Five Natural Health Supplements That Could Put a New Spring in Your Step

Do you remember that boundless energy you had as a child? You would run and jump, do cartwheels and handstands - you were a ball of energy. As adults we often lose that youthful vitality, becoming weary with the daily grind or exhausted by juggling the demands of our complicated lives. If you want to bring some of that child-like zest back into your life, start with a healthy balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, lean meat, fish and pulses. Go easy on the alcohol and if you smoke, try to stop. Get some regular exercise, keep well hydrated, go to bed at a reasonable hour and invest in some natural health supplements that will help put a new spring in your step.

If your energy levels are low then a natural health supplement of Co-enzyme Q10, which is essential in converting food nutrients into energy, could help put the zing back. As we grow older, our levels of Co-enzyme Q10 decline because our body also uses it as an antioxidant, so energy levels drop. A supplement of Co-enzyme Q10 can help get your engine ticking over efficiently once more and boost energy levels. It also has the added benefit of extending the youthfulness of your skin.

Your energy levels can also be effected by the seasons. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is believed to be triggered by the changing exposure to light and darkness, which affect the brain chemicals melatonin and serotonin - your 'happy' brain chemicals. If you feel the winter blues seeping into your life, St John's Wort is a well-known herbal remedy for SAD. Its antidepressant qualities can help improve mild to moderate depression. A natural health supplement of 900mg a day will help put some sunshine back into your life.

Exercise is great for keeping a spring in your step, but as you get older it can quite literally become a pain. A natural health supplement such as Glucosamine sulphate (a substance found in connective tissue, cartilage, muscles, tendons and ligaments) can help alleviate joint pain and keep joints in good condition. As the supplement is derived from shellfish, vegetarians and those allergic to shellfish should ask for vegetarian Glucosamin.

Exercise is also very good for the heart muscle and the addition of a natural health supplement that includes Omega 3 will help keep your heart healthy and protect against a wide variety of conditions including osteoporosis, heart disease, and depression. Take it in the form of fish oil capsules (1,000 to 4,000mg a day), or for vegetarians try ground linseed or cold milled flaxseeds, which are an excellent source of Omega 3.

Few of us can put our hand on our heart and say we eat a healthy balanced diet every single day. A high-quality, broad-spectrum daily multivitamin and mineral supplement will help protect the body against environmental factors such as pollution, and fill in any dietary gaps. Generally these multivitamin and mineral supplements include vitamin A, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin E, as well as vital minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, iodine, selenium, copper, manganese and chromium. You can also choose multivitamin mineral supplements specifically for men or women.

Hopefully with this mighty handful of five natural health supplements in your daily routine you'll soon have a new spring in your step, though whether you'll be doing cartwheels and handstands is totally up to you!