American Fitness Professionals & Associates

By Laura O’ReillyWhat: Improving our health and energy with herbal and vitamin supplements.

Why: When taken properly herbal and vitamin supplements improve energy and vitality. They provide us with vitamins and minerals that our bodies lose during exercise and the course of a stressful day.

Whom they are for: Most people can get adequate nutrition from a healthy diet. However, we don’t always eat what we should. The typical American diet consists of a lot of processed foods, which are depleted of food enzymes and vital nutrients that are essential for good health.

Ancient remedy: Green tea is one natural remedy that is said to have many health benefits, including boosting the immune system. Green tea contains powerful antioxidants that help protect the body from free radicals that can cause damage to our cells. Some people take green tea supplements for this purpose as well as its other health benefits.

Men at work: Men tend to push themselves hard- whether at work or during sports. A busy schedule, stress and poor eating contribute to a lack of energy and poor performance. Many of us use our busy schedules as an excuse for not exercising or getting the nutrients we need. Adequate nutrition fortifies our bodies on a cellular level to help us be more vital, healthy and energetic. Lack of energy may indicate that you need vitamin supplements in your diet.

Get exercise: Exercising on a regular basis improves our energy. It improves our respiratory and circulatory systems and helps to eliminate toxins from the body. It builds lean muscle mass and strong bones. Adequate nutrition and vitamin consumption is imperative to good sports performance.

Be aware: Many supplements claim to improve muscle mass and help with weight loss. Most people trust the information on the label to be correct and have no way of checking its validity. Have doubts about a product? Don’t take it. Ask a pharmacist, a physician or a registered dietician for information. Some studies have shown that many products do not have the ingredients that are listed on the label, or contain substances that are not listed on the label. In some cases, taking excessive amounts of supplements can be harmful.  Many products promise quick results. Don’t put anything in your body without knowing what its benefits and possibly harmful side effects are. The most natural way to nourish your body is with vitamins and enzymes found in foods.

See your doctor: We all have different needs. While some of us have deficiencies, others store excessive amounts of certain minerals in the body. See a physician regularly for a thorough exam and routine blood work.