Whether you love going to the gym, hiking, running, or doing any other kind of physical activity, there are plenty of supplements you can take to not only become better and stronger at them, but to also help you recover and keep your body performing at its best; here are a few you need to know about.
Creatine
Much like how marine collagen powder should be part of your skincare routine, and how protein should be part of your diet, creatine is a must for those who are active. It is also arguably the only workout supplement you need.
Simply put, creatine helps to improve your muscle strength and recovery, allowing you to lift more, run harder, and train harder. It gives your muscles the extra boost they need to break your workout plateaus, and help you recover.
B-Complex Vitamins
This isn’t a singular supplement, but rather a collection of vitamins that help to improve your body’s performance. B-complex vitamins, in simple terms, help your body to produce energy, form red blood cells, and improve your immune system.
B-complex vitamins include B3, or Niacin, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12. There are many brands that sell B-complex vitamins in a single tablet, making it far easier to get them every day.
Calcium
One area that is sometimes ignored, especially by women, is bone health. Women are more prone to arthritis and weak bones, and therefore, it is important to supplement their strength with a daily calcium tablet.
However, this does apply to everyone, especially if you are active, as the constant impact to your bones when doing physical activities can damage them if you aren’t doing what you need to, to improve their strength.
Magnesium
Magnesium is another brilliant mineral that has several benefits. Firstly, it works in conjunction with calcium to improve your bone strength and health. It also helps to keep your heart rate stable, and can potentially help prevent heart disease.
Magnesium can also help to maintain normal muscle function, and it has also been shown to potentially lower cholesterol levels.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A isn’t an absolute essential, but it is something you should be supplementing if you have low Vitamin A levels, or if you aren’t getting enough from your regular diet. Vitamin A can help improve your vision, skin, and general growth, and supports your immune system.
It is important to note that you can experience Vitamin A toxicity if you ingest too much, therefore, you should first find out if you are getting enough in your diet before supplementing it.
Vitamin D3
Vitamin D3 is an often-overlooked supplement that can most certainly benefit those who are super active. It can improve your skin, immune function, and, more importantly, can improve your bone and muscle strength.
Vitamin D3 has also been shown to help prevent some diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease, and infectious diseases. If you are a vegetarian or vegan, you may struggle to get enough Vitamin D3, as it is more abundant in fatty fish, eggs, and beef liver.
Omega-3
Omega-3 is important to supplement as it is an essential fatty acid that the body doesn’t produce itself. It can help lower blood pressure, lower the risk of an irregular heartbeat, prevent blood clots, and helps keep your heart rhythm stable. It can also help prevent inflammation.
The best source of Omega-3 is fish, and considering there are many people who don’t eat fish that regularly, or at all, it is never a bad idea to supplement your Omega-3.
Multivitamin
A multivitamin is another standard supplement that everyone should be taking, no matter how much physical activity or working out you do. Unless you have a well-curated and measured diet, you are most likely not getting the daily amount of each vitamin and mineral.
A multivitamin is perfect for filling in any gaps you may have, and is also a far better option for those who may have dietary restrictions, as, once again, you are more than likely not getting enough of every important vitamin and mineral every day.
Protein
Protein is easily one of the most important building blocks when it comes to building and maintaining muscle, no matter which physical activities you do. However, for many, it can be difficult to eat enough protein every day.
Because of this, a protein supplement is a great addition to your diet. Whey protein, in particular, is often low in calories and builds lean muscle mass. It is perfect for those who are looking to build muscle, or to simply maintain what they already have.
A protein supplement is also ideal for vegans and vegetarians, as it is easy to get protein from meat, but much harder to get it if you have a meat-free diet. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly proteins are also exceptionally common and affordable.
In conclusion, if you are active and want to slow down the aging process when it comes to physical strength and fitness, these are easily a few of the best supplements to be taking on a daily basis.
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