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    How to Choose High-Quality Vitamins and Supplements

    There are a lot of different multivitamins available, and not all of them are created equally. Before choosing a multivitamin, you should do your research to ensure that the one you pick is the one that will benefit you the most. Ask yourself these four questions the next time you go shopping for a multivitamin.
     1. Does it offer a complete range of vitamins and vital minerals?
    Multivitamins are designed to help you reach the daily recommended intake of the several micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) that your body needs to function at its best.¹
    Studies have shown that the majority of us are unable to do this through diet alone, taking a multivitamin is a beneficial  supplement.¹
    Whether you need a daily pick-me-up or nutrient replenishment, taking a comprehensive multivitamin will go a long way toward helping you obtain sufficient levels of micronutrients in your diet.
    Remember, when shopping for a multivitamin, it’s crucial to find one that offers you, the things you need.
    A high-quality multivitamin offers a complete range of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, D, E, K,B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, and B12).²
    A multivitamin should also include a broad range of minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron, iodine, selenium, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and chromium.³
    Understanding the jumble of letters, figures, and micrograms relating to multivitamins can be exhausting. Fortunately, once you learn how to read labels, buying a multivitamin becomes simple. Supplement labels list ingredients in ascending order of predominance. Steer clear of multivitamins that contain a long list of additives.
     2. Is it stimulant-free?
    High-quality multivitamins should be free of stimulants.  Stimulants may cause health symptoms such as depression, diarrhoea, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating.⁴
    3. Does it have the appropriate daily values of ingredients?
    If you’ve chosen a multivitamin tablet with the required recommended daily allowance, you know you’ve made a great choice. Be sure to examine the ingredients in other supplements you are taking to prevent excessive intake of nutrients.⁵
    4. Does it offer a complete solution?
    In recent decades, the use of nutritional supplements has rapidly increased.6 One-third of adults and half of the population (⟩55 years of age) report taking at least one supplement per day.⁶
    Multivitamins come in a wide variety of formulations and forms. The key to getting all the benefits from your multivitamin is ensuring you’re buying a good quality one and taking it daily. 
    Whether you want to support your brain health, relieve stress and anxiety, or just rev up your energy, staminaand immunity, BIOPLUS® VIT-ALITY DAILY NUTRI-PACK⁷ offers a complete solution.

    Get All The Essentials You Need In One Daily Dose!  
    Not sure which supplements to take? Leading pharmaceutical company Adcock Ingram (Pty) Ltd have a daily vitamin and mineral supplement range, BIOPLUS® VIT-ALITY.

    Consider BIOPLUS® VIT-ALITY DAILY NUTRI-PACK⁷. Complete from a-z, BIOPLUS VIT-ALITY DAILY NUTRI-PACK is a health supplement in a conveniently packaged blister designed to provide you with a daily dose of antioxidants, omega 3, probiotics, vitamins and minerals.⁷
    The BIOPLUS® VIT-ALITY range is available at selected Dis-Chem and Clicks stores, as well as selected independent pharmacies nationwide. For more information, visit: https://www.adcock.co.za/ProdVitamins/Bioplus and join the conversation on Facebook.
    *In Partnership with Adcock Ingram (Pty) Ltd
    2022102810238696
    References:
    1. National Institutes of Health. Multivitamin/mineral Supplements. Available at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/MVMS-Consumer/. Last accessed September 2022.
    2. Liebman B. What should your multivitamin contain? Centre for Science in the Public Interest. Available at:https://www.cspinet.org/article/what-should-your-multivitamin-contain. Last accessed October 2022.
    3. Cleveland Clinic. 9 Vitamins and Minerals You Should Take Daily. Available at: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/which-vitamins-should-you-take/. Last accessed September 2022.
    4. Vo K, Neafsey PJ, Lin CA. Concurrent use of amphetamine stimulants and antidepressants by undergraduate students. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2015 Jan 22;9:161-72. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S74602. PMID: 25653508; PMCID: PMC4309786. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4309786/. Last accessed October 2022.
    5. Blumberg JB, Bailey RL, Sesso HD, Ulrich CM. The evolving role of multivitamin/multimineral supplement use among adults in the age of personalized nutrition. Nutrients. 2018 Feb 22;10(2):248. doi: 10.3390/nu10020248. PMID: 29470410; PMCID: PMC5852824. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29470410/. Last accessed October 2022.
    6. Hamishehkar H, Ranjdoost F, Asgharian P, Mahmoodpoor A, Sanaie S. Vitamins, are they safe? Adv Pharm Bull. 2016 Dec;6(4):467-477. doi: 10.15171/apb.2016.061.  Epub 2016 Dec 22. PMID: 28101454; PMCID: PMC5241405. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5241405/. Last access October 2022.
    7. Bioplus® Vit-Ality Daily Nutri-Pack capsules package insert. Adcock Ingram.  More

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    How Strong Are You, Really?

    Fact: your skeleton renews itself every seven to ten years, modelling and remodelling to increase bone mass, remove damaged bone and reshape itself. By upping your body’s supply of calcium, phosphorous and magnesium, you can create a top-notch structure that’ll support you through pregnancy, Ironmans and heavy grocery bag runs.
    Avoid Injury
    If you’re not taking in the right nutrients, you might find yourself struggling with decreasing bone density – a one-way street to osteoporosis and Injury Town. A little self-care now will go a long way towards helping stay strong, right down to the bone. 
     Meet The Heroes

    Ca: Calcium strengthens bones and teeth and gives them structure.
    Vitamin K2: regulates bone remodelling, assists with calcium absorption and prevents the accumulation of calcium in blood vessels.
    Vitamin D3: inhibits bone resorption, increases the effect of vitamin K and helps with the absorption and urinary loss of calcium.
    Get Them In
    While you can get K Vitamins in cheese, egg yolk and dark, leafy greens, our efficient bodies use them quite quickly and we run low when not taking them in regularly. Our calcium supply is often lacking, too. Menacal’s got all these in one simple supplement that maintains your body’s optimal levels, so you’re good to go in CrossFit class and beyond. 
    To invest in stronger bones, click HERE
    *In Partnership With MenaCal7 More

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    Will Collagen Supplements Really Make You Any Healthier?

    Collagen is one of the buzziest ingredients in the wellness world. By now you’ve probably heard that people have been injecting it, drinking it, and using it topically for its beauty perks (think: a Jennifer Aniston-esque complexion). But now the clean-eating crowd is raving that it’s the new “it” ingredient for soothing achy joints, improving gut health, and enhancing athletic performance, too.
    In an era of sip-able powders (matcha and activated charcoal, we’re looking at you), it’s no surprise that collagen supplements are now available in the form of taste-less powders. And if you can drink it, chances are health nuts have mixed a serving (two tablespoons) of collagen into it: collagen-packed lattes? Check. Collagen-chocked smoothies? You bet.
    But will ingesting collagen really make a difference in your health? We did some digging.
    READ MORE: Just How Worried Should You Be About Thyroid Disease?
    What Exactly Is Collagen, Anyway?
    Collagen is a structural protein found in the connective tissues in our bodies. That means it’s in our skin, hair, muscles, bones, and even blood vessels, explains registered dietitian Keri Gans. In fact, collagen makes up about 30 percent of the structural protein in the body, she says.
    Collagen is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of protein, such as glycine, proline, and lysine, which are needed to repair muscles, bone, and joints, and support healthy hair and skin, explains registered dietitian Mary Ellen Phipps, owner of Milk & Honey Nutrition. You can think of collagen as the “glue” that holds everything together, she adds.
    Our bodies naturally make collagen from the amino acids and vitamins and minerals (such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and copper) that we eat. (Plus, omnivores consume collagen from animal proteins such as dairy, eggs, and meat, says Phipps.)
    But the body’s collagen production naturally decreases as we age, so that by our mid-twenties, our bodies aren’t repairing themselves as fast as they once did, Phipps says. Yes, that early! Our collagen levels drop by about 1 percent per year, says Gans.
    The natural decline in collagen is no big deal. It’s natural, after all. But collagen makes up 75 percent of our skin, according to the Cleveland Clinic, so it’s no wonder that as our production of the protein decreases, we’re met with wrinkles, sag, and even cellulite. Some blame that decrease in collagen production for creaky joints, thinning cartilage, and slower muscle recovery, too.
    READ MORE: How Much Water You Should Be Drinking Daily, According To A Nutritionist
    That’s Where Collagen Supplements Come In
    Injectable and topical collagen have been around for a while, but they target just one area of the body (for example, the wrinkles on your forehead).
    The new trend of collagen supplements suggests that ingesting collagen can aid in overall tissue health by improving bone health, aiding in muscle repair, and supporting hair and skin strength. Product reviewers have reported improvements in mobility, joint health, less hair loss and even minimised period pain.
    According to experts, that’s not really how it works, though. There is no research that suggests that the collagen we eat automatically gets turned into collagen in our tissues, explains Gans.
    Here’s why: Collagen is a protein, and proteins are made up of amino acids. So, when we consume collagen, the enzymes in our gastrointestinal tract break collagen down into those amino acids, explains Gans. And while evidence published in Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin suggest that the chains of amino acids can make it to the bloodstream after ingesting collagen, that doesn’t mean that they end up where you want them to go, explains Phipps.
    You can’t “spot-train” the supplement to get distributed where you want, explains Phipps. Amino acids are distributed throughout the body based on the areas that need them the most—like your heart and brain, says Phipps. (Worth noting: there are no studies that currently suggest you will notice changes in your heart or brain by sipping a collagen smoothie.)
    READ MORE: ​10 Signs You May Have a Magnesium Deficiency
    The Truth About Collagen Supplements
    “The studies done on oral ingestion of collagen are limited,” says Gans.
    A Taiwanese study showed that fish collagen did well in improving cell functionality and reducing the damaging effects of UV on the skin.
    In one German study of women, researchers noted a decrease in skin roughness and an increase in skin hydration, elasticity and density. When it comes to treating joint issues like arthritis, studies are less definitive, but show some pain improvements.
    Dr Jacobs is hesitant that we lay claim to collagen supps as the Holy Grail of anti-ageing. “It’s important to emphasise that although the preliminary results seem promising, the current research is limited and we need more robust studies to make it a recommendation for the general population,” she says.
    Lastly, if you’re hoping collagen can help you with your GI issues, don’t get your hopes up. There aren’t any studies on collagen’s effects on gut health yet.
    READ MORE: 7 Serious Health Problems Caused By A Lack Of Vitamin D
    Should You Invest?
    If you’ve checked out the products, you’ve probably discovered that drinkable collagen doesn’t come cheap.
    Given the price, you’re be better off focusing on eating a healthy, balanced diet that’s naturally rich in collagen, says Gans. So go ahead grill up some salmon, chicken, or steak, all of which contain the high amounts of the amino acids your body needs to make collagen, she says.
    Also, because smoking, alcohol, and sunburn can affect your body’s natural collagen production, Phipps recommends quitting cigs, cutting back on booze, and lathering on the SPF. Bonus: all are cheaper than collagen powder.
    But, if you’re bound and determine to try collagen supplements, just keep in mind that, like all supplements, collagen is not closely regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. And some collagen products have been recalled because of false claims, according to a 2017 statement released by the FDA. For that reason, Phipps recommends going through dietitian or health care professional to find a higher quality supplement that is known to be more pure. You can also check the label of your powder to ensure it has been tested by a third party such as NSF International.
    This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com

    READ MORE ON: Health Health Advice Supplements More

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    Should You Start Taking Magnesium For Sleep?

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    The Major Biotin Side Effect You Should Know About

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