As you reach your 50’s and beyond, certain changes begin to take place in the body. You may begin noticing lower energy levels, and poor concentration. Aches and pains, especially in the joints can start to become an issue. You begin to lose collagen in your skin as starts it to sag and form new wrinkles And you may find it more difficult to digest foods properly as you did when you were younger, causing problems like heartburn or constipation.
As your body ages it becomes more difficult for it to absorb nutrients, like Vitamin B12, or minerals properly, which can trigger inflammation and advanced aging. Taking medications as you get older can also rob the body and deplete key nutrients that it needs to stay strong, healthy and youthful. Although many people take a multi-vitamin supplement, these usually contain synthetic vitamins which are very weak and don’t provide many true health benefits.
Today I’m going to share with you 5 vitamins and nutritional supplements to take over the age of 50, That actually help to improve your overall health and wellbeing.
1. Cod Liver Oil
One of the best ways to reduce inflammation and strengthen your joints and bones over the age of 50, Is by taking 1-2 teaspoons of Virgin Cod Liver Oil on a daily basis (Icelandic/Nordic). This golden liquid is loaded with active omega 3 fatty acids (DHA & EPA), which:
- Ease pain and lubricate the joints
- Help to build new healthy brain cells to prevent cognitive decline as you age
- Improve the structure and smoothness of the skin to prevent dryness and premature wrinkles
And It also protects your heart by improving circulation, lowering blood pressure and keeping the heart beat in its regular rhythm. Cod liver oil is also a good natural source of Vitamin D, A hormone-like vitamin that keeps your immune system strong against diseases and infections well into old age. So start taking this on a daily basis and in just one week, and you will begin to notice improvements in your overall health and wellbeing.
2. Digestive Enzymes
As people get older, they tend to lose the strength and quality of the digestive juices in the stomach and gut This causes digestive issues such as acid reflux, heartburn, burping, bloating, constipation, diarrhea etc.. You may find that foods that you once enjoyed, as now causing you problems, so you have to start eating smaller portions and less frequently.
In order to overcome these issues, you can start taking 2-3 digestive enzyme capsules before each meal, Which will help to naturally strengthen stomach acids to break down foods better, And also to absorb more proteins and minerals that your body needs to maintain healthy muscle mass with age. When choosing a brand, check in the ingredients list to make sure your chosen product contains ox bile, betaine hcl, and pancreatin for the best effects.
3. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the most essential antioxidants to protect your cells, DNA and mitochondria against damage as you get older. This nutrient can only be obtained from raw leafy green vegetables, fruits and herbs. Don’t be fooled by over the counter “Vitamin C supplements” as these only usually contain “ascorbic acid“, which makes up for only 5 percent of the true vitamin c complex. The REAL Vitamin C complex contains copper, flavanoids, J, K & P factors which are all involved with maintaining healthy blood vessels, fighting inflammation and boosting collagen.
If you do wish to supplement however, you can also get it from a whole fruit powder such as camu camu, rose hips or acerola cherry. Simply place 1-2 teaspoons of these powders in a glass of water or blend into a super greens smoothie every day to boost your antioxidant network. Natural Vitamin C helps to prevent bleeding in your arteries and gums, It strengthens the collagen fibres throughout your body for healthier skin, teeth, bones, nails, joints, and meshes around the organs And it speeds up immune cells to help your body heal faster from a virus, cold or infection.
4. Mineral Complex
If you notice that you’re losing the energy, vitality and vibrance of youth as you reach your 50s you may think that this is a normal part of aging The truth is, it’s not. It’s possible to feel more energised in your 50’s than you did in your 20’s regardless of hormonal changes that may be taking place. Over dependence on coffee, soda, caffeine and sugar causes the body to become overstimulated, which changes the way energy is made in the cells (mitochondria).
In order to fix this and boost your energy levels naturally without stimulants, Start consuming 1 scoop of a high quality keto electrolyte powder mixed in a bottle of carbonated water 2x per day. Make sure to choose a brand which contains at least 1000mg potassium citrate, and 100mg magnesium citrate, along with trace mineral complex on the ingredients list. Electrolytes and trace minerals help your cells to produce more cellular energy (ATP), so that you can feel more energised, vibrant, awake and alert.
What’s more, these minerals reduce insulin resistance, which allows more fuel (glucose/ketones) to enter your cells, especially your muscles and brain. It’s recommended to use minerals in the morning, before and during exercise to help you build more muscle, and in turn store more protein to keep you strong as you get older.
5. B-Complex
I recommend eating at least 2-3 tablespoons of unfortified nutritional yeast flakes on a daily basis to take in more B-vitamins. B-vitamins such as Vitamin B1, help the body to adapt to stress and normalise cortisol levels as you get older. It’s postulated that over 80% of diseases are stress related, because stress raises cortisol which can be destructive to the body in high amounts.
Nutritional yeast, B-vitamins, exercise and meditation can all help to lower cortisol, which in turn prevents muscle wastage as you age. B-vitamins also help with blood sugar control, building red blood cells and protecting against flaky skin, especially on the feet and scalp. Try adding nutritional yeast to your salads, stir fries or eat it with kefir/yoghurt, And you will notice your emotional stress melting away in less than 5 minutes.
6. Probiotics (100B CFU)
Finally I’d like to share one additional supplement that you can use periodically to support the health of your gut as you get older. Once or twice a year, take a 30 day course of probiotics which contain at least 100 billion CFU’s per day with multiple strains of friendly microbes. These probiotics contain friendly bacteria which colonise your gut, and help to repair the mucousal layer and tight junctions in your large intestine Which often becomes loose and weak as you pass the age of 50 and beyond.
This helps to prevent toxins from leaking into the blood as you age, and also to help your body break down fiber and absorb more nutrients. Instead of supplementing however, it’s best to simply eat probiotics from fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir and pickles.
