated folate. So your body absorbs the methylated form much more efficiently. And mineral salts versus chelated minerals. When minerals are bound or chelated to amino acids, they pass more easily through your intestinal wall. And that's what you want. So when you're comparing supplements, those little details matter. And always remember to take your multivitamin with food. Many nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K, if you remember this from your nutrition class, they are fat-soluble, which means they need some dietary fat to be absorbed properly. So if you are someone that you are going and you're eating a fat-free or always focusing on fat-free products, you might reconsider that because I feel like you're doing yourself a disservice, but that is a whole nother topic. Um, okay, so let's zoom in just for a minute so you can get an idea of what the, we'll just call them MVPs and high-quality multivitamins are and what they do. So vitamin A. And a lot of this you guys might know. Vitamin A, it supports your vision, skin, and immune health. Vitamin C, it helps with collagen production, tissue repair, and immune defense. Vitamin D, most of us are deficient in vitamin D, it helps regulate calcium absorption, it supports bone strength, and improves your immune resilience, especially during winter months. So as we're heading into winter, make sure that you are good on your vitamin D. But there's a disclaimer coming up at the end about that too. Vitamin E, it's a powerful antioxidant that protects cell from damage. Vitamin K2 helps move calcium into bones and out of arteries. That is key. So B vitamins like B1 through B12, they're essential for converting food into energy, supporting brain health, and managing stress levels. And then magnesium helps relax muscles, it supports sleep and balances blood sugar. Zinc aids in immune health and wound healing. And then selenium supports thyroid function and antioxidant protection. So it is incredible how these tiny micronutrients impact how we feel every day, our energy, our mood, and even our metabolism. So I told you I was going to talk about my personal favorite, and that is X Factor Plus by Plexus. And I don't want you to think I'm here to push products. I mean, obviously, I would love for you to reach out to me and we could have a conversation and I can hook you up, but I want you to find what works for you. I have tried a lot of different multivitamins over the years, and this is the one that I have stuck with because I truly notice a difference in my energy, my digestion, and my recovery. And here's what sets it apart. Number one, bioavailable nutrients. So I mentioned this before, it uses methylated forms of folate in B12 and shellated minerals so your body can actually use what's inside. Two, I like the antioxidant and phytonutrient blend. It includes ingredients like aloe, which helps with absorption, grapeseed extract, and other plant-based antioxidants to help protect your cells from oxidative stress. Three, it has gut health support. And you know this is a big one for me. Plexus actually focuses on how nutrients are absorbed. And since gut health plays a massive role in absorption, it is a win-win. And it's also gluten-free, soy-free, vegetarian, and non-GMO. And the thing, one of the other things that I like about just Plexus in general, is they have data sheets for every product, which I like to give to my clients because I encourage them to upload those sheets into their healthcare portals so their doctors can review exactly what's in the supplement. Now that's full transparency, and that's you know what I would like someone to treat me, and I would don't want anything hidden or no mystery blends, um, just clean, effective nutrition. So, and like I said, that there was a little um caveat, you always need to check with your healthcare provider before starting anything. Um, so if you're evaluating whether you're current what you're currently taking or if you're thinking of starting something, here are a few questions that you can ask. Um does it use active bioavailable nutrient forms, like I talked about before. Here's a key one. Is it free from unnecessary fillers or artificial colors? If you just go to the box stores and you buy the cheap vitamins on the shelf, I guarantee there are fillers in there that you do not need. Um, you might also ask, does it include minerals as well as vitamins? Very important. Trace minerals will help you so much in life. Again, we could get into minerals too. That would be another good topic. Um, ask yourself also, does it support gut health or absorption in any way? That is really important. You guys have heard me talk about the importance of gut health. Um, and I'm sure that there's gonna be more and more episodes coming up on that. And then the last one, do you take it consistently and with food? That's another thing. Like maybe you need to set a timer in your phone so that you remember to take it or you have some kind of trigger tied to that. So, like every time you're sitting down for lunch, you have your multivitamins right there. Maybe carry a couple extra in your purse in case you're going out. Um, I have them in my desk drawer, I have them at work, I mean, I'm sorry, at home, um in my medicine cabinet. I think I have some in my car too. I'm not sure. But please talk with your healthcare provider before making any big changes. And you guys know I love working with clients to identify what's missing from their nutrition. And I always encourage them to share supplement info with their medical team. And that's how you build a complete, safe, and effective wellness plan that works long term. And you guys, nothing should like, don't buy into anything that says it's going to happen in X number of days or it's an overnight fix. I would just be really leery of that. Um, you know, we took, it takes time to heal. It takes time to get into the shape that we're in, you know, like if we're way off on the deep end and it's gonna take time to bring that all back. So don't get too hung up on, okay, this is taking more time than what I thought. Really have patience and trust the process. Okay, so to recap, I know I'm just getting off on a tangent. A good multivitamin can help fill in the gaps in your nutrition. It can boost your energy, it supports your immune system, it protects your bones and brain, and it can even improve your mood. But quality and absorption matter. So check your labels, know what you're taking, and make sure it's something your body can actually use. Okay. If you'd like help evaluating your current supplement routine or learning more about gut-friendly, high-quality nutrition support, please reach out to me. I'm happy to send you the data sheets, talk through the options, and make sure you have something you feel confident taking and that your doctor approves. You guys know how to reach me. My email is info at spandexandwine.com, or you can use my text line 913-392-2877. Because ultimately, my goal is to help you feel your absolute best. Again, like I said, with energy, balance, and health that lasts. All right, you guys, that's it for today's episode. If you learned something new or this helped you rethink what's in your vitamin bottle, please share this episode with a friend. Um, I'd always love for you to take time to do a five-star review. It helps others find the show and they can join our little wellness community. And don't forget to subscribe. If you're not subscribed, I don't want you to miss an episode. So until next time, stay consistent, fuel your body well, and keep taking those small steps that can lead to big health changes. Thanks everyone. Thank you for listening. If you're enjoying this podcast, be sure to follow Spandex and Wine so you don't miss an episode. To do this, just go to the podcast and click subscribe or follow wherever you are listening. Look for the plus sign or follow button. This is one of the best things that you can do for the podcast. If you'd also be willing to give a five-star review, that would be amazing and much appreciated. Lastly, please share an episode with a friend or five to keep the love going. And join the Spandex and Wine community in our private Facebook group by searching Spandex and Wine. Feel free to reach out to me at any time by emailing info at spandexandwine.com or text me at 913 392 2877. I appreciate you. Thank you.