In the winter you often catch a cold and a wave of flu regularly floods our country. Influenza cases usually start around October and the virus continues to circulate until April when the winter days really come to an end. Whether the flu virus spreads depends on the temperature. In dry and cold periods, the flu virus spreads more easily. For most people, this is a reason to reach for multivitamins in the winter. This will not prevent you from getting sick and if you do get the flu, unfortunately supplements will not help you recover faster.
Do all those supplements make no sense at all? Certainly. Taking multivitamins is recommended for certain groups and for everyone, a healthy and varied diet helps to improve your resistance.
What Are Multivitamins?
Multivitamins are supplements that contain various vitamins and minerals. It depends on the brand and type of multivitamin which ingredients it contains. Supplements are an addition to your daily diet and should not replace your diet. They help you feel healthy and fit. The label tells you how many pills or capsules you should take each day and when it is best to take it. The optimal dosage often depends on your gender and age.
This supplement usually contains all 13 vitamins: vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8, B11, B12, C, D, E and K. This is usually supplemented with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron. Each vitamin and mineral has its own function. Some multivitamins contain extra additives such as amino acids in the form of L-carnitine. L-carnitine is an amino acid that contributes to fat burning in your body and plays a role in energy development. It also protects your heart and blood vessels.
When is it wise to take extra vitamins?
There are several supplements that are a good addition to your diet. Choose a supplement that meets your needs. For women there are special multivitamin supplements that support the growth of hair, nails and skin. If you are in transition, you can sometimes use an extra helping hand. These vitamins often provide extra support for your bladder.
These vitamins also contain vitamin D for women aged 50+. This vitamin is important for more target groups. Vitamin D is produced by your skin under the influence of the sun. In winter, sunlight is limited and women in particular benefit from extra vitamin D to combat osteoporosis. Taking a supplement with extra vitamin D is also important in other seasons if your skin is largely covered. Children up to the age of 4, pregnant women, the elderly and people with tinted skin are advised to take extra vitamin D.
It is sometimes difficult to get your children to take a pill. There are chewable vitamins in different tasty flavors that make it a little easier for your children. These multivitamins especially for children contain even more vitamins and minerals that meet the needs of your child. For men, there are tablets that contain herbs to support the functioning of the prostate.
Supplements for vegetarians and vegans
If you have a vegetarian or vegan diet, you often need extra vitamin B12. This vitamin is mainly found in animal products and therefore it is difficult to get enough of this vitamin. Especially if you do not eat or drink milk or dairy products, you run the risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Do you want to make sure that the supplement contains herbal ingredients? Look on the package to check the ingredients. It is also often indicated that the product is especially suitable for vegetarians and vegans.