Do you take supplements with your daily diet? You might want to consider visiting the vitamin aisle next time you visit the grocery store or health food outlet. Your health is a finicky thing, rising and falling at the drop of a hat and potentially eating away weeks of your time when neglected. Supplements can give you that little boost of energy or wellness you need to muscle through the work week, especially potent for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Be they hormonal balance supplements or detox supplements for a new weight loss regimen, you’ll want to keep reading to learn about your next great diet accessory.

What Are Supplements?

A supplement or a vitamin is a simple addition to your diet that helps bolster your body’s inner resources. Americans have been taking multivitamins and MVM supplements since the early 1940’s when the products were first made available on the mass market. Antioxidant supplements are popular for their cleansing properties, while hormonal balance supplements can be a fantastic boon for those struggling with hormone deficiencies like menopause.

What Are Popular Vitamins?

Vitamins are like your body’s fuel. They help power your reserves and keep you going strong all days of the week. Likewise, a lack of certain vitamins can have short-term and long-term consequences for both your physical and mental health. The Institute of Medicine, for example, recommends that adolescents get around 1,300 milligrams of calcium on a daily basis to promote healthy bone and skin development. Popular vitamins include, but are not limited to, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin A and vitamin E. Each one has its own properties for growth and should be assessed with your regular doctor before adding to your diet.

What Should Adults Take?

Cellular supplements and vitamins are not a replacement for a healthy diet and routine exercise. Adults should eat a minimum of 0.8 grams of protein for every kilogram of body weight on a day-to-day basis — this is the equivalent of 58 grams for a 160 pound adult, according to basic recommendations from the Institute of Medicine. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend people over the age of 50 should get the majority of their vitamin B12 from synthetic sources, which include fortified foods and dietary supplements.

How Should Adults Exercise?

Exercise is how your body repairs and strengthens itself. Physical activity accounts for around 20% of total energy expenditure, while the thermic effect of food is around 10%. Metabolic activity of the muscle accounts for nearly 25% of total energy expenditure compared to fat, which tends to reach just 5%. Overall, basal metabolic rate (shortened to BMR) accounts for around 70% of your total energy expenditure. MVMs are still highly popular dietary supplements and, according to ongoing industry estimates, comprise more than one-third of the supplements Americans currently take.

Which Supplements Are Right For Me?

You search for vitamins or supplements to boost what you are still lacking in your day-to-day life. If you live in a cold environment you may want to take more vitamin D to make up for reduced sun exposure, while those with compromised immune systems could use additional vitamin C to lessen their chances of becoming sick. Hormonal balance supplements are ideal for those that have uneven hormones and breast health supplements are good for nursing mothers. Sales of all dietary supplements in the United States totaled around $36 million back in 2014, with this amount including all vitamin and mineral containing supplements. Consider visiting your local health store and adding a vitamin to your daily diet.