More than half of Americans take some form of dietary supplements daily, but for many people, ‘supplements’ bring to mind only basic multivitamins. The reality is that there are now hundreds of different health supplements available, and while not all of them are particularly effective, using the right supplements can provide a huge boost to your overall health. Here are four reasons that you may want to start taking supplements, along with recommended varieties for each case.
Use Supplements to Reduce Stress
High levels of stress are linked to a variety of serious health concerns, including high blood pressure and heart disease, so reducing stress is a priority for many people. Luckily, there are a variety of vitamin and mineral supplements that can potentially help lower your stress levels.
B-vitamin complex supplements help your body to react better to stress, and also boosts energy levels. This can lead to better overall mood and can also lead you to react less strongly to your biggest stressors.
Another option to reduce stress it to take magnesium supplements. Magnesium is a crucial mineral that aids 300 different biochemical reactions in our bodies, and it helps boost energy and relax muscles. Stress and agitation can cause magnesium level in our bodies to deplete faster, so taking a supplement can lower your stress levels and replenish your levels of magnesium.
Use Amino Acid Supplements to Boost Muscle Growth
If you’re trying to get into better shape but don’t want to deal with the side effects associated with many bodybuilding formulas, amino acid supplements can be a good substitute. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, which are vital for a wide variety of body functions, notably muscle growth and repair. Look for supplements for essential amino acids in particular, as these are not naturally produced by the body and must be ingested via food or amino acid supplements. By taking one of these supplements recently in conjunction with a healthy workout regimen, you can build muscle more effectively.
Boost Sleep
Regular sleep is crucial to keep you healthy, and if you’re having trouble sleeping, there are a variety of supplements that can help. Many herbal supplements are great for helping you relax before bed; in particular, chamomile, hops and passionflower are recognized for their sedative qualities. Another option is to take a melatonin supplement to help your body establish a regular circadian rhythm. Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced by the pineal gland and helps regulate our sleep cycle, but we produce less and less of it as we age. Because of this, melatonin supplements can be especially effective for middle-aged and elderly people.
Injury Recovery
One other use for supplements is as an aid to our body’s natural healing processes. There are a variety of vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements that can help you heal after an injury or major surgery.
Homeopathic arnica can be used to combat swelling and inflammation caused by an injury or by surgical procedures, and it can also help dull pain to reduce the need for painkillers. If you’re recovering from a bone break, on the other hand, you should consider taking a calcium and magnesium supplement, which is key for promoting bone growth and repair. Finally, if your injury has resulted in any connective tissue damage, powdered collagen is probably your best bet to speed up your recovery.
These are just four of the various ways that taking supplements can boost your health. Not all supplements are right for everyone, but they can be crucial to aid those with vitamin or mineral deficiencies or people struggling with insomnia or low energy levels. In addition, don’t hesitate to look into supplements to help boost natural body processes, such as energy production, muscle growth and recovery from injury.
