We are all told that Vitamins play an important role in a healthy diet and lifestyle but which vitamins and why might still be something you are unsure of! In this article we are going to outline a few key vitamins and why you should be looking to obtain them from you diet!
Vitamin A:
Vitamin A is found in many foods such as fish, cheese, eggs, green leafy vegetables, milk and yoghurt. It is sometimes referred to as ‘Retinol’ and has a number of important functions:
- Helps your immune system to fight against illness and infection
- Aids your vision when lighting is dim
- Keeps skin and the lining of certain body parts healthy, for example the nose
- Can help to prevent acne and breakouts
The amount of Vitamin A recommended for males 19+ years old is 900 micrograms and 700 for women. It is does not necessarily need to be consumed daily as any Vitamin A that is not used by your body straight away is stored for use in the future.
Vitamin C:
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which is needed in your diet daily as it cannot be stored by the body. You should be able to get enough of it through a balanced, healthy diet and not need to supplement it. The recommended daily amount of Vitamin C is 75mg for women ages 19+ and 90mg for men.
It can be found in foods such as:
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Potatoes
- Brussel sprouts
- Green peas
- UFIT DRINKS!
That’s right, we add Vitamin C into all of our drinks to help support a balanced diet! The benefits of consuming Vitamin C are:
- Improved wound healing
- Protection of cells and keeping them healthy
- Maintaining healthy skin, cartilage, blood vessels and bones
Vitamin D:
Did you know that you can also find Vitamin D in our drinks? This particular vitamin is extremely important and is something that you may well be deficient in during Lockdown and the colder months. This is because the body usually makes Vitamin D when direct sunlight comes into contact with the skin. So it’s a given that whilst most of us have only been leaving the house once daily, our Vitamin D levels could be quite low!
So why do we need Vitamin D? The main reason is for maintaining good teeth bone and muscle health. A lack of this vitamin could lead to health problems such as osteoporosis and bone fractures, this is due to a decrease in bone density.
Good sources of Vitamin D include:
- Oily Fish
- Red Meat
- Liver
- Egg Yolks
- Fortified foods such as fat spreads
Remember, getting outside to top up your Vitamin D levels is important for both your physical and mental health. Why not take a UFIT Shake along with you as well to top up those levels even more!
Selenium
You might not have heard of Selenium before but it’s definitely one to get clued up on. This nutrient is vital for good health and must be obtained through your diet as your body cannot produce it itself. Massive amounts are not needed but it does play an important part in aiding bodily processes such as metabolism and thyroid function.
Selenium can be obtained from foods such as:
- Fish
- Chicken
- Sunflower Seeds
- Brazil Nuts
- Cashew Nuts
- Cottage Cheese
- Brown Rice
- Spinach
We also add Selenium to our drinks which should be used to support a healthy diet and lifestyle!
As well as helping the body with basic functions, Selenium may also:
- Help fight oxidative stress that may lead to chronic diseases
- Boost your immune system (important during winter months especially)
- Potentially reduce the risk of cognitive decline as you age
- Reduce asthma symptoms
We hope that this article has been of some help. Remember, a healthy and balanced diet is important for obtaining essential vitamins and minerals, maybe even more so during a global pandemic!
Sources: Healthline, MedicalNewsToday, NHS
