Supplements

Before delving into supplements, it’s crucial to understand the importance of a balanced, nutritious diet. A well-rounded diet provides the essential nutrients your body needs for optimal health and energy.

However, in today’s fast paced world maintaining a balanced diet can be challenging. Busy schedules, the prevalence of processed foods, lack of nutritional knowledge and many other factors are making it harder to get all the nutrients our bodies need from diet alone and this is where nutritional supplements become beneficial.  

Supplements can help to fill nutritional gaps in your diet, but they should not replace whole foods. My top 5 key supplements I recommend to clients are as follows: 

1)    Vitamin D - crucial for bone health, immune function and mood regulation. This is especially important for individuals with limited sun exposure and please take note that in the UK, the sun is only strong enough to meet our Vitamin D needs from April to September. Food sources alone rarely give you enough.

2)    Magnesium - supports muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control and bone health. Beneficial for individuals with muscle cramps, poor sleep quality or high stress levels.

3)    Multivitamin - provides a broad spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals, supporting overall health and compensating for dietary deficiencies. Ideal for individuals with restricted diets, such as vegetarians, vegans etc or those with food allergies.

4)    Omega-3 - support heart health, reduce inflammation and promote brain function. Beneficial for those who don’t consume enough oily fish like salmon and mackerel, recommended intake is 2 portions a week, or have diets low in omega-3.

5)    Iron (if you are deficient) - vital for the production of haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood. Essential for individuals with anaemia, heavy menstrual periods or those following a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Supplements can be a valuable addition to your health plan. They should be used to complement a balanced, nutrient rich diet. By combining smart dietary choices with appropriate supplementation, you can achieve optimal health and well-being.

Remember everyone’s needs differ and these are only recommendations so I would advise a personalised approach that addresses your individual needs when you create your supplement routine.