Vitamins

Vitamins, minerals and other ingredients that we use to support various functions of our body

Vitamins and minerals

A balanced and varied diet is the best source of essential vitamins and minerals. Sometimes, however, knowing the principles of proper nutrition and trying to introduce these rules to our menu is not enough. There are also a number of different situations when the intake of micronutrients may prove insufficient (diet modification or increased physical activity are just the beginning of the iceberg). Vitamins and minerals are required for almost all of the body's metabolic and developmental processes. It is also important to remember that most nutrients work in all tissues and therefore they need all nutrients; therefore, their proper consumption is so important. Therefore, it is not surprising that the use of vitamin and mineral supplements is so common.

The functions that vitamins and minerals play in our body are of great importance. Get to know some of them:

Vitamin A, C, D, B6, B12 and folates as well as minerals: iron, zinc, copper and selenium help in the proper functioning of the immune system.

Vitamin C, B6, B12, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid and minerals: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese and iodine contribute to maintaining proper energy metabolism.

Vitamin C, B6, B12, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin and minerals: potassium, magnesium, copper and iodine help in the proper functioning of the nervous system. Calcium supports the maintenance of proper neurotransmission.

Vitamin C, B6, B12, thiamine, niacin, folates, biotin and magnesium help maintain normal psychological functions.

Iron, zinc and iodine help maintain normal cognitive functions. In turn, pantothenic acid supports in maintaining mental performance at an appropriate level.

Vitamin C, B6, B12, riboflavin, niacin, folates, pantothenic acid and minerals: magnesium and iron contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

Vitamin D, B12 and folates as well as magnesium, iron, zinc participate in the process of cell division. Calcium is involved in the process of cell division and specialization, and vitamin A plays a role in cell specialization. In addition, phosphorus helps in the proper functioning of cell membranes.

Vitamin E, C and riboflavin as well as zinc, copper, manganese and selenium support the protection of cells against oxidative stress.

Vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin, biotin as well as zinc and iodine help maintain healthy skin. Copper, on the other hand, helps maintain proper skin pigmentation, and vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin and biotin help maintain the proper condition of mucous membranes.

Vitamin D and potassium, calcium and magnesium help in the proper functioning of muscles.

Vitamins D and K as well as magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and manganese help maintain healthy bones, and vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium contribute to the maintenance of healthy teeth.

Vitamin K and calcium contribute to normal blood clotting. Vitamins B6 and B12 help in the proper production of red blood cells, and folates help in the production of blood. In addition, iron helps in the formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin, and riboflavin affects the condition of red blood cells. Potassium supports the maintenance of appropriate pressure, and thiamine supports the proper functioning of the heart.

Vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity. Pantothenic acid contributes to the proper synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones, vitamin D and some neurotransmitters. In turn, iodine helps in the proper production of thyroid hormones and in the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, and zinc supports the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood.

Biotin, zinc and selenium help maintain healthy hair, and copper helps maintain their proper pigmentation. In addition, zinc and selenium help maintain healthy nails.

Magnesium and zinc help in the proper synthesis of protein, and vitamin B6 contributes to the maintenance of proper protein and glycogen metabolism.

Vitamin and mineral food supplements are not the only products that we supplement our diet with. You can also reach for products containing e.g. adaptogenic ingredients, melatonin, glucosamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Single-ingredient and multi-ingredient products are available, which have a complex composition, and the substances contained in them perfectly complement each other. You can also find such products in our offer.

Adaptogens - what are they?

Although plant adaptogens have been used by humans since ancient times, the term adaptogen is relatively young - it was introduced in the 1940s. He defined adaptogens as substances causing non-specific resistance of living organisms. According to the basic definition of adaptogens, these substances must meet three criteria: first, adaptogens must be non-specific and must help the human body resist a wide range of adverse conditions such as physical, chemical or biological stress. Secondly, adaptogens must maintain homeostasis in humans, which means that these substances can compensate for or oppose physical disorders caused by external stress. Thirdly, adaptogens must not have harmful effects on the normal functions of the human body.

Adaptogens increase adaptive abilities

Adaptogens are natural compounds or plant extracts that increase the adaptability and survival of living organisms under stress. Their task is to normalize and regulate the body's systems. The term adaptogen refers to a physiological process - adaptation to environmental challenges, which is a multi-step process involving various mechanisms of extracellular and intracellular interactions.

Ingredients that are associated with joints, i.e. glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM

Glucosamine is a naturally occurring amino acid that serves as the basic building block of glycosaminoglycans, one of the structural components found in cartilage and other connective tissues. Glycosaminoglycans are key contributors to cartilage properties such as flexibility and strength.

Chondroitin sulfate is a major component of the extracellular matrix and many connective tissues, including cartilage, bones, skin, ligaments and tendons. Chondroitin sulfate is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan composed of a long unbranched polysaccharide chain. It is responsible for many important biomechanical properties of cartilage, such as resistance and flexibility.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a sulfur-based small molecule consisting of a sulfur atom with two double-bonded oxygen atoms and two methyl groups. It is a naturally occurring molecule found in a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains and milk.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone, synthesized and secreted mainly in the pineal gland. Melatonin's best-known role is in promoting sleep. It is involved in the regulation of the body's sleep-wake cycles, i.e. it regulates the sleep/wake cycle and other circadian and seasonal rhythms.

When to use melatonin?

Melatonin supplementation will be great when you have trouble falling asleep. Melatonin helps to reduce the time it takes to fall asleep, and its beneficial effect is obtained when 1 mg of melatonin is consumed shortly before going to bed. When it comes to travel, melatonin helps in alleviating the subjective feeling of jet lag, and the beneficial effect is obtained when consuming 0.5 mg shortly before going to bed on the first day of travel and for several days after arriving at the destination.

Products with amino acids (DAA, GABA)

It is also worth paying attention to products with amino acids other than EAA or BCAA. DAA, i.e. D-aspartic acid, which usually appears in products dedicated to men, is becoming more and more popular. This is due to the fact that DAA occurs e.g. in endocrine systems, especially those related to the reproductive system, such as the adrenal glands, pineal gland, pituitary gland and testes. D-aspartic acid plays an important role in the biosynthesis and/or secretion of hormones in the endocrine glands. In turn, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that acts as the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system (CNS). It works to reduce neuronal excitability by inhibiting neural transmission. The balance between inhibitory neuronal transmission via GABA and excitatory neuronal transmission via glutamate is essential for proper cell membrane stability and neurological function. Glutamate is considered an excitatory neurotransmitter while GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter.

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