Part 14 - The ABCs of Vitamins
Despite all the hours that people spend at health clubs and fitness classes, ironically it’s the time we spend outside of the gym that accounts for up to 80% of our fitness success. This success will be a result of our ability to consume the right food at the right time and get the proper rest and relaxation, when we are outside the “gym” environment.
This month’s article will focus on getting the proper vitamins and minerals into our diet and will provide you with more information about including supplements like multi-vitamins and multi-minerals, in your fitness regime.
The sad truth about our food is that it’s not as good as it used to be. As I mentioned in Organic Food, what we consume often travels great distances. When it arrives it’s in a state which lacks the original level of nutrients, which we would normally expect. Worse still, the reliance of modern agriculture on chemical fertilisers and pesticides may mean that food is in fact harming our health by building up high levels of toxins in our bodies.
With this in mind I often suggest to my personal training clients that they should talk to a professional nutritionist or a doctor. I also recommend that at the very least, they should take a good multi-vitamin and multi-mineral if they want to gain optimal health and fitness levels.
When it comes to adding things to your lifestyle and supplementing vitamins and minerals, you should never think of these as replacements. They are purely enhancements. A good rule of thumb is that supplements should be part of the bigger picture for an optimal eating plan. The first priority should be to choose the fundamental foods that supply the vitamins and other nutrients, needed for optimal health and fitness.
A good rule of thumb is that supplements should be part of the bigger picture
When it comes to adding things to your lifestyle and supplementing vitamins and minerals, you should never think of these as replacements. They are purely enhancements. A good rule of thumb is that supplements should be part of the bigger picture for an optimal eating plan. The first priority should be to choose the fundamental foods that supply the vitamins and other nutrients, needed for optimal health and fitness.
While this concept is a great principle, the reality of modern life generally means that it is purely principle and not a reality. Most people cannot guarantee they will consume what they should, day in and day out, especially if they are limiting their calorie consumption with the intent of losing weight.
A great first step to staying healthy is a balanced diet
There is no doubt that for most people a great first step to staying healthy is a balanced diet, rich in fruit, vegetables and grain. For those who have special dietary requirements or those who want to see what else they can do to stay fit, a quality-made vitamin and mineral supplement is something to consider.
If there are any topics on nutrition and fitness you’d like to see addressed or you have any questions, please contact me at Healthy.Living@St-Christophers.co.uk.
- James
James McDonald is a St. Christopher’s Manager and a fully certified personal trainer, working in Edinburgh. He can be reached for any questions about Health and Fitness or for Personal Training consultations in Edinburgh.
