Energy Supplements as Part Of a Rounded Diet

Winter can leave many people feeling a little under the weather or lacking in energy, and if you feel like you need a little help to get going in the mornings (and throughout the day), you might want to consider introducing daily energy supplements as part of your diet.

There are lots of different supplements available that claim to do lots of different things, but here are the main energy providers:

Vitamin B

There are lots of different types of B vitamin, but essentially they all help your body to metabolise proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Your body requires B vitamins to help it extract energy from the food that you eat, and a deficiency can mean that food is passing through your system without contributing valuable resources.

This can lead to tiredness, trouble concentrating, and physical weakness. A good vitamin B complex or multivitamin will provide you with a balanced dose of B vitamins to help your body metabolise the food you eat more efficiently.

Vitamin C

This also helps energy to be extracted from food, and vitamin C is known to help strengthen the immune system.

A stronger immune system will indirectly lead to an increase in energy, as the body is having to use less resources to keep infection at bay.

Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant, and in recent studies has been shown to increase the aerobic capacity of athletes.

You can find vitamin C as a single supplement, or take a multivitamin which includes vitamin C as well as other daily essentials.

Coenzyme Q10

This is a vitamin-like compound that is directly responsible for energy production within the body.

It achieves this by producing ATP (adenosine triphosphate – an energy carrier) which is particularly good at energizing muscles. Increasing your intake of coenzyme Q10 could help to stimulate the production of ATP and increase your energy.

With any supplement, you should increase your intake slowly. You should start with just one supplement initially so that you can observe the effects properly, and then add in more if you feel you need extra support.

If you are taking any other medication you should always seek medical advice before changing your diet or adding supplements.

Make sure you have a healthy diet to start with; get a good mixture of fresh fruit and vegetables, and lean meats if you eat them.

Oily fish is good for heart health and energy, and you should drink plenty of water to keep you hydrated throughout the day.

Try to get some form of exercise every day too – walk the dog for twenty minutes, take a stroll out of the office at lunchtime or go for a leisurely swim.

Ensuring you have a healthy lifestyle is essential to allow any supplement you take to work efficiently with your body.