Vitamin supplements are a great tool for filling in any nutritional gaps that you may have in your daily diet. It’s so easy to pop a vitamin each day, knowing that your body isn’t deficient in anything. However, have you thought about what’s actually in your vitamins or how they’re made? Not all vitamins are created equally. Some brands are far healthier than others.
There are regulatory standards that must be met by the brands that are manufacturing vitamins, but that doesn’t mean you’re getting the highest quality ingredients with each product that you pick up. Brands go to great lengths to make their supplement sound like the very best out there.
If you’re looking for a vitamin supplement that’s safe, effective and trustworthy, it can take a little bit of research to determine what your best options are. I’m going to compare two brands of vitamins that I think are reputable. Ritual and GEM vitamins provide a comprehensive nutritional panel along with optimal absorption.
Quick Comparison Table of Ritual Vitamins Vs. GEM Vitamins
| Vs. | Ritual | GEM |
| Type of Vitamin: | Capsule | Bites (Multivitamin alternative that you eat) |
| Personalized: | By age and gender | By time of day (Daily and Sleep) |
| Other products: | ✔, Protein Powder, Pregnancy vitamins and daily shake | ❌ |
| Subscription Option: | ✔ | ✔ |
| Avg. User Rating: | 4.9/5 ⭐ (Over 1,000 reviews) | 4.7/5 ⭐ (Small sample size) |
| GW Rating | 4.8/5 ⭐ | 4.7/5 ⭐ |
| Website: | ritual.com | dailygem.co |
Overview of Ritual
Founded by Katerina Schneider, Ritual was created due to a lack of high-quality prenatal supplements. Schneider was a few months pregnant when she realized that she wasn’t comfortable with what was out there. With the help of Dr. Luke Bucci, a product was created based on transparency and quality. Ritual prides themselves on letting you know what’s in every vitamin product that’s part of their lineup, not to mention where those products came from.
Ritual offers a series of products for men, women, teens and even kids. Each product is formulated with the specific nutritional needs for that person. There are also products for women that are for their prenatal, postnatal and postpartum needs. There’s a postpartum shake mix that can be used for nutritional gaps and to increase lactation.
Ritual has a protein powder line that is formulated for different age groups. They have a Daily Shake for 18 and up, Daily Shake for 50 and up and Daily Shake Pregnancy and Postpartum.
Pros
- All of the ingredients in Ritual products are traceable. You know exactly what you’re consuming and where those ingredients came from.
- Ritual is non-GMO and safe.
- Third party testing is used to verify the reliability of Ritual products. This is always a great feature to look for. It provides you with that confidence that you need to invest in a product. A company wouldn’t hire a third-party provider to test their products if they didn’t stand behind what they make.
- Ritual is vegan.
- Nothing artificial is in Ritual products. There aren’t any artificial flavors or synthetic fillers.
Cons
- Ritual vitamins look a bit different. They are contained in a time-release capsule with both wet and dry ingredients. While there’s nothing wrong with this, some people may need to get used to the design.
Multivitamins (Men, Women, Teens, and Kids)
There is a large selection of multivitamins available for men, women, pregnant women, teens and kids through the Ritual brand. Each product contains a special formulation of nutrients, as each of these demographics require something different. The goal is to fill in nutritional gaps in order to provide a stronger foundation for health. It’s nice to have options for different age groups and needs. Too many vitamin companies put out one or two products, expecting them to be beneficial for everyone.
Prenatal Multivitamin
Twelve traceable ingredients are used for the Ritual Prenatal Multivitamin. These ingredients are specially selected to provide neural tube development and support (folate and choline). Omega-3 DHA, choline and folate are used for fetal brain development as well. To help build healthy red blood cells during pregnancy, D3, K2, magnesium and boron are key ingredients.
Postnatal Multivitamin
The Ritual Postnatal Multivitamin can be used for six months postpartum or for as long as you are breastfeeding. The nutrient panel in this product is designed for optimal immune function through vitamins A, C, D3 and Zinc. Brain health is provided through choline, omega-3 DHA (from microalgae), B12 and more. Lactation support comes from the omega-3 DHA. Women have a much higher nutrient requirement during lactation, and you can’t provide your baby with proper nourishment if your own body is deficient in key nutrients.
Essential Protein Powder
Ritual offers a few different protein powder varieties based on age and nutritional requirements. The 18+ product provides a plant-based protein to help build lean muscle mass and to feel fuller. The 50+ shake includes higher levels of calcium and a nutrient panel used for building muscle at this age. The pregnancy and postpartum protein powder is a great product that can help you drop that baby weight while still ensuring that you’re getting plenty of protein and nutrients each day.
Major Benefit Going with Ritual
I like how personalized Ritual products feel. There are vitamins that are made for men versus women, but Ritual takes it a step further to break their products down into very specific age groups. Their pregnancy and postpartum products are formulated with the very specific needs of women in mind during these different points in their childbearing years.
It’s a very affordable product that can be conveniently shipped to your home on a monthly basis thanks to a subscription service. You can cancel the service at any time. This is incredibly convenient. If you've had a baby before, you know how crazy and hectic life can get during this point in your life. It's nice to have access to a convenient service that takes care of the ordering and shipping process for you.
Overview of GEM Vitamins
The GEM vitamin brand is similar to Ritual in that they are very transparent about what goes into their products. They provide very detailed information on the ingredients along with academic studies that support the use of those nutrients. The science behind their formulation is no secret. They use all-natural ingredients that will benefit your health rather than put you at risk for other potential issues.
GEM has come up with their product formulas by looking at studies that suggest optimal health and longevity can be achieved by getting nutrients from real foods. You’ll notice that GEM vitamins aren’t those traditional capsules that you’re used to. They look like little protein bar nuggets that you chew. They’re easy to absorb, making sure that your body gets what it needs each day. You won’t find any fillers or unnecessary ingredients inside GEM.
Pros
- Academic studies explain the science behind the GEM brand. A great deal of research has gone into this lineup.
- You don’t have to swallow any capsules or time-release products. GEM is a whole food nugget that has everything contained in one little dose.
- GEM contains 15 micro and macro nutrients.
Cons
- You might not like the taste of GEM, and swallowing it isn’t an option.
- Consumption of the product isn’t as simple as swallowing a capsule quickly each morning.
Sleep Essentials
Sleep Essentials contains support to help restore your mind and body. You fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer and wake up feeling much more refreshed. There are over 15 different whole ingredients in Sleep Essentials, including valerian root, GABA, magnesium, prebiotics and L-theanine.
Immunity Essentials
Boost your immune function with GEM’s citrus ginger flavored Immunity Essentials. For gut, skin and immune health, this is a specific blend of probiotics, turmeric, zinc, D3 and much more.
Daily Essentials
Daily Essentials from GEM is formulated for body and mind health thanks to 15+ whole food sourced ingredients in one bite. Inside each Daily Essentials is chickpeas, spirulina, chia seeds, quinoa and ashwagandha.
Major Benefit Going with GEM Vitamins
GEM vitamins are a whole food based supplement that is much different than a capsule product. It’s a great alternative for people that don’t tolerate traditional vitamins but still want to make sure that they’re getting enough nutrients over the course of the day. You can also take advantage of the other formulations from the brand if you are focusing on immune support or sleep support.
All of the ingredients in GEM are made with sustainability in mind. Not only can you feel good about taking care of your body, but you’re taking care of the earth with each purchase you make.
What’s The Biggest Difference Between GEM Vitamins Vs. Ritual?
While the ultimate goal of GEM and Ritual are the same (filling in those nutritional gaps), the products themselves are quite different. Ritual is a vitamin brand that you might like if you’re used to popping a quick capsule each day to get the nutrients that you need. Of course, the formulation and product design are a bit different than you might be used to.
GEM vitamins are nice if you’re more into a whole food type of supplement. It’s essentially a tasty little vitamin bite that packs a lot of punch into one small package.
Which Is Better: Ritual or GEM Vitamins?
Choosing between these products isn’t as hard as you might think. It really depends on what you’re trying to accomplish with the supplement that you’re investing in. For example, pregnant women or women who are in the postpartum phase might feel like Ritual provides them with more options that benefit their health. The GEM product lineup is a bit more modest, but their products might provide you with the specific whole food ingredients that you need.
It helps to have an idea of what your body needs before you decide on a vitamin product of any kind. You can speak to your doctor about your most recent blood work to see if you are deficient in anything. Speak with your OBGYN if you are concerned about the prenatal and postnatal products that you’re taking. Think about what you’re trying to accomplish with your health, and this information should help you make an educated purchase decision.
Final Thoughts
I’m impressed by both the Ritual and GEM brand. I like how much research has gone into the formulation of these products. I’ve always hated shopping for a vitamin supplement at the store, where all of the products seem so generic and impersonal. I’ve never been able to find something that I felt provided my body with the gentle nutritional supplementation that it needs.
Ritual was originally designed with the need for a safe prenatal supplement in mind. Since then, their product lineup has expanded to include different supplements for different age brackets. I love how they even have protein powders that are based on age and nutritional needs. That’s not something you ever see with fitness products.
Tips for Success from the RD
Just because a vitamin supplement is sold over the counter, doesn’t mean that it’s safe. It’s really important to research the supplements that are available. In addition to really looking at what is in a vitamin, I have some other tips for choosing the right vitamin supplement.
Talk to Your Doctor
Ask your doctor what your nutritional needs are. They may recommend running a full panel on your blood to see what your deficiencies are. You may just receive information regarding what your body needs at your specific age.
Be Careful
Always adhere to the dosage recommendations of a product. This is another reason why you should always choose a product that is designed for your specific gender and age. You can develop toxic levels of vitamins like A, D, E, and K if you are consuming too much. This can lead to dangerous health issues and symptoms.
Reputability
Always choose a vitamin supplement that is backed by research and science. A company should have put a lot of resources into the design and safety of their product. Stay away from companies that are putting more effort into their advertising than they are into their actual product. Third-party testing is a great benefit to look for when you’re doing your research. You can trust that these results are reputable, because they’re coming from a company that isn’t directly related to the vitamin brand.
Products Made in the U.S.A.
If you are looking at a vitamin product that was made internationally, it’s probably a good idea to put it back on the shelf. There really aren’t a lot of international regulations in place when it comes to supplements. You can’t trust that you’re getting something reliable and safe unless it was made in the U.S. where there are more regulations in place.
Watch the Sugar Content
Stay away from products that contain high doses of sugar to make them taste good. You’re not looking for a dessert treat. This is a supplement that you’re taking for nutritional support. If you deal with diabetes or blood sugar issues, you’ll have to spend a little extra time making sure that the product you choose is safe for you.
