Cathal BarryI’ve just arrived back at my desk from a brief lunchtime trip to the local health store. There you can find an array of jars to rival any old style sweet shop, all containing different health supplements aimed at bolstering the consumer’s overall health and wellbeing.
For most people such a sight could be overwhelming. Some might get flustered and dash for the door. Others buy into whatever they are told and purchase the lot!
Remember, your approach to all aspects of health should be balanced, and that includes your approach to supplemental vitamins.
With regard to supplements, the clue is in the name. These products are supposed to supplement a healthy and balanced diet, which should provide you with plenty of vitamins and nourishment naturally.
However, given the fact that people lead less healthy lives over all, with increased stress levels and increased environmental pollution, supplementing with vitamins can play an important role in achieving improved overall health.
Especially considering that winter is now upon us, adding in some extra vitamins could do you the world of good.
If you’re coming to the world of supplements as a complete novice, a decent multi-vitamin is a good place to start. This should provide you with a broad spectrum ‘top-up’ of all the essential vitamins you need.
A good high quality fish oil supplement is also useful for beginners, especially if you are not in the habit of eating oily fish such as salmon or mackerel. If you eat such fish on a regular basis, there may be no real need for such a tablet.
Beyond the beginner phase, there are a few supplemental vitamins that are highly recommended by health care professionals.
Vitamin C
The immune boosting vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin which cannot be stored in the organs or fatty tissues. The body needs to be recharged with vitamin C regularly because it is quickly used up and eliminated from the body.
Vitamin B complex
This supplement refers to the essential water-soluble vitamins except for vitamin C. These include thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), biotin, folic acid and the cobalamins (vitamin B12).
Vitamin B complex provides potent anti-oxidant protection to the body and particularly to the cells of the brain and central nervous system. Since they are part of a family of vitamins which function best as a team they should all be taken together instead of separately.
Vitamin D
Considering the ‘sunshine’ vitamin is a fat soluble vitamin and is not flushed out from the body as water soluble vitamins are, making certain that your vitamin D levels are correct is an important consideration.
Given that the Irish aren’t accustomed to being exposed to direct sunlight, which naturally generates vitamin D in the body, this is an important supplement to consider taking.
Zinc
Zinc is one of the most common and serious mineral deficiencies. It has powerful immune enhancing properties and can aid restful sleep if taken prior to bed.