Vitamin & Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are essential for our good health and wellbeing. For most part, the best solution is to eat as healthy a diet as possible, combined with a generally healthy lifestyle. A study by the Food Standards Agency shown that the average Brit with a healthy balanced diet gets most of their recommended daily allowance of every dietary vitamin from their normal food and drink.

lady taking vitamin with glass of water

So why should we take extra supplements?

Daily vitamin supplements can provide important nutritional insurance for millions of people who are looking to safeguard their nutritional intake, especially where the diet is not as healthy and balanced as it should be. There are a few important cases where vitamin supplements can be useful for consideration.

vitamins group shot

Vitamins explained

Multivitamins for adults

Even if you have a great diet, the nutrients in food aren’t always as good as they used to be, because of modern farming methods, pesticides and pollution. A good multivitamin can help give you that assurance you’re generally getting all the daily vitamin and mineral intake you need.

Vitamins A, C & D

Growing children between 6 months and 4 years old should take vitamins A, C & D.  This is a precaution because growing children may not get enough of these vitamins – especially those not eating a varied diet, such as fussy eaters. Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should also consider this supplement.

Vitamin D

The sunshine vitamin improves your mood and lowers your risk of health problems like heart disease and cancer. New global research has shown that the health benefits of Vitamin D stretch beyond bone health and has shown benefits for its contribution to normal absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus, normal muscle function, normal blood calcium levels, normal function of the immune system and the process of cell division. 

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 can help keep the blood cells and nervous system healthy. It also prevents a specific type of anaemia, which causes people to become tired and weak. Vitamin B12 deficiency has also been linked to problems with brain and memory functions. Unfortunately for those following a vegan diet, B12 only naturally occurs in animal products, so a supplement is worth considering.

Omega 3

Whilst we find a lot of Omega 6 and Omega 9 in our foods, we do not see as much Omega 3 oils. Omega 3 is really good for the body, it acts as an anti-inflammatory, but is also good for brain function and concentration too. Omega 3 is also known to help burn fat as it turns off your fat storing genes, it helps your thyroid, lowers blood pressure and reduces risk of cardiovascular disease.

Evening Primrose Oil

This vitamin has been used for hundreds of years.  Evening Primrose Oil assists with hormone regulation and helps to maintain healthy skin, hair and bones.  This vitamin is especially beneficial for women as it can help alleviate symptoms of PMS including tender breasts, water retention, mood swings, headaches and cyclic acne.  Evening Primrose Oil can also be taken before and during menopause to moderate hot flushes. 

Glucosamine

Naturally found in the fluid around the joints, in animal bones, bone marrow, shellfish, and fungi, Glucosamine is vital for building cartilage. Cartilage is a flexible, tough connective tissue found in several parts of the body.  As we age, cartilage can become less flexible and can steadily breakdown, there is some evidence that glucosamine might slow this process. Many people take it as a supplement to treat arthritis and osteoarthritis.

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