Should You Take Multi Vitamins?

The question is often asked whether multivitamins should be taken each day.
There are people who believe that we will get all the nutrition we require from the foods that we eat but this is no longer the case.
Many of the foods we eat are processed and have all sorts of additives that can be detrimental to our health.

Even fresh foods don’t have the same minerals that they once had.
In some growing areas most of the minerals that were once in the soil have long since been depleted and the food that is grown in that soil doesn’t have the same values as we have come to expect.

Additional stresses are placed on our health with pollution, work stress and so on, all making demands on our body and the nutrients that we need.

Even fitness training, while good for our health, places additional demands on the body and this is best addressed with supplementation.

A good multivitamin taken once or twice a day can help to balance out any deficiencies that we might have.
This will help us to train better and to stay fitter and healthier and not become as susceptible to illness.

Most of the best multivitamin supplements include a balanced proportion of vitamins and nutrients that meet the recommended daily dosage for an average person.
If you are doing intensive fitness training then your requirements might be higher than normal and that might necessitate additional supplementation.

Once of the most effective methods of testing your needs for vitamins and minerals is through hair sample testing.
Hair sample tests can give you an accurate graph of your levels of vitamins and minerals and based on this information you can supplement your diet to bring back a balance in your nutrition.

Sometimes deficits in these areas can take months to address and without accurate testing the process will take longer.
Everything from smoking to alcohol will deplete the body of essential vitamins and minerals.
Supplements will help to counter these effects.

The Importance of Water

With over 75% of our body made up of water there is no denying the need to remain hydrated at all times.

If you are following a fitness program you will need to consume more water.

We are constantly losing water throughout the day and even at night while we sleep.
To remain hydrated we need to replace this water by drinking sufficient quantities so we never get thirsty.

With exercise we perspire more than normal and thereby lose more water, so anytime we exercise we need to drink more water than we would normally drink.

If you feel thirsty then you are already getting dehydrated and your body is telling you to do something about it.

The problem with many people is their misunderstanding with what is suitable to drink.
There are so many flavored drinks available that people resort to these in preference to drinking water alone.
Water doesn’t have all the added sugars, preservatives and colorings that are detrimental to your health.

By remaining hydrated you will have more energy and this will allow you to perform better at the gym or your chosen exercise program.
It will also allow you to recover faster after a workout and reduce the chance of injury.

It is better to sip water constantly throughout the day, rather than try to meet your minimum requirements by drinking a lot all at one time.

Most people live on a daily basis with less water than they should be having and that is why many people feel lethargic.

If you are living in a hot climate you will need to consume more to compensate for the additional loss due to perspiration.

If you are consuming alcohol or caffeine you will need additional water to compensate for the diuretic effect that these have on the body.

Have a glass of water before you go to bed at night and you should find you have increased energy when you wake up in the morning.

Also - You should have access to water when you are exercising and sip regularly from it.
This will help you to have a better workout and have more energy throughout your session.