We all realise that vitamins and minerals are important, obviously. But in our opinion, these five are the most useful ones to have in your bathroom cabinet for general health and perhaps crucially, for men’s health. You may already have a couple of them, but there’s always room for more. So move over your moisturisers, and make some room for these little gems…
Vitamin D
If you live somewhere that’s not very sunny, which is most parts of Northern Europe, Canada and a bunch of the United States outside of the summer months – you may well have low levels of Vitamin D.
A study by Scientific American in 2009 shed light (no pun intended) on the fact that 75% of American teenagers and adults had low levels of this important vitamin.
This can cause fatigue, muscle weakness and depression. There’s also research happening at the moment that suggests that low levels of Vitamin D can mean low levels of testosterone, which makes it an important one for men in general.
Magnesium
This mineral works wonders all over the body. The list of things this is important for is huge, but it’s essential for energy production, nerve function, controlling blood glucose and keeping your bones healthy and strong. It’s also linked to testosterone production, which is another reason it’s on this list.
You can increase your levels of magnesium by eating bananas, spinach, beans, lentils and… wait for it… dark chocolate!
Omega-3s
These ‘fatty acids’ are absolutely awesome. The more research being done reveals more and more wonderful things about them. There are three types of Omega-3s, ALA, EPA and DHA. One study has found that the EPA kind can be as effective as Prozac at fighting depression. Apart from your brain, Omega-3s are fabulous for your heart. They can reduce blood pressure and raise levels of ‘healthy’ cholesterol.
Vitamin C
Probably the most well-known vitamin of all, and one you might be taking already. It boosts your immune system and helps to fight free radicals that can cause oxidative damage to your body – this can mean anything from cancer and strokes to ageing. So yes, Vitamin C may well keep you looking younger and living longer.
Zinc
We need this one for healthy cell function. That’s every part of you. More specifically it’s great for brain health, including memory and long-term learning. Zinc supplements can boost testosterone levels which can boost your sex drive. Some studies have also claimed that Zinc can cut the lifetime of a cold virus by stopping the virus’s ability to reproduce. So make sure you take plenty of it at the first sign of a cold (along with Vitamin C).