Health and Beauty News: Fight that feeling, supplements to give you a boost

SO MANY vitamins and minerals promise improved health, but which ones deliver?

If you’ve ever stepped foot inside a health food store, then you’ll know just how many supplements are out there. Now choice is great but it can also be overwhelming. In fact, it seems like there’s a supplement for pretty much everything now.

So how do we know which supplements to take, and why we’re actually taking them?

Taking Vitamin C supplements will help you ward off coughs and colds, by maintaining a healthy immune system. Vitamin C is a great antioxidant, meaning it can hoover up the toxic chemicals our cells naturally produce, called free radicals.

Most of us don’t get enough Vitamin D from the sun, so supplements are crucial. Great for fighting bugs and strengthening bones and teeth, it is also essential for healthy brain function as the brain is made largely of fat, and vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin.

We need magnesium to relax our muscles, which in turn helps us relax both body and mind. Combine magnesium with meditation and massage or take in the evening to improve sleep.

Take Vitamin B complex supplements for energy as this group of vitamins – including B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12 – work as an energising team, and are crucial for blood-sugar stability, metabolism and detoxification. Take one at breakfast to fight fatigue, and take another at lunch if you’re still tired. If you’re working hard, your body will use it up, so you may need more.

Zinc helps white blood cells do their job fighting infection and healing cuts and bruises. Low zinc also means poor blood-sugar control; insulin synthesis needs zinc. Some people need more zinc than others, so if you notice you take a long time to heal, you may want to increase your dose.