Hello everyone, I'm Ilona, and I am delighted to contribute as a guest writer for Live Well. I run Yoga Stuff in Salisbury and am a qualified yoga teacher, sound healer and nutritional therapist. I love to chat about nutrition and encourage people to try something new to help enhance their wellbeing. In today's post, we look at ways to boost our health and immune system with supplements.
As we head towards Summer and look at decluttering, cleaning and freshening our spaces, perhaps we could also consider doing the same for ourselves.
Winter is a time for slowing down, restoring and resting. Now, as the leaves and blossom appear, we can look at the world of micro-nutrition to give us a boost so that we can flourish too.
There are easy ways to support ourselves and ensure a good balance of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to help the body and mind work at their best.
People often ask me why we need to take supplements - should we not get what we need from our food? In a perfect world, yes. However, intensive farming and the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides have diminished the soil's capacity to provide these vital nutrients. Today, we get around 50% less nutrients from our food than our grandparents and great-grandparents.
It's not all doom and gloom, though!
We can make a huge difference to our health and vitality by making small changes.
I like to call the following group the Feelgood Trio. They are at the core of what I recommend to give your body and mind a boost:
Magnesium - The Ultimate Chill Pill
If you only go for one supplement, make it this one.
Magnesium is vital to our health - it regulates blood sugar levels, helps maintain a healthy heartbeat and normal muscle and nerve function, supports the immune system, improves sleep and is vital in hundreds more functions within the body. It also prevents stress hormones from entering your brain, a natural mood enhancer.
As a rule, humans are chronically deficient in this vital mineral - the RDA for an average adult is 320mg - 400mg daily, but studies show we're only getting around 250mg.
B Vitamin Complex - The Depression Buster
This vitamin group is super important for brain function and treating low mood/depression.
Classic symptoms of deficiency include fatigue/lethargy, anxiety and depression. A high-quality B Vitamin complex supplement can improve brain function, mood and mental sharpness. Folic acid (B9) is well known as a pregnancy supplement, but all of the Bs are amazing at helping you feel your best.
Vitamin D3 - Sunshine in a Bottle
You'll probably know this essential vitamin but may not realise its importance.
As a quick overview, D3 manages how well the body absorbs calcium and magnesium and plays an essential role in the immune system and releasing neurotransmitters, such as serotonin - the happy hormone. We can synthesise vitamin D in the body, but only by taking in the sunshine - and we tend to slap on sunscreen as soon as the sun appears.
We can also eat it, but as a society, we have moved away from high-level vitamin D foods such as organ meats, eggs and full-fat dairy. Vitamin D deficiency is also closely linked to obesity - one to read up on!
All info above is just a snapshot into the roles of these supplements, and there are many more - including probiotics and Omega-3, so I encourage you to do some research and see how much difference making a small change can make to the health of the body and mind.
I am fascinated by nutrition and how easy it is to make positive changes; I hope to encourage that sense of curiosity in your health too.
Ilona Coryndon Burns
Yoga Instructor
If you are local to Salisbury, Yoga Stuff is excited to announce the opening of our new studio, where you can attend various wellbeing classes.
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Further Reading:
Mad Diet - Suzanne Lockhart
Heal Your Gut - Lee Holmes
The Food Mood Connection - Uma Naidoo