In America, 76% of people take dietary supplements daily. This trend shows the critical role supplementation plays in our quest to reach our health and wellness goals. Although we can get all the nutrients we need from different foods, preparing and consuming a balanced diet every day is not always achievable.
Some of us have dietary restrictions or medical conditions that limit what we eat, making it difficult to get all of the recommended nutrients into our daily meals. Supplements, including NMN supplements by Longevitate, come packed with essential nutrients and minerals that enrich our bodies in key areas and make up for nutritional gaps in our diets. Here are some top supplements everyone should consider.
1. Probiotics
Despite their bad reputation, not all bacteria are harmful to your health. In fact, studies indicate that our bodies are host to around 100 trillion good bacteria. Without them, some of your body organs wouldn’t function properly. In our guts, there are good bacteria that help us break down food, absorb nutrients, produce vitamins, and inhibit the growth of disease-causing microorganisms.
Unfortunately, various factors, such as antibiotics, pesticides, and chemical usage, decrease the number of good bacteria in our guts by almost half, causing digestive disorders. To correct the problem and keep your digestive system healthy, start taking men’s or women’s probiotics, depending on your gender. These supplements will replace your lost good bacteria, reduce stomach irritability, minimize chances of catching infections, and balance your good and bad bacteria, keeping your body functioning at an optimal level.
2. Magnesium
Most of us don’t get enough magnesium from our diets even though foods such as nuts, whole grains, beans, leafy vegetables, and milk are rich in it. Taking magnesium supplements is a great way to ensure you achieve the daily recommended amount. This mineral has multiple functions in our body, from stabilizing blood pressure, building vital proteins, developing strong bones, and keeping the heart rhythm steady.
On the other hand, low levels of magnesium in the long-term may lead to various health complications such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, seizures, hypertension, insomnia, and muscle spasticity. Visit your doctor to receive advice on the right dose to make sure you don’t exceed the maximum advised levels of this mineral.
3. Vitamin C
Your body can’t produce its own vitamin C, but you can get it from citrus fruits and other plant-based foods. This unique nutrient is a powerful antioxidant, meaning it can clean up the toxic chemicals our cells produce. If you can’t get the required amount of vitamin C from foods such as oranges, strawberries, broccoli, kale, and pepper, supplements are your next option.
Taking vitamin C supplements has been shown to strengthen the body’s natural defenses, allowing your body to fend off diseases with ease. Some other benefits include managing high blood pressure, improving the absorption of iron from our diets, reducing the risk of anemia, protecting you from dementia, preventing gout attacks, and lowering the risk of heart diseases.
4. Omega-3
On average, adults in the U.S. are not meeting the recommended levels for omega-3 fatty acid intake, and there are serious consequences. According to Harvard University researchers, about 84,000 people are losing their lives each year due to this problem. You can get omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish such as salmon, cod, oysters, caviar and algae. You can also get these essential fatty acids from plant-based foods such as chia seeds, walnuts, and soybeans. If you don’t eat many of these foods, go for omega-3 supplements.
This essential nutrient comes with numerous health benefits. It reduces depression and anxiety, boosts eye health, improves brain development in infants, minimizes the risk of heart diseases, and reduces the symptoms of ADHD in children. When choosing a supplement, consult your doctor and ensure the product is approved. One gram of fish oil daily in supplement form will provide the right balance between safety and efficacy.
5. B-Complex Vitamins
Eight vitamins make up the B complexes. They are a special group of nutrients that play an essential role in our organs and bodily systems. While you can get the right amount of these vitamins through foods such as whole grains, beef, poultry, fish, milk, legumes, and avocados, you may also benefit from a supplement.
Some benefits of B-complex vitamins include converting food and nutrients into energy, keeping the nervous system healthy, creating new blood cells, preventing depression and anxiety, healing skin wounds, and maintaining healthy brain cells. B-complex supplements are generally safe when a person takes them as directed. However, it’s best to seek a doctor’s guidance.
6. Vitamin D
Vitamin D, also called the sunshine vitamin, is actually a hormone produced by the body when the sun hits your skin. It can also be obtained from a few foods such as oily fish, red meat, liver, and egg yolks. However, two to three days of exposure to sunlight is the easiest route to acquiring adequate amounts of vitamin D.
Supplementing is essential since the sunlight doesn’t always provide enough. If you don’t see enough sunlight, especially in the winter months, consider supplements. Some of the benefits include promoting healthy bones and teeth, inhibiting cancer cell growth, regulating insulin levels, supporting lung function, and promoting cardiovascular health.
7. Turmeric
Turmeric is a bright yellow culinary spice that has been used as a dietary supplement for centuries. It has different healing compounds, but the most prevalent is known as curcumin. Mainly known for its powerful anti-inflammation properties, it can also relieve pain, improve liver function, aid digestion and reduce cancer risk.
This antioxidant has also been shown to lower high levels of cholesterol, reduce symptoms of depression and improve the condition of knee osteoarthritis.
Combine Healthy Foods With Supplements
When your meals lack some nutrients, vitamins, or minerals, different organs, systems, and parts of your body get affected. If you think your diet isn’t well-balanced, or you don’t eat some foods because of diet restrictions or a medical condition, taking supplements can help plug the gap of the missing nutrients. Just make sure you talk to your health care provider to learn whether it’s safe to take certain supplements and to get the right dosage for you.
