You’ve probably heard that multivitamins won’t help you live longer. But what about living better? Most of us could use a little boost as we don’t get nearly the amount of nutrients we need from our food. Here are some reasons to invest in a multivitamin or supplement.
Most people simply don’t get the nutrients they need from food. Especially if you’re on a plant-based diet. While a vegetarian or vegan diet can be super healthy, it can come with challenges. Vitamin B12 is only found only in animal foods like meat, chicken, fish, and eggs. That said, if you’re a vegan it can be nearly impossible to obtain the B12 you need for proper brain health. One recent study found that vegetarians with the strictest plant-based diets were the most likely to suffer from depression as Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins play a role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions.
Weight loss and muscle gain often go hand-in-hand. If weight loss is your goal, you do not want to lose muscle. Taking a multivitamin and utilizing a protein powder will help with this. The vast majority of people do not eat a diet that is nutrient dense enough to prevent muscle loss. Couple that with an inadequate protein intake and you have a 1-2 punch that makes it harder to lose weight. Make sure you are getting the nutrients you need to maintain/increase muscle to maximize weight loss. Maximize nutrient intake by taking a quality multivitamin! It is vital that we provide the body with the nutrients we need to function optimally on sub-optimal amounts of food. Eating nutrient dense food combined with a quality multivitamin gives us the best chance at optimizing health and weight loss (and muscle gain if that is your goal).
Vitamins also help with healthy aging: As we age, our nutritional needs increase. At the same time, it gets harder for the body to absorb nutrients. Medications can further deplete our body of nutrients and multivitamin can offset these deficiencies.
In addition, they boost immunity: Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant known for strengthening the immune system. Vitamins D, E and Zinc boost immunity, too. These vitamins can also help reduce allergy symptoms. This is important now more than ever! Make sure you are taking vitamins that will boost your immune system to help prevent you from getting sick.
Yes, we can get a lot of nutrients from food, especially fruits and vegetables, but the fact is we don’t. According to the CDC, adults should consume 1.5-2 cups of fruit and 2-3 cups of vegetables daily. Yet, in a recent CDC study, they found that 76% of adults don’t eat enough fruit and 87% of adults don’t eat enough veggies. A multivitamin is a daily guarantee to ensure your body gets the vitamins and minerals it needs. It can make up for the shortfalls in your diet. Not sure what to take? Talk to your doctor about what is appropriate for you based on your age and diet. Our personal trainers can also help you figure out a nutrition plan that works for you! Ask the front desk at your local Edge to speak to a trainer today!
