By Scott A. Aruti
How can using vitamins and supplements help you in 2020? Is there anything more common than claiming that we want to get healthier or lose weight as a new year’s resolution? There’s a reason why home shopping networks and other retail outlets tend to push their treadmills, elliptical machines, dumbbells and other exercise equipment at the start of a year. And it’s not a coincidence.
But instead of using marketing and advertising tactics like these to target consumers struggling with health goals, we are here to help. Whether it’s stress relief/relaxation, fitness, productivity or just feeling good overall, you can address these goals and conquer them.
Supplements for Fitness and Exercise
If you’re serious about changing your physique, you know that you need to train and eat in the right manner to build new lean muscle mass, all while burning unwanted fat. But training hard can deplete the body of vitamins, nutrients and other compounds that are essential for losing fat and building up muscle.
Even if you’re eating the best diet possible, it can still be challenging to absorb all these vital elements…that’s where supplements come in. To reach your fitness and exercise goals, consider these supplements:
- Whey protein
- Green tea extract
- Glutamine
- Beta alanine
Whey protein – may successfully help improve muscle protein synthesis and promote lean muscle growth. Whey protein is also considered a complete protein because it contains all nine essential amino acids (x).
Green tea – contains caffeine and plant compounds called catechins. Studies are somewhat inconclusive, but research suggests that green tea extract may increase metabolism (x, x).
Glutamine – a vital amino acid the body uses in the biosynthesis of proteins. Some research suggests that, compared to a placebo, glutamine may significantly reduce muscle soreness and improve strength recovery (x).
Beta alanine – a non-essential amino acid that produces carnosine, a compound stored in the skeletal muscles that participates in muscle endurance during high-intensity exercise. Carnosine then reduces lactic acid accumulation in the muscles during exercise. Beta alanine supplements may assist with athletic performance by reducing fatigue (x, x, x).
Supplements for Stress Relief
Since two-thirds of Americans believe stress has a significant impact on their physical and mental health (x), this has become a target for products that claim to reduce stress in everyday life. While they aren’t for everyone, therapeutic doses of the right supplements may, in some cases, be reasonable stress-targeting additions to a healthy lifestyle and diet. These natural substances may help:
- Melatonin
- GABA
- Glycine
- Ashwagandha
Melatonin – a natural hormone produced by the brain’s pineal gland that helps control and regulate the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Research suggests that sleep and mood are closely related and that taking melatonin supplements may help alleviate stress by promoting healthy sleep patterns (x).
GABA – an amino acid that works as a neurotransmitter in the brain to send chemical messages between neurons. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter because it blocks signals and reduces activity in the central nervous system. According to research, it naturally provides a protective and relaxing effect on the brain and body, which may aid in stress relief.
Glycine – an amino acid with a single hydrogen atom as its side chain. According to studies, supplementing with glycine may help reduce body temperature, which the body does naturally during sleep. For this reason, researchers suggest that glycine could possibly help induce sleep, which can have a positive effect on mental health and mood (x).
Ashwagandha – an adaptogenic herb used in the traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine. Commonly called “Indian Winter cherry” or “Indian Ginseng,” studies suggest that ashwagandha may help promote a youthful state of physical and mental health by helping regulate cortisol, the stress hormone (x).
Vitamins & Supplements for Health & Immunity
We all know that eating right is a critical step to ward off illness, but in this section we’re going to take a closer look at some vitamin supplements that may aid in overall health and immunity. The old saying, “An apple a day can keep the doctor away” may harbor some truth to it, after all.
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin E
- Zinc
Vitamin C – also called ascorbic acid and boasts antioxidant properties to reduce oxidative stress and support the immune system (x). It’s found in common foods such as oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, kale and broccoli.
Vitamin A – a fat-soluble vitamin naturally present in food that plays an important role in vision, immune system health, reproduction and inflammation. Vitamin A also naturally benefits the heart, kidney and lung function (x, x).
Vitamin E – a powerful antioxidant that helps repair damaged cells and researchers study the relationship between it and the aging process (x). Some research also suggests that vitamin E may potentially improve decreased cellular immunity during aging.
Zinc – responsible for immune cell function and development. Studies suggest that zinc may also have antioxidant properties to reduce free radical damage and inflammation (x).
Supplements for Focus & Productivity
In this section, we are going to take a look at a few key supplements for energy that may help pivot your brain back to focus mode while boosting that energy—perfect for achieving your 2020 productivity goals.
- Creatine
- Fish oil
- Ginkgo biloba
- Resveratrol
Creatine – a substance found naturally in muscle cells that helps your muscles produce energy and recycle adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is essentially the cells’ energy current primarily in muscle and brain tissue. Creatine supplements may mimic this process to help boost energy (x).
Fish oil – contains omega-3 fatty acids that act as precursors of certain eicosanoids and may reduce inflammation in the body: EHA and DHA, responsible for brain growth and function. Fish oil supplements may also help improve cognitive function and focus.
Ginkgo biloba – a tree native to China and the only remaining member of an ancient order of plants (x). Studies suggest ginkgo biloba may have therapeutic properties linked to memory and cognitive function, specifically in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia (x, x).
Resveratrol – a type of natural phenol that plants produce in response to injury or pathogens. Evidence from randomized clinical trials suggests that resveratrol may be able to improve cerebral blood flow and improve cognitive performance (x).
Supplements for Mood
Balancing your mood is an important task in order to reach your goals, no matter what they may be—fitness, weight loss, productivity, etc. If you’re motivated and ready to take on the new year, why not make sure your mind is ready too? These substances have natural mood-enhancing properties and their supplemental forms may produce similar effects.
- Caffeine
- Magnesium
- Ginseng
- Vitamin D
Caffeine – a natural substance we are all familiar with to boost energy and wake us up in the morning. Not only is caffeine a brain stimulant, but it also blocks receptors for adenosine, which normally interferes with excitatory brain chemicals. With adenosine out of the way, so to speak, these brain-sparking chemicals can flow more freely, ultimately giving you a surge of energy (x).
Magnesium – an important mineral for bone structure in the body. Research on magnesium deficiency focuses on disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The hypothalamus is our emotional response system and magnesium can suppress the hippocampus’ ability to release stress hormones (x).
Ginseng – a root from plants in the genus Panax, such as Korean ginseng, South China ginseng and American ginseng. Research labels ginseng as an adaptogenic herb and claims that it may be able to boost energy, promote relaxation and regulate hormonal changes in response to stress (x, x).
Vitamin D – part of a group of fat-soluble secosteroids with receptors in the hypothalamus, which controls emotions. Studies associate low levels of vitamin D with conditions like depression and seasonal affective disorder (x).
Where to Buy Vitamins and Supplements for Your 2020 Goals
You can purchase vitamins and supplements in powder and capsule form at BulkSupplements.com. The company is an industry-leading manufacturer and distributor for pure dietary supplements. BulkSupplements.com is not just a consumer brand. It also supplies pure ingredients to other brands that distribute other food and supplement products. All products at BulkSupplements.com are manufactured and tested according to current and proper manufacturing practices.
Are you interested in trying vitamins and supplements to help you reach your goals for the new year? Contact BulkSupplements.com to place an order.
Although they may be beneficial, there is no scientific evidence that completely ensures their effects. They may also cause side effects. Make sure to consult a doctor, dietician or nutritionist before you start a supplement regimen or adding any new supplements to an existing one.
Bottom Line
2020 is a new year and a new decade, the perfect time for a fresh start, a brand new set of goals for a brand new you. Whether it’s fitness, mental health or productivity, all of your goals are achievable with a little support. All you may need is a little help from some natural products to mirror what the body does on its own. That’s where supplements may come in.
**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
