4 of the Best Supplements That Impact Your Body in a Positive Way

There are thousands of health supplements on the market, from the most notable Vitamins A, C, D, E, K, and the B vitamins to the lesser known herbal supplements, such as ginseng, saw palmetto, echinacea, and St. John’s Wort.

People typically take supplements because they may have a deficiency, or simply because of the many health benefits they provide. Taking herbal supplements is actually a pretty common thing to do right now, but there are a few supplements that offer some of the most basic health benefits and many people tend to overlook them. Here are four popular supplements that your body can benefit from.

#1: CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of many chemical compounds extracted from the cannabis plant. Unlike its similar counterpart, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD has no psychoactive effects, but does have some other positive effects. Many people use CBD oil, or some other form, for anxiety and pain. Studies have shown that taking 300mg of CBD can help to relieve feelings of anxiety, partially due to the fact that CBD can influence the brain’s receptors for serotonin. Other studies related to pain management have shown that CBD can help decrease chronic pain due to its impact on the endocannabinoid system in the human body.

#2: Collagen

Collagen is a protein that already exists in the human body. It is most notably used for strengthening the hair and nails and providing skin with more elasticity, but collagen presents many more benefits that go beyond being a beauty supplement. It also plays a role in heart health, helping your blood to clot, and it helps to relieve joint pain. And because it relieves joint pain, it’s also likely that it can prevent a significant amount of bone loss by inhibiting proteins that break down our bones as we age. There is also evidence that collagen can help increase muscle mass, which is something else we tend to lose as we age.

#3: Electrolytes

Electrolytes are the essential nutrients that are found in our blood, urine, and sweat. These include bicarbonate, calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, and sodium, which are all necessary for hydration, muscle, and nerve functions. Because these electrolytes can be easily lost (especially if you’re exercising/sweating a lot, or if you’re dehydrated), it’s important to replenish your body’s loss of electrolytes. If you’re not an athlete or if you don’t exercise regularly, then there’s no need for you to get electrolyte-enhanced water or sports drinks because regular bottled water and tap water contain electrolytes.

#4: Probiotics

Probiotics (found in fermented foods) are also something that is found in the human body. It is bacteria (good bacteria) that lives in the gut and plays a major role in digestion, as well as your health in general. Probiotics are naturally found in yogurt, cottage cheese, kombucha, and kimchi. There are millions of probiotic strains, and they help the digestive system, prevent diarrhea, keep your heart healthy, boost the immune system, and are beneficial to women’s reproductive health. Taking a daily probiotic can ward off yeast infections in women, preventing the need for having to use harmful feminine hygiene products that can cause cancer or other serious health problems.

Conclusion

Before taking a new supplement, you should talk to your doctor to determine if the supplement is the right thing for you to take. All of these supplements are generally harmless in healthy individuals, but certain illnesses and conditions can make matters worse, or won’t allow the supplements to work the way they’re supposed to. Also, try to get these nutrients in food form, if possible (note: CBD is not naturally found in food). The majority of the time, you can get an adequate amount of these nutrients from eating a variety of different foods, rather than in supplement form. Supplements aren’t a bad thing but are usually only needed if you can’t get your nutrients from food.