Written by Jennifer Bartelt

I’ve made a personal commitment to myself in March to create better routines and habits when it comes to my health.  Every morning I wake up, grab a glass of room temp water and patiently wait while my daily dose of liquid gold percolates.  There is nothing better than a hot cup of coffee to kick start my day, but, on a very rare occasion I will remember to take my vitamins and supplements…usually, about once every few months when I am starting a “new routine” or, it’s a Monday and I tell myself “my new, healthy life starts on Monday”.  Well, usually short-lived unless they are conveniently laid out in front of me. So, am I alone in this battle to take a few, good for you capsules in the morning? Show of hands, please! If, by chance, I am not alone and you want to understand why we should be popping our daily dose of vitamins and minerals then keep on reading.

Why do we need vitamins?

We all know that we should take vitamins, supplements and minerals on a daily basis but do we know why we actually need them? To list a few reasons, we truly should be taking vitamins daily to help support aging, vitamins are essential nutrients that help boost your immune system, support healing our bodies, vitamins and minerals help to convert food into energy and also repair any cellular damage – among other things, these tiny tablets help keep our bodies healthy and happy.

What vitamins do our bodies actually need?

Each and every one of us needs vitamins, but does that mean that we all need the same vitamins? Probably not. Our needs may vary, our bodies may require more or less of certain vitamins, but I would recommend speaking with a nutritionist if you are unaware of what you may be lacking.  What I will do is list a few of the essential vitamins that our bodies should be consuming for better health! 

Vitamin A: This is great for healthy eyes, teeth and skin.  Foods like carrots, sweet potatoes and cantaloupe are an excellent source of vitamin A.

B Vitamins: Boost your immune system, energy and iron absorption.  Whole grains, lentils, bananas, potatoes and beans are a great source of B vitamins. 

Vitamin C: Antioxidants, boost immunity, help with blood pressure, prevent iron deficiencies, lowers the risk of heart disease – is there anything Vitamin C can’t do? My favourite vitamin by far! Citrus fruits and vegetables are an amazing source of Vitamin C – lemons, oranges, guava, kiwi, red and green peppers, brussel sprouts, cantaloupe and even strawberries! So many options to get your vitamin C intake!

Vitamin D: Supports bone strength – get your vitamin D from eggs, fish and mushrooms. Added bonus, spend some time in the sun for a daily dose of vitamin D.

Vitamin E: Enter the mighty, might almond.  This nut not only tastes great but contains healthy fats, vitamin E, fibre, protein, magnesium and can be used to reduce hunger and promote weight loss. Other daily essentials include vitamin K, folate and folic acid, calcium, iron, zinc and chromium.
Vitamins are found in many different resources, by including more fruits, vegetables and supplements into your diet you can increase your intake without even realizing it.  Food is essential for overall health, so being mindful of what you are consuming and when can optimize your life and improve your energy levels, sleep, mood and brain health.

Though our bodies require more than just these few vitamins, there are WAY more resources available now to help customize your own personal health needs, keep on reading to find out how!

Customizing your vitamins is easy!

As I said earlier, everyone’s needs may vary in what supplements they may need on a daily basis, but there are lots of resources to help you customize your supplements.  Many of these supplement companies help to establish your needs by providing a 5-minute personalized health assessment (aka. quiz time) and then make customized packages for your daily supplement needs. This are often subscription based programs to – making life easier by just having monthly packs sent to your home. Be sure to check out a companies like:

• Ritual Click Here

• VTMN Packs Click Here

• Care/of Click Here

**Disclaimer** I am by no means a health care professional, so be sure to do your research and talk to your doctor or natural path for further guidance, these are just resources that I have found helpful in my own wellness journey! I wish you all a happy and healthy March!