3 Ways to keep your family healthy

We take a look at three of the simplest and best ways to ensure that all members of your family enjoy good health and wellbeing.

1 MULTIVITAMINS

Taking a multivitamin each day is an easy and inexpensive way to ensure that you are getting an adequate supply of vitamins, as well as some of the minerals you need for good health. A good multivitamin can help to complement your healthy eating habits and you can look at it as a ‘safety net’ that covers all your bases. So, during those times where you may stray from your healthy diet, you get out of routine or your diet lacks variety you can be sure that you’re still supplying your body with the vitamins it needs. Preventing vitamin deficiencies is just one of the many benefits taking a multivitamin can provide.

Not all multivitamins are created equally. Besides the standard vitamins and minerals there are some additional ones to check that your multivitamin contains. Firstly it should have the critical minerals selenium and chromium, which have a range of benefits such as helping the immune system, aiding metabolism, regulating fat and cholesterol and providing antioxidant support. A commonly overlooked nutrient is molybdenum which is an important co-enzyme in a range of health conditions. Promoting and maintaining a healthy thyroid requires iodine, so that’s another one to look out for.

Another tip to bear in mind when choosing multivitamins is to consider a liquid form as this is not only more convenient but can be better absorbed by the body.

2 PROBIOTICS – THE ‘GOOD’ BACTERIA

Despite proving their effectiveness in scientific studies, many people are still unaware of the health benefits of probiotics.

While there are bacteria that cause diseases, the body also contains ‘good bacteria’ that are essential for good health. One such place where the importance of good bacteria is paramount is in our gastrointestinal tract or gut. When we don’t have enough good bacteria in our guts a number of bacteria-related health problems can ensue, ranging from digestive upset, headaches, sluggishness, irritability, candidiasis (an overgrowth of the bacteria Candida albicans) and even anxiety.

Make sure your chosen probiotic has a broad spectrum formula. This means that the probiotic contains many different strains of beneficial microflora and better reflects the great microbial diversity of the intestines. Many probiotics are also sensitive and are damaged by light, heat and pressure – rendering them useless to you as an end-user. There needs to be some protection for the probiotic so it can reach its target destination – your intestines – intact. When it is there it can become active, multiply and provide you with the greatest health benefits.

Be sure your probiotic formula has prebiotic support so the beneficial bacteria have a food source when they reach your gut. This ensures they stay alive and can then go on to do their job. Look for a probiotic that is supported by scientific research, preferably a peer-reviewed, double blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trial which is the gold standard in scientific validity.

3 DIGESTIVE ENZYMES

Although a healthy diet is a good starting point for improving our health, the ability of our body to absorb the nutrients and extract energy from our food is equally, if not more important. This is the role digestive enzymes play in our health.

A few of the symptoms that may be related to a lack of digestive enzymes include: belching, gas after eating, indigestion, difficulty digesting fruit and vegetables, heartburn and bloating.

A digestive enzyme supplement can assist in the reactions involved in breaking down and digesting our food. A good digestive enzyme supplement should also contain Inulin. Inulin works by selectively stimulating the growth of good bacteria to aid digestion and therefore increase the body’s ability to absorb essential minerals and synthesize vitamins found both in supplementation and food.

Take heed of this three-step advice and you and your loved ones should enjoy better health and wellbeing.