To get an idea of the supplement landscape
in 2012 it’s necessary to move past whey protein and trendy energy drinks and
cut right to the heart of what people actually want to get out of their
supplements.
Gummies and Chewables
Pills are a turn off for a lot of people--
it’s not just kids who struggle with them. So, in what’s something of a
head-slapping innovation, many more products are now being marketed to adults
in gummy, chewable, quick-dissolve and beverage additives. All of these options
make it easy to supplement your diet with the unpleasantness of popping a pill.
Immune Boosters
One constant with those who use supplements
is that they have no desire to get sick. This is where immune boosting
supplements come into play. Vitamin C supplements have always been popular and
will continue to be in 2012. This particular vitamin is necessary for collagen
formation and maintenance of bones and teeth. It can help treat or prevent
everything from the common cold to cardiovascular disease.
Speaking of colds, when those winter months
roll around and the sniffles crop up, there are few natural supplements more
adept at staving off the illness and boosting immunity than Echinacea. This all
natural supplement derives from an herb commonly found throughout the U.S. and
Canada. And with 21 million in sales in 2011, it’s safe to say this supplement
will maintain its popularity in the coming months.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are always popular for those
interested in improving their overall health. And while most health nuts are
happy to ingest antioxidants, many don’t precisely understand their function.
Antioxidants protect cells against the negative effects of free radicals –
molecules produced when the body breaks down food. Free radicals can even be
produced by environmental factors, such as radiation, smog and tobacco smoke.
Over time free radicals can damage cells and have even been linked to serious
illnesses, such as heart disease and cancer.
Antioxidants are found in various fruits
and vegetables, including the ever-popular acai berry. Acai supplements will
continue to be popular in 2012 because this Brazilian fruit contains mass
amounts of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. Acai supplements are touted with
neutralizing harmful agents in the body, maintaining heart health and promoting
good digestion and liver health.
Green tea supplements are also purported to
have a number of health benefits. These include: preventing cancer,
cardiovascular disease, promoting weight loss and lowering blood pressure.
Obviously people can reap the benefits of green tea supplements simply by
drinking green tea, but supplements may be convenient for those without the
time or inclination to drink multiple cups of this tea per day.
Skin and Hair Care
Maintaining a healthy and attractive
appearance is always a high priority for most people, and this is where fatty
acid supplements, such as omega-3, 6 and 9 supplements, can help. These fatty
acids are oftentimes derived from fish oil and indeed many of the omega
supplements may carry this particular label. These fatty acids are primarily
used to prevent skin from drying out. Not only do these supplements keep skin
looking young but studies have shown they can help lower blood pressure and
reduce the risk of heart disease as well.
Hair care is also important to many
health-oriented consumers, and supplements can help in this area, too. Vitamin
D supplements, in particular, help keep the scalp and hair healthy, adding a
youthful sheen. Certain oils, such as fish oil and coconut, can also keep the
hair and scalp healthy.
Weight Loss
Because weight loss supplements are so
popular, it can be difficult sifting through the hundreds of products to find
the ones that are most effective. Interestingly, calcium supplements are
becoming more and more popular as a weight loss tool. While most know calcium
as important to bone health, it can also help people lose fat while maintaining
muscle.
Fiber supplements are also going to
continue to be popular in 2012. While fiber has long been known as an effective
weight loss supplement, its general effectiveness leads many to the conclusion:
if it aint broke, don’t fix it. Fiber supplements work by keeping a person
feeling full. And in simple cause and effect -- the more full one feels the
less likely they are to eat.
In the end, there are many supplements on
the market that address all kinds of issues. Some of these are blasts from the
past, while others are modern trends, developed from new scientific research,
that are capturing the imaginations of all those interested in health and
fitness.
Image courtesy: www.morguefile.com/archive/display/72864
Alena writes extensively about the best supplements online and bodybuilding
supplements. She is a personal trainer and nutritional consultant in the San
Diego area.
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