I recently read a great article in a popular men’s fitness magazine that discussed the benefits of taking vitamins and food supplement. Feeling a little sluggish at the time and really wanting to up my gym anti, I thought I would give it a go. Here’s what happened…
Each day I’ve been taking four pills to cover all bases:
- Immunity
Centrum for men Multi-vitamin
Contains antioxidants such as vitamin C.E Beta-Carotene, Zing and helps promote normal immune function
Centrum also contains Vitamin B which aids the metabolism of fats carbohydrates and Proteins and Iron to support daily energy needs*
It also contains Vitamin D and B6 to support muscle function.
In the UK we are only absorb the right wavelength of light to make vitamin D between April and September between 11am and 3pm. Meaning most people in the U.K are vitamin deficient. Low levels of vitamin D have been shown in multiple studies to have a link with depressed immune function, poor skeletal muscle recovery and fatigue.
- Wellbeing
Red Krill oil 500mg
Red Krill Oil provides essential fatty acids for the normal function of the heart, brain and vision. As well as Omega-9 fatty acids, Red Krill oil provides Omega-3, a rich source of the essential fatty acids DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid). EPA and DHA are classed as essential fatty acids because they cannot be made efficiently by the body and must be obtained through the diet.
- DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal vision and brain function1
- DHA and EPA contribute to the normal function of the heart2
- Energy
CoQ10 100mg
This co-enzyme is needed by all of the body’s cells and plays an important role in energy metabolism. Your body makes CoQ10 and your cells use it to produce energy your body needs for cell growth, maintenance and repair. It also functions as an antioxidant, which protects the body from damage caused by harmful molecules.
- Vitality
Supergreens
1 supergreen Capsule supports health and wellness, packed with antioxidants.
Greens supplements can help augment a diet that is low in fruits and vegetables.
Do you know how many people are consuming 5 or more servings of fruits/vegetables each day?
- Less than 1% of men & 4% of women ages 18 to 24
- Less than 6% of men & 9% of women ages 25 to 34
- Less than 14% of men & 16% of women ages 35 to 49
- Less than 24% of men & 22% of women ages 50 to 64
Basically, almost everyone is coming up short. But we know fruits and veggies are good for us. Consuming fruits and vegetables appears to reduce:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Various cancers (colon, prostate, breast, cervical, endometrial, gastric, lung, lymphoma, ovarian, pancreatic, thyroid)
- High blood cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Type 2 diabetes
- Obesity
- Stroke
- Eye disease
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Osteoporosis
So we can see there are some compelling arguments as to why these are your vital vitamins. I’ve been taking these supplements on a daily basis for just over a month now and I have found that I have seen an increase in my energy levels and reduction in fatigue. It feels so easy to get out of bed in the morning. I’ve felt an improved mood and less susceptibility to a bout of the blues.
However; beware, although there is a variety of great reasons to start taking supplements, mega-dosing on antioxidants can actually slow muscle repair, discovered Portuguese scientists. So look for a pills that clocks in at or below your RDAs.
On the fitness front, for those of you who also like a gym tipple. I do already take vitamin B5 an L’carnitine** when I am going to the gym. It would be unfair not to mention that I have seen improved gym results since starting to take these supplements. This could also be down to the Krill oil. The University of Pennsylvania found that fatty acids might be the key you burning fat and gaining muscle at the same time. The people in white coats believe that omega-3s help fight against cortisol, a stress hormone that your body produces, making it easier to store fat. By shutting down your cortisol production you can hold off those extra pounds. For those of us that don’t have time to be downing juicing or downing a leafy green smoothly every morning, I think that these 4 supplements are a fantastic way to cover all dietary bases.
There are a whole host of places to buy your supplements but for the more finically conscious. I would always recommend buying online. I’ve seen the places can very a lot but are usually found cheapest there. Also checkout companies like VITL, that offer covenant monthly supplement packs and competitive prices. (Link can be found below)
Vitl
L’carnitine @ Holland and Barret
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
1 A beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 250mg of DHA
2 A beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 250mg of EPA and DHA
**Carnitine is available from all good health stores such as HOLLAND AND BARRET. I prefer the liquid formula as it takes less time to be absorbed by the body compared to a powder form
That's The Half 