Proper nutrition is crucial for every gardener. You can boost your performance and overall health by taking the essential supplements for gardeners. While growing and eating various foods in your garden, your body may absorb only a few nutrients. Hence, supplementing with minerals and vitamins can give it the compounds it needs to fight diseases and produce energy.
What Are the Essential Supplements for Gardeners?
Gardeners are physically active individuals. Essential supplements for gardeners are tablets, powders, capsules, bars, or liquids that enhance their performance in the gardens. They contain vital ingredients in various amounts and combinations. Some of these ingredients include minerals, protein, and amino acids. Here are the essential supplements for gardeners to consider if you wish to remain healthy and energetic for your daily activities in the garden.
B Vitamins
B vitamins are among the essential supplements for gardeners. These vitamins release energy to aid the metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Deficiency in one or more of these vitamins can affect a gardener’s performance in the field. They include the following:
- Vitamin B12: vitamin B12 is crucial for the nervous system’s health and red blood cell production. The body doesn’t produce it naturally. Hence, it must get it from the diet. Several animal-based products, including eggs, fish, meat, and cheese, have vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 deficiency makes a gardener tired and weak.
- Vitamin B6: Vitamin B12 is vital for proper cell functioning. It facilitates metabolism and blood cell creation. Moreover, it keeps the cells healthy. Some of the sources of this vitamin include beef liver, tofu, and chickpeas. Since the body can’t store vitamin B6, it releases excess in the urine. Hence, essential supplements for gardeners with vitamin B6 can ensure a consistent supply to the body.
- Vitamin B3: Also called niacin, vitamin B3 is vital in converting foods into energy. It enables the body to use fats and proteins. Its other benefits include the potential to lower cholesterol. Moreover, it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
By taking essential supplements for gardeners with B vitamins, your body can stay healthy while your gardening performance improves.
Vitamin D and Calcium
Vitamin D and calcium help with bodybuilding and maintaining healthy muscles, bones, and teeth. Essential supplements for gardeners have these nutrients to help users maintain muscle mass and minimize the risk of body fractures and other injuries.
Vitamin D deficiency can cause rickets or a bowlegged appearance in children because of bone softening. This deficiency manifests in adult bone softening or osteomalacia due to muscular weakness and poor bone density. It can also cause osteoporosis over time.
Iron
Iron is paramount for oxygen transportation in the body. Also, it plays a role in producing red blood cells, which enable the body to transport oxygen to the muscles. Iron deficiency leads to low endurance and fatigue, impairing the gardener’s performance. While you can get this nutrient from leafy greens, legumes, and lean meat, you can also get it from the essential supplements for gardeners.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a vital nutrient for over 300 biochemical reactions. It’s crucial for various processes relating to fitness. For example, magnesium supports protein synthesis, muscle contractions, and energy production. Also, it promotes relaxation while helping the body regulate blood pressure. Hence, it aids recovery after a long gardening session.
Zinc
Zinc is paramount for DNA and protein synthesis. It also promotes immune function. During physical activity like gardening, the body’s zinc requirement increases. Hence, gardeners must ensure adequate intake. Some foods that may supply the body with zinc include pumpkin seeds, lentils, beef, and oysters. Also, some essential supplements for gardeners have zinc as an ingredient.
Sodium
Sodium is crucial for the regulation of fluid balance and blood pressure maintenance. The body loses sodium through sweating during a physical activity like gardening, especially in humid and hot conditions or extended endurance activities. Therefore, replenishing sodium levels by taking essential supplements for gardeners or eating sodium-rich foods is crucial. Electrolyte supplements are rich in sodium. Hence, they are suitable for gardeners.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3s are healthy, polyunsaturated fats. Eicosapentaenoic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid are the most prevalent. They are vital for proper brain and heart functioning. Heart disease is among the primary causes of diseases globally. Doctors recommend omega-3 fatty acids to treat high triglyceride levels, increasing heart disease risk. Since the body can’t make these fatty acids, you must get them from foods. Most essential supplements for gardeners have omega-3 fatty acids. Research has shown that supplementing with omega-3s can minimize the risk of heart disease, coronary heart disease, and heart attack.
Why Does a Gardener Need Dietary Supplements
Dietary supplements can’t substitute a balanced and healthy diet. However, incorporating essential supplements for gardeners into your routine can benefit you in certain situations. Here are the top reasons for a gardener to consider dietary supplements.
Improving Physical Activity
Gardening involves significant physical activity, including lifting tools, digging, planting, and weeding. The high physical demand on the body requires additional nutrients to support energy production, muscle function, and overall recovery. Supplements like iron, magnesium, and vitamin B-complex can support muscle health and energy metabolism.
Muscle and Joint Health
Gardening activities can strain the gardener’s muscles and joints, especially if they ignore proper body mechanics. Supplements for gardeners, such as glucosamine and omega-3 fatty acids, can reduce inflammation and support joint health. Also, an adequate supply of vitamin D and calcium can help maintain strong muscles and bones.
Dietary Limitations and Seasonal Changes
Depending on the gardener’s location and gardening seasons, the availability of fresh farm produce can vary. Therefore, a gardener might have challenges maintaining a balanced and diverse diet throughout the year. Hence, essential supplements for gardeners can fill the nutritional gaps, ensuring the body gets vital minerals and vitamins.
Environmental Factors
Gardeners face continuous exposure to environmental factors like wind, sunlight, and chemicals. These factors can increase the body’s requirement for specific nutrients, including antioxidants like vitamins E and C. Therefore, taking supplements with such nutrients can protect the cells from oxidative stress.
Stress Management
Gardening can be a stressful activity, besides being physically demanding. Stress depletes essential nutrients, such as vitamins C and B. Essentialsupplements for gardeners can replenish such nutrients to help the body cope more effectively.
How to Choose Essential Supplements for Gardeners
Many people often think natural is always better. While this might be true, something natural is sometimes safer or better. Therefore, significant considerations are crucial when looking for high-quality supplements for gardeners. Here are practical tips for choosing essential supplements for gardeners.
- Ingredients: Checking the ingredients is the first and crucial tip for selecting the best supplements for a gardener. Choose supplements with the nutrients you need to maintain a healthy body. Please ensure the supplement you buy has the nutrients this article has listed.
- Verification: Since no authority like the United States Pharmacopeia or Food and Drug Administration regulates supplements, check their verification by third parties. That way, you’ll be sure the supplements have the nutrients listed on the labels. Also, it will help you ensure the products are free from harmful contaminants, like toxins and heavy metals.
- Consult with your healthcare provider: Everybody has unique nutritional requirements. Your doctor can help you determine your dietary needs. Also, they can help you choose the most appropriate nutrients.
Many people, including gardeners, need help supplying their bodies with essential minerals and vitamins. For instance, getting vitamins D and E from food alone is challenging for most people. Hence, doctors recommend taking essential supplements for gardeners with these vitamins.
VB Health has the best supplements for gardeners. They are doctor-formulated products that support optimal health for physical activities like gardening. Click here to purchase these supplements, boost your body to stay healthy, and enhance your gardening performance!
