Ok so vitamins, yes we're talking vitamins. I know it sounds really boring, but if you're anything like me, you've wondered what supplements you should be taking. And because I've been trying to get fit and healthy for a little while now, I've been thinking quite a bit about what I put in my body as well as what I get out of it.
*Disclaimer: I am in NO WAY a healthcare professional or nutritionist.
There are nearly 50 different little pills to take that would make your body stronger/healthier/better, but here are the few that seem to be essential and worth considering according to what my research turned up.
Vitamin A/Betacarotene - It boosts your immune system and supports skin aging, vision, and heart function. Basically, it's essential to life. However good it may be, be careful to only take the recommended dosage. Too much of a good thing can, in fact, be bad.
Vitamin B - B vitamins are all about muscle tone, brain development and healthy cells. Folic acid, a substance most resources cite as essential for women, is a B vitamin.
Vitamin C - Vitamin C is commonly known to defend against the common cold, which may or may not be true. However, C is responsible for boosting the immune system as well as being great for skin and wounds.
Vitamin D - Not quite a miracle but doctors believe vitamin D can greatly reduce the risk of cancer and diabetes. At the very least, it's happy-making.
Vitamin E - Available in many forms, this antioxidant is good for blood circulation, and as an oil, it's excellent for moisture.
Omega-3s - Specifically Fish Oil and DHA. Omega-3s provide benefits associated with a multitude of diseases and conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and thinking disorders. Fish oil is also known to help with "feminine" pains such as those related to cramps, breast pain or pregnancy complications.
Calcium - Remember mom forcing you to drink your milk for strong bones when you were young? Well, the plight for healthy bones is not yet over. Seems we begin to lose bone density in our 20's!
Iron - As women, we loose a substantial amount of iron every month during our periods, so it's essential to replenish it.
Other not-so-essential, but still pretty awesome vitamins:
Biotin - Commonly known as "the beauty vitamin", Biotin is for healthy hair, skin and nails. It's a B vitamin so it's included in B-Complex vitamins, but it's worth considering as a supplement on it's own.
Wheatgrass - If my cravings dictated my diet, which let's be real sometimes it does, I'd eat pizza, ice cream and other non-vegetable foods all the time. Wheatgrass is an excellent source of greens for those of us who like to skip our veggies sometimes.
Other not-so-essential, but still pretty awesome vitamins:
Biotin - Commonly known as "the beauty vitamin", Biotin is for healthy hair, skin and nails. It's a B vitamin so it's included in B-Complex vitamins, but it's worth considering as a supplement on it's own.
Wheatgrass - If my cravings dictated my diet, which let's be real sometimes it does, I'd eat pizza, ice cream and other non-vegetable foods all the time. Wheatgrass is an excellent source of greens for those of us who like to skip our veggies sometimes.
Most sources agree that vitamin D, calcium and iron should be supplemented as it's difficult to get the daily intake via diet alone. Many of the other vitamins can be consumed as part of a good diet, and so it is important to assess your own eating habits, and determine which substances are lacking. This is the predominate reason I choose to bypass multivitamins in favor of individual supplements, which allows me to customize my intake.
Do you take vitamins daily? What are your essentials?
I need to start back taking biotin!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on creating your world! I have my plot all planned out I just need to write again. I am actually maybe a quarter way through.