Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that the body needs for optimal health. They are responsible for brain development and can protect the body from a myriad of diseases and health problems. The list of beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids is long and one of our favourite sites, Green Med Info has collected 61 important reasons for ensuring your body is getting enough of them: from reducing your risk for heart disease to possibly delaying cognitive declines. Two crucial Omega-3 fatty acids are DHA and EPA, and these are primarily found in fish. Another kind, ALA is found in flax seed. You can supplement with fish oil or flax seed oil.
Multi-Vitamin
Sometimes a multi-vitamin can just give you that extra assurance that you are meeting your body’s need for the many vitamins and minerals necessary to daily functioning, from detoxifying the body to building and repairing muscles. Not all vitamins are created equally – look for a high quality brand sold in health food stores, and reach for a capsule rather than a hard tablet form (as this is more absorbable by the body).
Vitamin D Supplement
Vitamin D is known as the sunshine vitamin and let’s face it, sometimes we just don’t get enough sunshine in this country. Morning light is the most beneficial time to expose your body to sunlight, but where this is not possible (and where you need to be concerned with exposure to harmful sun rays) supplementation with Vitamin D is a good idea. This is especially important for children, who need Vitamin D for healthy growth. Vitamin D keeps bones and teeth strong, and is also responsible for fighting infection.
Probiotic Supplement
You want to populate your gut with beneficial bacteria that helps to strengthen your immune system. Fermented foods such as yogurt contain these good guy bacteria but sometimes you just can’t eat enough to fortify the body. Taking a probiotic supplement, in particular after a course of antibiotics which destroys even good bacteria, can really help improve your digestive system and keep your body strong from invading bacteria that can lead to colds, flu or worse. Probiotics should be stored in a fridge, so look for some in your health food store’s cold storage.
When you can’t quite get what you need from food, or your body needs that extra boost, supplementation really helps to keep you strong. What other supplements do you turn to for optimal health?