There’s no denying that modern life has never been so tough. British people work the longest hours in Europe and with stress, lack of sleep and late night take-aways, a shocking 90% of us suffer from a mild mineral imbalance or deficiency. Fitness expert Marc Perry CSCS CPT says that to truly feel the benefit of healthy eating, we should actually be packing in as many as ten servings of fruit and vegetables per day. For most of us, though, this just isn't possible. “The point about vitamins and minerals is that these are better absorbed from food than from pills – but in some cases, the sheer amount of food you’d need to eat is absurd, so a vitamin supplement may well be worth considering,” explains Ursula Arens, spokesperson for the British Diabetic Association.
Many of us find that once we’re past our mid-20s, our metabolism has become sluggish (which means our bodies don’t burn fat as efficiently as they used to), we have lacklustre skin or even wrinkles, or our hair thins or grows more slowly. These might not be signs of ageing but rather point towards a mild vitamin deficiency. The simple act of adding the right vitamin supplement to your diet could change everything.
For thinning hair take… biotin
Biotin is a member of the B vitamins family, although it’s also known as vitamin H – the H coming from the German words “Haar und Haut” meaning “hair and skin”. In a recent US study Dr Ablon Glynis found that biotin promotes hair growth in those suffering from thinning hair. Biotin is already enjoying huge popularity among women according to the female blogosphere: lots of girls have experienced incredibly fast hair growth after taking these supplements. However, be warned, biotin comes with side effects.
“Self-medicating with a dosage that’s too high can cause itchy, pus-filled spots on the face and back,” explains Fortuna Melhem, founder of It Really Works Vitamins for Hair, Skin and Nails “It's vital to get the dosage right and it’s always better to leave this to the professionals. Try a hair supplement that includes biotin in a dosage high enough to noticeably improve your hair, but not so high as to give your teenage acne an unwelcome return!”
It Really Works Vitamins contain 800% of your daily recommended allowance of biotin, and numerous bloggers in Britain and the US report thicker, shinier, softer hair, “I noticed less hair left in the bristles of my brush," said British beauty blogger Loves and Loathes, whilst American blogger Rissie found that her hair grew a whopping three inches (7.6cm) in only three months after taking this biotin-rich supplement (twice as much growth as you’d normally expect).
Unlike all other vitamin brands, It Really Works offer a cast-iron 90-Day money back guarantee, and so if you don'’t notice a change in the health of your hair and skin, simply post the empty packs back for a full refund!
For sluggish metabolism take… manganese
If, like many guys, you’re doing long hours at the office or college and you’re finding that your body just isn’t burning off excess weight like it used to, then manganese is a great supplement to try.
This vitamin has been recognised by the European Union’s Register on Nutrition and Health to contribute to a normal energy-yielding metabolism. Manganese helps your body to process energy and carry carbon dioxide through your body, and scientists have also found that your bone marrow, sweat glands and nerve tissue function at optimum efficiency when your body’s stores of manganese are at the right levels.
Another great supplement for speeding up weight loss is iodine. This is a trace element found in shellfish and sea fish. The UK National Health Service says iodine assists in the creation of thyroid hormones and normal thyroid function. This in turn helps to regulate the body's energy production, promote growth and development and help burn off excess fat. Iodine deficiency can also result in hair loss, so there’s all the more reason for getting this supplement in your diet.
Along with 20 other ingredients, It Really Works Vitamins are packed with manganese and iodine so as well as giving you thicker, shinier, faster-growing hair, your metabolism will get a much-needed boost.
For skin worries take… vitamin A
Stress, lack of sleep and a diet of take-aways can really take their toll on your skin. If you’re starting to worry that you look older than you really are, it’s well worth trying a food supplement containing retinol, otherwise known as Vitamin A. Dr Mervyn Patterson, cosmetic dermatologist at Woodfood Medical Centre explains, “Retinol has several effects. Firstly, it increases cell production in the top layer of skin, so it helps to pep up the skin. Cells look smoother and skin looks younger. It also has a positive effect on collagen production, because skin uses retinoic acid when it produces collagen. As a result, skin looks plumper.” Your daily dose of It Really Works Vitamins contain 188% of your daily recommended allowance, so you’ll soon see the difference in the mirror.
As well as Retinol, a diet rich in metals such as Zinc and Iron will noticeably rejuvenate your skin. At a molecular level, zinc protects cells in the body from the damage caused by free radicals. (These are singular or groups of atoms that have an unpaired electron and are unstable and highly reactive with other cells). Free radicals are dangerous because they actually contribute to the development of certain health problems including heart disease and cancers. These unstable atoms also help to bring about the aging process.
So what can be done about free radicals? As Melhem points out, “A diet rich in antioxidants such as zinc and iron can neutralise free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.” Some studies suggest that taking oral zinc supplements can also help to improve acne, although it’s important to exercise caution – too high a dosage can have a toxic effect on the body.
Zinc also reduces the amount of copper your body absorbs, which means high doses of zinc can cause a copper deficiency. For that reason, many doctors recommend taking 2mg of copper along with a zinc supplement. Dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai's Department of Dermatology in New York explains, “Copper plays a vital role in maintaining healthy skin. It helps to develop collagen and elastin, which maintain the strength of the skin, and it promotes the production of skin-plumping hyaluronic acid.” This means, less sagging and fewer lines.
It Really Works Vitamins contain zinc as well as 200% of your daily recommended allowance of copper and the reviews speak for themselves. British blogger Loves and Loathes tried a one-month course of It Really Works Vitamins. “Usually I’m prone to breakouts on my chin and temples but during the 28 day course of It Really Works vitamins my skin was really well behaved.”
It Really Works Vitamins is so confident that you'll experience thicker, shinier hair that it offers a cast-iron 90-day money back guarantee – the ONLY vitamin brand that does.
This British family-run brand is making waves after featuring in Men's Fitness magazine and with hundreds of customers across the world, it might be time you tried It Really Works Vitamins today!
All Men’s Fitness readers get a 15% discount today with Code: MensFitness15
This code is valid for only 72 hours.
