A great deal has been written about this subject over the years – some people are in favour of it and others stress that we should get all the vitamins and minerals we need from a normal healthy diet.
The trouble is very few of us now manage to consume a healthy diet, utilizing fresh vegetables and as little processed foods as possible. Personally, I am a big fan of supplementation and have been now for over 20 years. The best single supplement to add to your diet should be a good quality ‘one a day’ vitamin/mineral pill – they are value for money and will ensure you are not deficient in any substances. Cruise down to your local pharmacy or health food shop and check out the labels on the multi vitamin/mineral product range – select ones that cover all the recommended daily allowances.
Always ensure you don’t overdose on certain vitamins – large doses of A or D will make you sick or upset your stomach – big time! Stick to the recommended amounts; if you want to experiment a bit, vitamins B, C and E are a safe bet.
Vitamin C.
This vitamin is water-soluble and helps repair tissue, fight infections and protects us against the daily pollution we are all subjected to. It also helps heal wounds, burns and plays a part in decreasing cholesterol levels in the blood.
Most animals can produce their own Vitamin C; guinea pigs, apes and man must obtain it from food sources. It is also used up quicker by the elderly, smokers and people suffering from stress.
The best natural sources are from citrus fruits, berries, rose hips, leafy vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes and cauliflower.
B Vitamins.
Again these are water-soluble and should betaken every day. B vitamins work better when taken together rather than separately e.g. B1 (50mg), B2 (50mg) and B6 (50mg).
B vitamins promote growth, help with digestion, they keep energy levels as well as your heart and skeletal muscles normal. They also benefit your mental attitude and nervous system. Regular alcohol and coffee drinkers will most likely require B complex supplementation. The best natural sources are whole wheat, dried yeast, bran,
oatmeal, peanuts, most vegetables and milk.
Vitamin E.
Another vitamin that is only stored in the body for a short period of time. Vitamin E can assist in keeping you looking younger and help with your endurance as it retards cellular aging. It can also help prevent and dissolve blood clots, as well as assisting in lowering your blood pressure by working as a diuretic. The best natural sources for this vitamin are soybeans, broccoli, brussel sprouts, whole wheat breads, eggs, wheat germ and whole-grain cereals.
I visit my local health food store at least once a week and check out what is on offer. Over the years I have experimented with different products and found the ones that work for me – always remember we are all individuals with different metabolic rates, genetics and metabolisms – so what might work wonders for some people could have little or no effect on you.
I have tried out all the ‘highly marketed’ wonder supplements such as GABBA, vanadyl sulphate, dibencozide, creatine and so on and so forth. Some seemed to work; some did nothing at all. I try however to read as many scientific reports on these products as possible and ignore the manufacturers claims – they want to make money, I want results.
Finally
The Internet is a superb place to search for good reliable data. What I look for are a number of studies on different subjects, under varying conditions, it makes for interesting reading. If, twenty studies say the product did little or nothing and one says it’s the best thing since ‘sliced bread’ – I tend to go with the majority decision and leave well alone and keep my money in my wallet.
There is nothing wrong with giving them a go – don’t think ‘more is better’ it does not work like that. Most supplements take time to work with your body and you normally only see any benefits over a period of time.
As with anything that GymRat Fitness advises – everything in moderation!
