Ashwagandha - Withania somnifera
„Ashwa“ (horse) „gandha“ (root smell), the name itself points to the plant's ability to provide strength and vitality (animal strength hidden in the root). Known by names „Indian ginseng“ (similar root shape), also „winter cherry“ (fruits resemble cherries). From the small bush with yellow flowers, mainly the root is used in traditional medicine. Given its calming effects, it's appropriately named Withania somnifera, sleepy or dreamy. The Latin name somnifera also reveals its sleep-inducing property.
Magnesium - the most important mineral?
If you ask any athlete (especially endurance sports) what supplement they always have with them at competitions, the most common answer will be "magnesium". Magnesium is certainly one of the most important minerals for our body. It is a so-called "deficient" mineral because we lose it from our body through sweating during excessive exertion, but also when you don't exercise! Just living in noise, stress, exertion...
The First of Vitamins - B1
Maybe it's burnout ... that's the current description of the state when we feel different. When the coffee we loved no longer works and in the afternoon we are overwhelmed by unbearable fatigue, when in the evening we have no strength for anything, neither for sports nor for friends. And certainly not for another day at work. A nutritionist would describe this state with further findings of our diet with the words - „ You have a lack of thiamine (B1), which is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system and the conversion of food into energy. Your diet is full of processed carbohydrates, but almost without B1. And when the body doesn't have enough thiamine, you can feel fatigue, forgetfulness, irritability, and even anxiety. And caffeine? It depletes thiamine in the body even more!“ We certainly wouldn't think that this state could be caused by a “triviality”. After all, many of us don't register thiamine, I admit it was also my case. This first of the discovered vitamins in 1912 was named by the Polish biochemist Funk with the term vita (necessary for life), amine (substances that contain nitrogen). Since then, it has gained more names, like aneurin, and for 25 years we have called it thiamine. It is essential, meaning it cannot be synthesized and must come from the diet. It sounds almost frightening that without it we wouldn't survive longer than a few days, at most weeks. This is because the body cannot store it for long and it is necessary to ensure its intake regularly, as it is irreplaceable for the proper functioning of the organism. On the contrary, its abundance helps improve concentration and memory.
B10 ... for your younger self
Excessive hair loss, slowed growth, or premature graying can have various causes, with diet playing a major role. Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), also known as vitamin B10 (although it is not officially a vitamin), is among the significant nutrients that support hair health, skin, and overall vitality of the body. Additionally, it can influence the aging process. Despite its beneficial effects, it is less known today, although in the past it was considered almost a miraculous means of maintaining youth. In the 1950s, scientists studied PABA for its potential in combating degenerative diseases and recorded cases where graying was slowed down.
Cal-Mag - a strong duo for your bones
If you are one of those people who don't like swallowing pills, you have probably faced the dilemma of which nutritional/vitamin product to take. If you wanted to be thorough, you would have to swallow several of them daily. That's why there are combinations that can help you with this problem. One of them is the duo of calcium and magnesium: CalMag.
Iodine-Kelp
Probably everyone who has watched the great series Chernobyl remembers the scene where the main female protagonist is handing iodine tablets to the secretary in the office of the Belarusian ministry, who, by the way, says she is pregnant. Iodine is a chemical element that our body needs for the thyroid gland to function properly. And anyone who has thyroid issues knows how much it influences in the body. It is truly incredible how intricately our bodies are assembled and what is required to ensure you are healthy and functional.
