It’s 2018, and we’re not here for a “new year, new me” list of resolutions we end up quitting before February. We’re here for a better version of ourselves where we actually reach the goals we set and end the day happy with ourselves and with our lives. When faced with a new beginning, like 2018, life can feel daunting, but there are simple steps to accomplishing your dreams.
Maybe this year is your year to get healthy. You want to look fit and feel good. Well, the good news is that you can easily improve your health by taking vitamins. Vitamins boost your immune system and work on a cellular level to support your body’s health, development and normal functions. So, which ones do college students need?
1. Multivitamin
A multivitamin is a single pill with a myriad of vitamins and minerals that fills the gaps in your diet. Sound too good to be true? Well, multivitamins are tangible and easily available at your nearest health food store. As collegiettes, we’re strapped for cash and time, and it’s sometimes easier to take a supplement to ensure that you’re still getting all your nutrients. Some multivitamins are age-specific and others have extra vitamins to concentrate on an area, like a green superfood multivitamin. With the proper nutrients your overall health will improve as well as your mood and ability to build muscle and lose weight. Long-term effects include protection against cancer and lower risk of cataracts.
2. Vitamin D
This specific vitamin is a nutrient you need not only for your general health but also for maintaining strong bones and absorb calcium. You can find Vitamin D in the form of a multivitamin and in a separate pill. There have been reports of excessive Vitamin D testing, but the results have shown that there’s an increasingly large-scale Vitamin D deficiency among adults in the U.S. Taking it as an individual pill or supplement can prevent you from having a vitamin deficiency. However, it’s important to make sure you’re not taking too much, because too much of any vitamin or mineral can be toxic for you.
3. Omega-3s
This essential fatty acid is an example of nutrients our bodies need but don’t produce themselves, so you can only get them through food and supplements. Naturally, they’re found in seafood like algae and fish, as well as nuts and oil. But, you can also buy it in pill form. Omega-3s help to reduce inflammation and may help to lower certain chronic diseases. Because fatty acids are mainly concentrated in the brain, it’s important for brain functions and behaviors.
4. Black Seed Oil
Black cumin seed oil is an age-old natural remedy that has been forgotten in recent years. It is so powerful it’s known to combat super-viruses and other bugs. It’s a strong anti-inflammatory so it elements inflammation. Black seed oil is known to diminish mucus throughout your system to promote health from a cellular mucus level to superficial congestion. Some other common problems this remedy resolves are asthma, eczema and psoriasis. It also contains antioxidants, beneficial acids and other vitamins to promote a healthy immune system.
5. Maca Root
Often referred to as Peruvian ginseng, maca root is a vegetable that’s edible but is mainly ground up and taken as a powder. You can find it in various colors and forms, but its main use is to regulate hormones and related issues in men and women. Maca root can increase libido in both men and women. For men, it can increase fertility and reduce the prostate. In women, it can help regulate periods and ease menopause. Plus, for everyone it elevates mood and energy. So, if you start taking maca root vitamins or supplements now then you’ll be healthy every stage of your life in relation to sex and hormones.
6. Zinc
It’s the one man show of the vitamin world. Zinc improves overall immune health, but it also protects proteins, sheilds DNA/genetic material, prevents impotence and thwarts hair loss, diarrhea, eye and skin sores and loss of appetite. There are even more specific issues zinc is linked to, and if you have noticed any of these issues then you may have a zinc deficiency. Fortuitously, zinc vitamins and supplements are easily accessible and you can find it in some foods.
7. Melatonin
In case you didn’t already know, melatonin is a hormone produced by the brain by that performs several jobs throughout the body. But, it’s most known for its role as controller of circadian rhythms associated with sleep. Having problem sleeping? Is your sleep-wake system out of balance? Take some melatonin and adjust your inner clock and reset your sleep cycle. It’s a common problem as a college student to stay up all night studying and/or waking up for an 8 a.m. and not getting enough hours. Do yourself a favor this year and get enough rest at the proper times, even if that means you have to pop a melatonin.
Make strides to improve and maintain a healthy body — inside and out — with simple solutions. Vitamins can easily improve your health from a microscopic to a macroscopic level you may have never thought of before. What are some vitamins and supplements you’d recommend? Let us know on social!