Everyone needs vitamins to live. Unfortunately, most folks suffer from at least one form of vitamin deficiency. From chronic fatigue to mood swings to constantly feeling sick, vitamin deficiency causes various undesirable symptoms. In order to prevent these and other unwelcome results of vitamin deficiency from occurring, individuals must take steps to ensure they reach their recommended vitamin intake.
Fortunately, there are several different ways to hit your recommended vitamin levels. From classic options to relatively novel concepts, the following are five of the best ways to prevent vitamin deficiency:
Take a daily multivitamin
While many health experts voice skepticism over the efficacy of multivitamins, others insist they’re better than nothing. Most individuals who start taking a daily multivitamin report feeling better within a matter of weeks, many vitamins for your immune system are those you should be taking everyday like C and D. Whether these physical and emotional improvements are the result of the placebo effect, no one knows for sure, but getting your daily dose of vitamins can’t hurt. If that means taking a daily multivitamin, then so be it!
Try “multibitamins”
Critics of multivitamins often say we should be getting our daily nutrients from foods, not supplements. They aren’t wrong, but hitting that benchmark on a recurring basis is difficult for most people, especially those with dietary restrictions or difficulty eating at scheduled times throughout the day. One compromise to consider is what’s called a multibitamin: vitamin-rich morsels containing whole-food ingredients. Taking targeted monthly vitamins has never been easier or more flavorful. Simply pop in your mouth, chew, and swallow!
Eat some vitamin-enhanced gummies
Gummy vitamins are all the rage these days. After all, it’s basically like eating candy! But the downside is most vitamin gummy brands load their products with sugar and other sweeteners. Those interested in giving gummies a shot should take the time to find a brand with minimal refined sugars. Also, gummies are typically separated into individual vitamins, meaning more of them will need to be taken if your goal is to hit multiple intake levels. However, given their availability and popularity, taking vitamin-enhanced gummies remains one of the best options for those experiencing one or more nutritional deficiencies.
Drink vitamin-enhanced water
Whether premixed bottles or homemade concoctions using powders, vitamin-enhanced drinking water is a common way for individuals to reach their recommended daily intake. However, like gummies, many brands of vitamin-enhanced water include unhealthy amounts of refined sugar in their list of ingredients. Getting caught up on Vitamin C doesn’t do much good if you consumed your daily sugar allowance in the process! Low sugar vitamin drinks are convenient for post-workout recovery, given the need for hydration after exercise.
Eat a healthy diet
It shouldn’t surprise anyone to learn the best way to stay on top of our recommended vitamin intake is to eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean sources of protein. While those with food sensitivities and other conditions make it hard to consume the correct ratio of foods for proper nutrition, everyone else ought to be doing everything possible to get our vitamins the old-fashioned way. That’s because there’s no beating Mother Nature; our bodies have evolved over millions of years to extract essential vitamins from the foods we eat. While supplemental alternatives are better than nothing, they don’t match the efficiency and efficacy of the human body’s own systems.
Vitamins are an essential part of human survival. For thousands of years, we got them naturally from the foods we ate. These days, due to the abundance of processed foods with minimal nutrition and the rapid pace of life keeping us from sitting down to enjoy meals, alternative sources are needed. Luckily, there’s no shortage!
