You might feel tempted to grab an energy drink or bar if you're feeling tired at work. Once in awhile, a quick pick-me-up is fine but there are better ways to get vitamins for energy. Save money and calories on temporary solutions by combining a nutritious diet, restful sleep, exercise (which produces mood-enhancing endorphins) and vitamin supplements to give you a surplus of energy throughout the day.
Here are 10 Compelling Reasons You Need Vitamins for Energy
To live a healthier, more productive life, you need a steady stream of energy – and you can't get consistent, natural energy from sugary snacks or coffee. You get energy from the vitamins in your diet and supplements.
1. Vitamins are a necessary, naturally occurring source for energy and normal bodily functions.
Vitamins are needed for everything from proper vision (Vitamin A); bone growth and calcium absorption (Vitamin D), wound healing, repairing bones, teeth and cartilage and forming healthy skin, blood vessels and tendons (Vitamin C) to strengthening the immune system and protect against free radicals (Vitamin E). Most people need to take vitamins in supplement form, either as multivitamins or in proprietary blend form with minerals, to maintain their health and energy.
2. You can't always consume all of the vitamins you need for energy through food, so you'll occasionally need vitamin supplements.
Eating a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and lean meats is the best way to maintain a steady supply of vitamins for energy. In a perfect world, we'd all be able to do this. Unfortunately, the hectic pace of life today makes it hard for most of us to get all our needed vitamins from food. Supplementing the diet with vitamin pills or capsules is easy, as there are many brands on the market. It's important to choose the right vitamin or supplement and take the right amount of them to maintain good health. Always ask your doctor for advice and read vitamin or supplement labels to make an informed decision.
3. Some vitamins are natural energy boosters and pep you up without the letdown of coffee or sugar.
Although all vitamins improve your energy to some extent (or contribute to overall health that is conducive to higher energy), B-complex vitamins are known for their energy-boosting properties. The B-complex vitamins are B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12. They all provide essential health benefits. If you need vitamins for energy, any B vitamin will help, but Vitamin B12 is often considered the best B vitamin for increased vitality.
Vitamin B12, also called Cobalamin, is one of the most important vitamins to retain strength and energy. If you're feeling fatigued or have developed anemia, taking Vitamin B12 supplement and adding more B12-rich foods to your diet will improve your energy level almost immediately. An extended B12 deficiency may lead to serious brain or nervous system damage. Vitamin B12 is found only in animal products. If your diet includes at least a moderate amount of meat, fish, milk, cheese, eggs, fortified soy or fortified breakfast cereal, you probably get enough B12. Vegans and vegetarians with strict diets may need to take a B12 supplement to prevent anemia or more serious damage to the brain or nervous systems.
Vitamin B12 is used to treat memory loss and slow the aging process. Of all the B complex vitamins, it is the most effective at boosting energy and mood. People with pernicious anemia are treated with B12 supplements in pill, sublingual or as a gel applied inside the nose. B12 injections are also administered in a doctor's office or clinic, and are available to anemia sufferers or people looking for an extra boost of energy.
Vitamin B12, like other vitamins, contributes to overall health, making it easier for individuals to stay energetic and focused.
4. Vitamins give you an energy boost just when you need it anywhere, anytime.
Energy-boosting B complex vitamins are available in pills, wafers or bars; most energy drinks also contain them. However, energy drinks also contain sugar, artificial sweeteners or other undesirable ingredients. A nutritionally balanced supplement that contains vitamins for energy is a good solution for many people, especially athletes, busy Moms, office workers or entrepreneurs and college students.
Even if you want to lose weight, you can find a diet supplement with vitamins for energy and nutritional support. There are vitamin-filled supplements made especially for women, seniors and men that cater to the specific needs of each group.
Any vitamin-rich supplement you choose will contain B7, one of the B-complex vitamins.
Vitamin B7, or biotin, helps the body process glucose and metabolize proteins. It produces amino acids and fatty acids in the body, and activates protein in the fingernails and roots of the hair. Due to its positive effect on the hair and nails, Vitamin B7 is sometimes referred to as Vitamin H, the hair vitamin beauty vitamin. Some shampoos and other beauty products contain biotin to strengthen hair and nails.
Unused biotin is eliminated through urine, like other water soluble B vitamins, so the body doesn't store it. You must consume Vitamin B7 daily through your diet, a multivitamin and/or a supplement. Some of the foods with moderate to high amounts of biotin include liver, whole wheat bread, eggs, cheddar cheese, pork, peanuts and salmon. If you like fresh fruit and veggies you probably get a lot of biotin through your diet. Avocado, raspberries, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, onions and tomatoes all contain 24% or more of the daily recommended value of Vitamin B7.
Biotin not only gives you more energy, it helps maintain nervous system and psychological function. It may stabilize blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes.
5. Vitamins lead to better health - and better health boosts energy.
Although some vitamins are better for improving energy than others, they all contribute to better body functions and make you operate like a well-oiled machine. You may have seen Vitamin B1 (thiamin) listed as an ingredient in supplements and many cereals or other packaged foods. Vitamin B1 is one of the best vitamins for energy, along with the other B-complex vitamins.
Some Useful Facts about Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) helps convert carbohydrates into glucose. In turn, glucose is converted into energy. It plays a critical role in carbohydrate breakdown and supports brain function and the nervous system. Thiamin isn't water soluble, so you'll need a steady intake of it from foods or supplements to stay strong and healthy. Vitamin B1 not only gives you energy, but it's also known to combat stress and promote clearer thinking in difficult times. Thiamin is necessary to for adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is needed by all body cells to produce energy. Thiamin deficiency is rare, as most foods, including fortified breakfast cereals, contain at least small amounts of it. The foods highest in Vitamin B1 include sunflowers seeds, oats, barley, green peas, lentils and black beans. Asparagus, spinach, romaine lettuce and eggplant are also good sources of Vitamin B1.
Vitamin B1 can be helpful in treating digestive problems, such as ulcerative colitis and eyesight afflictions including glaucoma. It can prevent the conditions that lead to heart disease and reduce pain from diabetes or AIDs. Thiamin is one of the best vitamins for energy, and it has plenty of related attributes. It's a mood enhancer, and can prevent memory loss and improve learning ability. Whether taken alone or as part of a multi-vitamin or nutrition-enhanced weight loss supplement, Vitamin B1 is a potent tool for battling fatigue and improving mental clarity.
6. Vitamins help ward off energy-depleting depression and anxiety.
Insufficient levels of Vitamin B12 and B6 are linked to depression, memory loss, and poor mental clarity. These B vitamins help individuals maintain a good mood and proper brain function. Without the recommended daily requirement of B6 and B12 through diet and supplements, you may feel sluggish and moody. In some people, a steady lack of B12 and B6, along with other factors, may lead to long-term depression.
Water soluble Vitamin B6 (also called pyridoxine) must be introduced into the body daily through food and supplements. It leaves the body through urine and there's no surplus stored in the body. It promotes normal nerve function and guards against disease-causing antibodies. It makes hemoglobin, which supplies oxygen to the tissues through red blood cells. B6 also helps break down proteins.
Vitamin B6 is available in high quantities in turkey, tuna, chicken, salmon and beef. Sunflower seeds, bananas, sweet potatoes, potatoes and spinach are good vegetarian sources of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is included in B-complex vitamin supplements and many nutritional and weight loss supplements. Make sure you get enough Vitamin B6 daily to support proper brain function and mental clarity. Along with Vitamin B12, it's one of the best vitamins for energy, and it also serves as a natural antidepressant and mood enhancer.
7. Vitamins give you energy for endorphin-releasing exercise.
If you have enough vitamins to sustain optimal body function, you'll have more energy to exercise. Better and more efficient exercise keeps you trim and eliminates the need for on-again, off-again dieting – and exercising keeps you even healthier. By taking vitamins for energy, you'll do more than get a blast of pep in your workday – you'll start a cycle that ensures a happier healthier life in many ways.
8. Vitamins Give You the Energy to Think Clearly
When you don't get enough vitamins, especially B-complex vitamins, you'll feel sluggish and won't be able to "think on your toes." This will lead to more mistakes at work or at school, and a slower reaction time when doing tasks, driving or participating in sports or hobbies. When you're feeling energetic, you're more apt to think clearly and make better decisions.
9. Medical School Studies Prove Vitamins Guard Against Disease, Making You Healthier and More Energetic
According to a 2013 study cited in the journal Neurology, B complex vitamins may help prevent stroke. The study, conducted at Zhengzhou University in Zhengzhou, China, found that "Vitamin B lowered the risk of stroke in the studies overall by seven percent."
Another study, this one dealing with colon cancer, was cited in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology. One group of rats in the study received multivitamin and mineral supplements daily during research had an 84% reduction in pre-cancer lesions and didn't develop tumors.
10. The Energy Boosting Power of Vitamins Help You Handle Stress Better
Since vitamins contribute to overall brain and body health they are a major factor in handling stress better. Everyone has to deal with stressful issues daily, from traffic jams to unexpected financial and personal difficulties. Using B-complex vitamins for energy, with an emphasis on Vitamin B6 and B12, will result in a calmer approach to life's situations and a reduction in the toxic amino acid homocysteine, which clouds thinking ands may cause Alzheimer's Disease. More energy leads to clearer thinking which leads to reduced stress or better handling of stressful situations when they do occur.
Wheatgrass Love Products Combines B Complex Vitamins for Energy and Wheatgrass for Long-Term Nutritional Support
Before buying vitamins, nutritional supplements, or weight loss supplements, always do your research. Read up on the vitamins you want to take and talk with your doctor. Taking a vitamin that's wrong for you (or too much of the right one) can have serious health consequences.
For Weight Loss, Zeal02 Gives You Energy and Curbs Appetite
If you want to lose weight, it's even more important to get enough vitamins for energy. A weight loss supplement with nutritional support is one of the best ways to keep strong and active as you change your diet. ZealO2, from Wheatgrass Love, is a nutraceutical product that has been on the market since the 1990s. Zeal O2 is quality-tested proprietary blend of B-complex vitamins, chlorophyll-rich wheatgrass and other proven energy-enhancing ingredients.
The wheatgrass in Zeal 02 provides of nature's richest nutritional bounties. It includes, among other vitamins and nutrients ,Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and Vitamin B3 (niacin). And wheatgrass also contains enzymes and essential amino acids.
The proprietary blend in Zeal 02 adds additional energy-boosting and fat-burning components, including green tea extract, which enhances physical performance, brain function and actively burns fat and cayenne pepper, a spice which also acts as a weight loss aid.
You can read more about the ingredients in Zeal02 here.
For a Sugar Free Pick Me Up, REVV Provides You Vitamins for Energy
Wheatgrass Love's REVV Natural Energy Supplement, also powered by wheatgrass, is a nutritionally sound pick-me-up for those times you need extra energy. It offers a sugar-free alternative to energy drinks, and contains B-complex vitamins for energy and periwinkle herb. Periwinkle has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain, helping you to focus better. It's available in a chewable chocolate-mint wafer, and the cocoa used to make the wafers does more than provide flavor. It contains antioxidants that block disease-causing free radicals, preventing damage to the arterial walls and heart.
Read about REVV supplement ingredients and information here.
Happy Girl Contains Vitamin B-Rich Wheatgrass to Improve Your Mood and Energy
The mood-enhancing properties of Happy Girl do more than improve hat down in the dumps feeling. Happy Girl is an energizer as well as a mood enhancer, with wheatgrass providing many essential nutrients, including B-complex vitamins for energy. Other ingredients, like gingko biloba and cayenne pepper, aid circulation and digestion and lead to prolonged energy and focus.
Read more about Happy Girl here
