I didn’t know anything about prenatal vitamins when I got pregnant with my first in 2018. That probably explains why I was severely iron deficient throughout that entire pregnancy, despite taking prenatals from the drugstore religiously.
Long story short: Not all prenatal vitamins are created equal.
Beli has come onto the map with multivitamins designed for women and men, which is pretty unique. Their vitamins not only help you grow a baby, but they also can help you conceive.
Note: Get 15% off with code TWOMAMABEARS15
What Vitamins and Nutrients Do Beli Prenatals Have?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends 10 nutrients during pregnancy:
- Folate/Folic acid: Helps prevent birth defects and supports the general growth and development of the fetus and placenta
- Iron: Helps red blood cells deliver oxygen to your fetus
- Iodine: Essential for healthy brain development
- Choline: Important for the development of your fetus’s brain and spinal cord
- Vitamin C: Promotes healthy gums, teeth, and bones
- Vitamin A: Forms healthy skin, eyesight, and bone growth
- Vitamin B6: Helps form red blood cells and helps your body use fat, protein, and carbohydrates
- Vitamin B12: Maintains the nervous system and helps create red blood cells
- Calcium: Builds strong teeth and bones
- Vitamin D: Builds your fetus’s bones and teeth and promotes healthy eyesight and skin
Beli includes all of these except for Vitamin A and Calcium, and that exclusion is very intentional.
Vitamin A is very easy to get from diet alone, and if you get too much, it can be harmful. Calcium is also fairly easy to get from diet alone, and including it in a multivitamin can inhibit the absorption of minerals.
You can read a lot more about this here.
In addition to the other 8 nutrients mentioned above, Beli prenatals for women also include Thiamin, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Niacin, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Chromium, and Molybdenum.
The combination of ingredients in Beli boosts fertility and egg quality, supports the baby’s growth, nourishes you as the mom, supports labor and delivery, and nourishes you post-pregnancy and during breastfeeding. It’s really the complete package.
It would be easy for Beli to include Vitamin A and Calcium just to check off those boxes, but they are more concerned with being mindful of what you actually need. I really appreciate that and am frankly very impressed.
Related: Collagen During Pregnancy: Is It Safe? And Do You Need It?
What’s In the Beli Prenatal Vitamin for Men?
The prenatal for men concept took me aback, but it’s a really cool product! This multivitamin has nutrients that support reproductive and sperm health. You can read a full review of this men’s prenatal here.
The vitality blend increases sperm count, protects sperm while they grow, improves sperm quality, improves egg penetration, and balances acid-alkaline in the body to help sperm survive and work properly.
On top of that, your man will experience bonus benefits of more energy, balance, and overall wellness.
One of the really cool vitamins in this blend is Shilajit, a known adaptogen that provides energy and a feeling of vitality. Men who take this multivitamin report actually feeling different and more energized, which is pretty intriguing!
Here’s a quick look at the other vitamins and nutrients:
Beli First Impressions
Beli vitamins come in nice, standard vitamin bottles. The size of the vitamins are, I would say, medium-sized, and they have a mostly minty smell.
I could smell a hint of the choline, which has a bit of a fishy odor, but my husband thought I was crazy as he couldn’t smell it at all. I guess I have a super sense of smell!
The vitamin bottles do come with a mint heart that delivers minty essence, so if you notice the choline smell, just shake the bottle a bit and let the minty essence distribute throughout.
That choline is critical for the development of your fetus, so while it may smell less than desirable, it’s doing amazing things!
I do wish the vitamin bottle was something sturdier than plastic and that the monthly subscription was more of a refill packet.
We don’t have recycling in our rural area, but if you do, the bottles are branded with a ‘1.’ That type of plastic is the most widely accepted by most curbside recycling programs.
Pros and Cons of Beli Prenatal Vitamins
Pros of Beli:
- The vitamins and nutrients included are so intentional and thought-out – it gives so much peace of mind that you and your baby are getting everything you need and nothing you don’t.
- The form of the vitamins and nutrients is the most bioavailable form (methylated folate and B vitamins), meaning you’re more likely to actually absorb and reap the benefits of the ingredients. You’re getting your money’s worth.
- Beli is third-party tested and received the Clean Label Project Purity Award, meaning you don’t have to worry about heavy metals, chemicals, plastics, and other toxins being in your prenatals.
- The thoughtful ingredients are meant to be gentle on your stomach, such as the iron being in a chelated version that’s tummy friendly. No fish burps and morning sickness from your prenatals!
- They have a minty essence that helps mask the smell of the much-needed choline.
- These are dairy-free, gluten-free, and allergen-free.
- Beli was the first to meet the choline requirement in prenatals – they are truly leading the way! (Choline supports neural tube development and helps prevent birth defects. It’s often overlooked in other prenatal vitamins.)
Cons of Beli:
- Men ideally should start taking the prenatal for men six months before trying to conceive, which is honestly a lot of planning.
- The vitamin delivery method is not as sustainable as some other vitamin brands out there – you get a new bottle each month as opposed to a refill packet. It is recyclable, but not everyone has access to recycling.
- They’re expensive at $50 per month, but you can take 15% off with code TWOMAMABEARS15.
FAQs
Where can I buy Beli Vitamins?
You can buy Beli vitamins online.
Do Beli Vitamins Have DHA?
DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid. It’s found in salmon and tuna and is non-negotiable for the proper growth and functional development of the brain in babies (and adults). However, Beli prenatals do not include DHA, and that’s very intentional.
Here’s why DHA is not in Beli vitamins:
- DHA is accessible in many foods, including fish, chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, edamame, kidney beans, and wheat germ.
- DHA is not shelf-stable when combined with other ingredients in capsule form.
- DHA can be hard on your stomach, giving you fishy burps and morning sickness.
If you don’t think you can get enough DHA from your diet – you only need to eat 8-12 ounces of salmon in a week to meet the goal – consider a separate DHA supplement.
Do Beli Vitamins include Choline?
Choline is a superstar nutrient that plays a critical role in a baby’s brain and spinal cord development. Beli is formulated with 400mg of choline to give mamas optimal levels needed to protect and support the health and development of your baby.
Beli was actually the first to meet the choline requirement from the American Medical Association.
Where is Beli made?
Beli Vitamins are manufactured in the US. They are vegan-friendly, soy-free, non-GMO, and made in an FDA-registered facility that has received its cGMP certification.
Additionally, Beli was just awarded the Purity Award from the Clean Label Project.
Is Beli third-party tested?
Yes, Beli is third-party tested and was awarded the Purity Award based on the test results of their two products.
After rigorous independent testing of their supplements for contaminants including heavy metals, chemicals, plastics, and other toxins, Clean Label Project has determined that Beli meets their highest standard.
Final Thoughts
My first impression of Beli, just from looking at their website, is that these very well may be the highest-quality prenatal vitamins on the market.
And after diving into the ingredient list, their third-party testing, and history, I’m even more impressed.
If you want some of the very best prenatals on the market today, Beli should be your first stop. Don’t forget to take 15% off with code TWOMAMABEARS15!
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