Body boosts

Popular dietary supplements

It’s not always easy or convenient to give our bodies all of the nutrients it needs every day. Many people take supplements in an effort to give ourselves an extra health boost — a preventative buffer to ward off illness. Vitamins C and D, and calcium, for example, have been supplement staples for decades. These days, however, more and more people are researching other body boosters. Following is a list of some of the more popular supplements people are taking, according to Rob Hawley, owner of Taos Herb Company:

COENZYME Q 10

Also called Ubiquinol because it’s found in almost all living tissue. CO-Q-10 is most highly concentrated in very active and energetic tissues like muscle tissue. This is because it’s critical for the production of the energy needed by muscles to do their work. Inadequate amounts of available CO-Q-10 result in weakened muscles. The heart being the most active and energy consuming muscle in the body is most affected by not having enough CO-Q-10.

QUERCETIN

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid; bioflavonoids are brightly colored pigments from plants that are emerging as interesting and useful for human health. Discovered first in the oak tree from whose genus of Quercus the name is taken, Quercetin has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce allergy symptoms and is an antioxidant helping to protect cells from damage.

MAGNESIUM

Magnesium is the second most plentiful mineral in the body and although we don’t hear about it as much as we do calcium, it plays far more important biochemical roles in the maintenance, repair and function of our bodies. Magnesium helps to relax muscles and can help to support healthy blood pressure, muscle tension and cramping and constipation.

GABA

Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is a naturally produced inhibitory neurotransmitter in our brains whose role is to reduce neuronal excitability. Excess neuronal excitability can cause anxiety, muscle tension and increased sensitivity to stress. GABA as a dietary supplement can help support a healthy nervous system.