8 Supplements Your Body Can Not Do Without

Lisa Franchi March 28, 2013

Food is our main source of nutrients. But there are times when our body could not properly absorb them from the food we eat – and this has plenty of reasons. For instance, some minerals and vitamins are non-soluble while some need another compound to be utilised by the body. It’s also possible that we may have health problems that prevent our body from getting nourished by these essential compounds, or we are not eating the right kind of food at the right amount to supply our body with the nutrients it needs.

Why do you need dietary supplementation?

One way to ensure that your body gets enough of the essential nutrients for physical and mental health is by taking supplements. Dietary supplements come in different forms, such as multivitamins, herbal supplement, and botanical products, among others. Some supplements contain only one essential compound while others contain a lot, depending on its use and health targets.

The dietary supplementation industry has significantly boomed in the past decades, with the rising number of people becoming more conscious about their health. But with the plethora of dietary supplements available in the market today, it can be really hard to determine which one you should take on a regular basis. So here is a guide for you.

Vitamin D – sunlight exposure is no doubt the best source of vitamin D. But in many western countries where the sun doesn’t come out too often, obtaining sufficient amount of vitamin D can be hard to do. Thankfully, scientists have already developed vitamin D supplementations which are taken from food sources. Most of us know that vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption, metabolism, and for healthy immune system. But a growing body of research suggests that this vitamin has a crucial role in fighting and preventing cancer too!

Probiotics – bacteria often makes our face turn awry. But not all bacteria are bad for your health. In fact, you need considerable amount of probiotics (or the good bacteria) to maintain a healthy gut and strong immune system.

Selenium – many people miss the true importance of selenium. But this compound is highly needed by your body to produce glutathione – the ‘master’ antioxidant in the body. Selenium is crucial for good thyroid health, better brain function, and general disease prevention.

Magnesium – sadly, millions of people are deficient in magnesium. This vital trace mineral promotes digestive health, bone health, disease prevention, and physical energy.

CoQ10 enzyme – this substance is highly necessary for enzyme and energy production. It is a food for your cells, giving your cells enough supply of energy to stay healthy and functioning. At the age of 25, your body starts producing less CoQ10, which often leads to rapid ageing and to the development of health-related illnesses.

Greens – green foods like parsley, wheatgrass, and oat grass are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that pump up your energy levels, strengthen your immunity, and keep your body lean and healthy. Eating a large bowl of vegetable salad may not be enough to supply your system with these ‘superfood’ greens so you may need to consume even just a scoop of concentrated, cold-dried green supplement every day.

Zinc – Just like selenium, zinc is an underrated nutrient which turns out to be a very essential one. Zinc is required in so many health processes, from hormone regulation to cell division, and energy production. To maintain a healthy reproductive health, you should also take a sufficient amount of zinc on a regular basis.

Important Notes

While food supplements can lead to significant improvements in our physical and mental health, it is important to remember that they are only supplementary. Meaning, we should not depend on them as the primary source of our dietary and nutritional needs. Observing proper diet with focus on healthy foods, along with physical exercise, relaxation and other healthy lifestyles, we can protect ourselves from getting ill and growing old quickly.

Dear Readers

What other kinds of supplement, you therapists think, are vital to one’s health?

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