What Are the Best Vitamins for Athletes?
The sports supplement market has increased massively in recent years as we’ve become more knowledgeable about our health and wellbeing like never before. But with so many different vitamins and multivitamins for athletes out there, how do you find the right one for you?
The health needs of athletes are slightly different from those of the average person, as athletes put their bodies under so much extra pressure and strain on a regular basis, running the risk of injury.
However, with the right nutrition, a good training plan, and multivitamin supplements, athletes can make sure they’re fuelling their foundation to perform at their peak ‡
Why Athletes Need the Right Vitamins
As an athlete, you need the right blend of vitamins and minerals to support the metabolism of proteins, carbs, and fats to make sure your body is getting the fuel it needs to perform at its peak. ‡
What’s more, an efficient metabolism plays a key role in supporting muscle recovery and restoration after a workout, which is important for helping you to keep on with your training ahead of a competition or event. ‡
Vitamins are also important for maintaining optimal health in general, by providing immune system support and helping to keep the body healthy and strong – something that’s all the more important in athletes. ‡
What Vitamins Can Support The Needs of Athletes? Here’s our guide to the key vitamins and minerals you should be focusing on as an athlete:
Beta-Carotene
Beta-carotene is a red/orange-colored pigment found in some fruits and vegetables, such as carrots and peppers. When you eat these foods, your body converts the beta-carotene they contain into vitamin A.
Vitamin A has antioxidant properties, meaning it can help to protect your body against free radical damage during activities such as endurance training. ‡
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is found in foods including chicken, turkey, oats, bananas, and soya beans, which are easy to work into your nutrition plan.
This vitamin plays a key role in helping to break down carbohydrates for energy, which can subsequently impact your performance. ‡
Vitamin D
If you primarily train indoors, you won’t be exposed to as much vitamin D from sunlight. Yet vitamin D plays an important role in keeping your bones and muscles healthy. ‡
You can try to top up your vitamin D intake by consuming plenty of oily fish and egg yolks, while our Klean-D supplements provide another option. ‡