Keeping you Healthy
While I try to keep a balanced diet as much as possible, there are some days where my sweet tooth gets the best of me. As noted before, I've always felt its fine to have a treat every now and then and to keep it in moderation, which is where my vitamins come into play. Since I already know there will be some days where I indulge a little bit, I keep my body balanced by taking vitamin supplements every day. Now if you eat a well balanced diet 24/7, you are probably getting all of the nutrients and minerals you need from food, but if not then listen up.
I've rounded up some of the best vitamins I believe a woman should be taking to keep a well balanced lifestyle. Now these are only suggestions, you may need different ones or only a few to add to your diet depending on what you already eat. Personally for me, I take vitamin D, vitamin B6, Fish Oil, and a prenatal which acts like a multi-vitamin.
- A good multi: If there is one vitamin you choose from this list, make it a multi vitamin specifically made for women. Make sure it had folate or folic acid, which is important for woman ages 18-40, who are looking to start a family. This gives you a dose of everything you need for the day.
- Fish Oil: Omega 3 has been getting a lot of hype recently and for good reason. Not only will this help your hair stay shiny, skin stay clean, and nails stay long, but it also helps the heart and blood system, helps lower cholesterol, helps with depression, and prevents painful periods.
- Biotin: The beauty vitamin. This little gem works miracles on hair, skin, and nails. Many multi-vitamins contain biotin though so be sure to check the label.
- Probiotic: This supplement is a great way to keep your digestion tract in check. Probiotics are living organisms that are considered to be "good bacteria" that help strengthen the immune system. Be sure to take this on an empty stomach.
- Iron: This works wonders by delivering oxygen from your lungs to the rest of the body. This supplement is good for women who are menstruating and losing blood every month. If you eat enough meat, 1 serving per day, or eat leafy greens like kale and spinach, then you most likely are getting the recommended daily dose of iron.
- Zinc: This mineral keeps our immune system strong and fights off disease. If you are pregnant, this is especially important to take since your little one will be using up most of what is in your body. Also, vegetarians who eat many legumes, which prevent the body from properly absorbing zinc.
- Vitamin D: One cool thing about vitamin D is that our bodies produce it naturally when exposed to sunlight. The only problem is if you live somewhere that is perpetually cloudy or has long winters, then you may not be getting the right amount. This vitamin regulates the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in your bones and keeps cells functioning properly.
- Calcium-Magnesium: Calcium strengthens your bones, muscles, and teeth. When combined with magnesium, it allows vitamins to better absorb into the system. Like with a probiotic, this needs to be taken on an empty stomach and not combined when taking your other supplements since it can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients.
