Vitamins and minerals are essential micronutrients that help your body with so many vital functions — from supporting your immune system, to keeping your muscles working as they should.
A healthy, balanced diet is usually enough to make sure that you hit your recommended daily allowances, however many people turn to vitamin and mineral supplements as a convenient way to top up — especially if they don’t regularly eat fruit and veg, or don’t get enough of certain food groups due to dietary choices. For example, those following a plant-based lifestyle are often advised to use Vitamin B12 supplements to avoid deficiency, as it’s mostly found in meat and dairy products.
In some cases, supplements can also be a more cost-effective option, for example, when it comes to getting the required amount of essential fatty acids like Omega-3.
Here are just some of the ways in which these small but mighty micronutrients can benefit you:
Immune System
There’s some truth behind the saying of “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”, you know. Many vitamins and minerals play a key part in supporting your immune system – helping you to fight off illness and feel your best day after day. Instead of turning to the medicine cabinet at the first signs of a sniffle, it might be worth trying a multivitamin blend, like Daily Multivitamin, or our Zinc tablets.
Feeling on form can make all the difference to your workouts too. If you have a hectic training schedule and can’t afford to skip a session, then vitamin C can be a really useful supplement to make part of your routine. It’s been shown to support the normal function of the immune system – specifically during and after intense physical exercise.
Metabolism
Plenty of vitamins and minerals play a really important role in your metabolism – helping to break down a variety of different nutrients so that they can be put to use by your body. The B vitamins help to support normal energy-yielding metabolism, whereas zinc is involved in the metabolism of macronutrients, carbohydrates and fatty acids.
Bone and Teeth Health
You’re probably well aware that calcium is needed for healthy bones and teeth, and some of the best sources of it are milk, cheese, and other dairy products – although vegans can still get plenty of this essential mineral from green leafy vegetables like broccoli and cabbage.
Calcium supplements can be a convenient way to make sure you’re hitting your daily allowance whatever your dietary requirements – and if you’re sticking to strict macros they can be helpful to cut the calories that often come with dairy.
Vitamin D also plays a role in maintaining teeth and bone health, so supplementing with tablets can be a weatherproof way to get enough of this sunshine vitamin.
Hair, Skin and Nail Health
Vitamins and minerals don’t just help you out on the inside, they can be great for keeping your nails, skin and hair in check too. Zinc is a great all-rounder, helping to maintain all three – it’s naturally found in high-protein food sources such as seafood, meat, eggs and soy products, so supplementing can be a convenient and cost-effective alternative.
Vitamin C can also play an important role in skin health, as without it, your body can’t synthesise collagen – a key connective tissue that helps to keep the skin firm and wrinkle-free.
Take Home Message
Don’t be fooled by their size, there’s a lot that these essential micronutrients can do for you. Getting them from a healthy, balanced diet should be your first port of call, but alongside that, vitamin and mineral supplements can be a convenient way to boost your intake.
Discover the full Myvitamins range.
Our articles should be used for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to be taken as medical advice. If you're concerned, consult a health professional before taking dietary supplements or introducing any major changes to your diet.
