Guide To The Best Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements aren’t just a diet trend. Supplements & Vitamins can often help make up a balanced diet and supply our bodies with vital nutrients that can support our everyday bodily functioning. 

Whether you’re new to the dietary supplementing game, or you’ve used them for a while and are looking for an additional boost, we’ve put together our guide to the best supplements. But firstly, what are supplements? 

What Are Supplements?

Dietary supplements and vitamins are products that can add nutrients to your diet, that usually come in the form of pills, capsules, gel capsules, powders or liquids.

Supplements can contain a variety of ingredients including major vitamins & minerals, herbs, amino acids & many more nutrients and ingredients. 

Why Are Supplements Important

Often we focus on what we’re having too much of in our diet, as opposed to what we’re not getting enough of. With more awareness of food intolerances, allergies and more people choosing a vegan way of living, it is incredibly important to ensure that whatever diet we choose to follow, we are getting enough of the right nutrients.

It is commonly studied and proven that due to the modern-day lifestyle and poor diets, most people are lacking in much-needed vitamins and minerals. At certain points in our life because of illness, and depending on our lifestyle, we also may need to use supplements.

Not every supplement is necessary for every single person and combining too many supplements (making a supplement cocktail) can be really harmful and dangerous, so be sure not to overdo it. If you think you lack more than one nutrient, a multivitamin might be the best option for you. 

Most people don’t need to take a supplement forever, it might just be for a period of time, or as you get older as your body has less access to vital nutrients. Some people however incorporate supplements into their everyday diet to ensure their bodies are at optimum health.

What Do Supplements Do?

Not only are dietary supplements important for a balanced and healthy diet, but they all also have a range of benefits, depending on which supplement you choose. A lot of people also use certain supplements to aid weight loss and to support your body as you age as vitamins & minerals have many health and beauty benefits.

It is important to note now that supplements are not meal replacements or a substitute for a balanced diet and lifestyle. If you think you might be lacking in a certain nutrient, based on your symptoms or a doctor's diagnosis, vitamin or dietary supplement can help support you by adding an additional dose to your body. 

Certain vitamins and supplements are great for overall health, and others have specific benefits. To help you know where to begin, we’ve put together the most popular and best vitamin & mineral supplements and their benefits, as well as what products we recommend.

What Are The Best Supplements & Vitamins?

Now supplements aren’t always a one-size-fits-all. Depending on your needs, there may be a specific vitamin or mineral supplement you’re in need of. If you’re not sure what popular supplements do, here is a brief overview of some of the best vitamins and supplements:

  1. Iron Supplements

Iron is incredibly important in our bodies to aid the production of red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body, helping your vitals function. A lack of iron can have a huge effect on your energy. 

With a balanced diet, you should be able to get all the iron you need as it is found in a large number of foods including red meat, chicken, fish, eggs, leafy greens and beans to name a few. It is quite common, however, for people to not get enough iron due to their diet or other health conditions.

The best supplements for iron which can also help you combat fatigue and tiredness include Floradix Iron & Vitamin Tablets and Solgar Gentle Iron Tablets.

 

2. Vitamin D Supplements

Vitamin D is one of those all-around vitamins that support our whole body. Vitamin D regulates the amount of calcium and phosphate in our bodies, which work to keep our bones, teeth, muscles and our immune system in top condition. In Summer, we can get Vitamin D from the sun, but in winter and Autumn, most people do not get enough. That’s why it is super important to take Vitamin D supplements in the winter, and year-round. 

Some of our top Vitamin D supplements include: Solgar Vitamin D3 Chewable Tablets and Viridian Liquid Vitamin D3 Drops 

 

3. Magnesium Supplements

Magnesium is another very popular supplement in small doses! Magnesium plays an important role in maintaining a healthy heart and can also help with anti-fatigue, muscle soreness and muscle performance. Magnesium can be found both in soluble form and in sprays and liquids that can be applied to the body for a number of benefits.

BetterYou Magnesium Oil Joint Spray can help alleviate muscle and joint soreness, stiffness and flexibility, as the magnesium spray works to replenish the body. REN Atlantic Kelp And Magnesium Anti Fatigue Body Wash does what it says on the tin, which is to awaken and refresh your body of all sluggishness. Floradix Magnesium Liquid Formula is an oral liquid that can help maintain normal body and muscle functioning.

 

4. Calcium Supplements

Calcium really is a vital part of any diet. Calcium helps you build strong, healthy bones and teeth as well as helping your muscles contract to regulate normal heart beats and to help your nerves carry their very important messages around your body. Low calcium is to be avoided to ensure you keep your body functioning well. 

Calcium supplements are often mixed with other vitamins and minerals for an all-round great boost. We particularly recommend the Viridian Calcium and Vitamin D and the Solgar Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D3.


5. Protein 

It would be hard to write a blog on the best dietary supplements without mentioning everyone's favourite at the moment, protein. With more protein supplements available on the market than ever before and if you’re not familiar with the health & fitness world, you might wonder what all the hype is about? 

Protein supports the growth and maintenance of every cell in our body, so it is important, whether you go to the gym or not. Protein is found in a lot of foods, but if you’re not getting enough in your diet, or you want to add extra protein for muscle growth, you’re in luck as there are a lot of great products on the market available in the form of powder, bars, snacks and drinks.

The Royal Green Organic Whey Protein has got you covered for all your protein supplement needs, simply pop it in a shake, or your chosen food and enjoy!

 

So what are the best supplements?

Well, there is no magical one supplement that fixes all our needs. Multivitamins do a pretty good job at topping us up with extra vital nutrients and there are plenty more supplements than the 5 listed above. However, having a balanced diet and making sure you’re getting enough sleep and making sure you get enough Calcium, Vitamin D3 and Protein can all work to help you keep fit and healthy. 

 

Explore the full range of vitamins and supplements at Total Body Care to cover all your health and beauty needs.