Multivitamin Benefits to Bodybuilding

When it comes to bodybuilding and supplements, the first thing you probably think of is protein powder. Since it helps you to build more muscle and recover more effectively, it's easy to see why.But it's not just protein powder that's popular in the bodybuilding world, as there are various other supplements such as BCAAs, creatine, and fat burners that bodybuilders around the world use regularly. However, a supplement that can often slip out of the limelight with bodybuilding is a multivitamin.Sure, you can get an abundance of essential vitamins by consuming a balanced diet, but it's sometimes easier said than done.Especially when bodybuilding, it's vital to get all the vitamins and minerals you need so you can achieve optimal health and improve recovery. This is the reason multivitamins are so useful, as they are a convenient way to provide your body with vitamins you don't get enough of through your diet. In other words, multivitamins help bridge any nutrient gaps you may have so you can meet the recommended amount of nutrients.

Lucky for you, the best multivitamins for bodybuilding on the market nowadays have you covered by including all your essential daily vitamins and minerals.Bodybuilding can have a very taxing effect on the body. And in any instance where you over train or are restrictive in terms of your diet, your body can often be missing specific vitamins and minerals. For that reason, a multivitamin is undoubtedly one of the most important supplements you can take when bodybuilding.Continue reading as we delve a little deeper to understand why this supplement should be your number one.

What is a multivitamin?

Those with very active lifestyles such as bodybuilders, athletes, crossfitters, and fitness enthusiasts are placing a more significant demand on the body than the average person. So, an important thing to consider is that the more you put out, the more you need to put in.You have no doubt seen multivitamins on the shelves in the supermarkets or local stores. They are everywhere, but do you know what they are? Let's clear things up a little. A multivitamin is a preparation or concoction intended to serve as a dietary supplement with vitamins, dietary minerals, and other nutritional elements included. Multivitamins are available in the form of tablets, capsules, pastilles, powders, liquids, or injectable formulations - so anything and everything. They are usually relatively cheap to purchase and widely available.

How to choose your multivitamin

Not all multivitamins are made equal, so when incorporating this supplement into your diet and training regime don't buy the first one you see.Would you prefer a tablet, chewable, or even liquid form? Think about what would fit into your lifestyle more conveniently. Try to source a reliable, well-reviewed brand with an excellent reputation for quality. At the same time, you should ensure your multivitamin ticks all these prerequisites:

• Allergen-free
• Natural
• Highly bioavailable (Easier for your body to absorb)
• Purity tested
• Made without fillers, artificial colors, or additives

Are you a bodybuilder looking to increase your supplement stack? If so, we have looked at what a multivitamin is and how to purchase a good quality multivitamin. Now, it's time we looked at the benefits of taking this supplement for bodybuilders. Read on to find out everything you need to know.

Benefit 1: Enhanced Energy

Bodybuilding can be challenging, and so it's essential to provide your body with the energy it needs, especially in those dark times when you are deep into a competition prep. If you are not getting enough of the right vitamins, your body has to work harder to perform simple tasks. And if it's working harder, then this can lead to fatigue and other health problems that you could do without as a bodybuilder. Maybe you have noticed during the day you suddenly hit a wall and begin to feel drained. One cause for this could be a lack of essential vitamins and minerals. Thankfully, taking multivitamins and following a healthy lifestyle can keep you energetic, fit, and ready to smash those big lifts.

Benefit 2: Enjoy a Better Mood

We are all aware that bodybuilders can have a reputation for being a little moody when on a strict calorie-controlled diet. Luckily, taking a high quality, daily multivitamin has positive effects on a person's mood and emotional well-being. Getting enough vitamins and minerals helps to improve your brain functions responsible for your mood. Research shows that nutritional deficiencies may cause cognitive decline and mood disturbances. [1] Vitamin intake can influence mood, and randomized controlled trials show that multivitamin supplements can reduce mild symptoms of mood dysfunction.

Benefit 3: Reduces the symptoms of stress and anxiety

High stress and anxiety levels can wreak havoc with your body, while high cortisol levels caused by stress can inhibit weight loss. As well as this, a stressed and anxious person won't perform or function as well as someone who is calm and relaxed.Taking a multivitamin containing the right vitamins and minerals can significantly reduce levels of stress and anxiety. Your body uses B vitamins to convert food into energy, keep the nervous system functioning properly, and to produce stress hormones. A daily multivitamin can also replenish your body's supply of B vitamins amongst many other vitamins.

Benefit 4: Improved short-term memory

Taking a multivitamin has been shown to help with short-term memory. So if you're able to focus well, you can expect a better performance in and out of the gym.When examining the associations between folate, B-12 and B-6 vitamins, along with cognition and mood, various studies have investigated the effects of short-term multivitamin supplementation. Research shows that supplementation had a significant positive impact on some measures of memory performance only. [2]

Benefit 5: Helps to maintain muscle strength

You may not have already been aware of this, but taking a multivitamin each day can help to maintain muscle strength, which is, of course, vital for bodybuilders.Free radicals scavenge the body to seek other electrons so they can become a pair. Consequently, this causes damage to cells, proteins, and DNA. Free radicals are mainly responsible for aging-related muscle problems. Taking multivitamins daily can help keep these damaging free radicals in check. Less free radicals mean healthier muscle and a healthier body.

Benefit 6: Multivitamins can boost immunity

Bodybuilding can put a significant amount of stress on the body, and the central nervous system can take a beating, which can lead to a weakened immune system. You want to do everything you can to keep your immune system healthy. Luckily, taking a multivitamin which contains Vitamin C can boost your immunity since it is a strong antioxidant. Vitamins D and E boost immunity, too, as both vitamins can help reduce allergy symptoms.

Benefit 7: Good for your heart

Multivitamins can be good for your heart. Bodybuilders, like athletes, frequently train, so taking care of the heart is a must. A high-quality multivitamin may reduce cardiovascular disease because of the variety of vitamins included. Remember, your heart is a muscle too! Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States. Vitamins B1, B2, B6, K1, Niacin (B3), CoQ10, and magnesium, all play a role in cardiovascular health - all of which you'll often find in your trusty multivitamin!

Benefit 8: Slows down the effects of ageing

Let's be honest; bodybuilding is about appearance. You want to look good. It's no good though if you aren't getting enough nutrients and start ageing prematurely. Hardcore dieting and competing can take its toll, so you must do what you can to limit any damage. As you age, your nutritional needs increase. At the same time, it gets more difficult for the body to absorb nutrients, while medications can further deplete your body of nutrients. A multivitamin can help to offset these deficiencies.

Benefit 9: Helps prevent nutrient deficiency

An obvious benefit of taking a daily multivitamin is to prevent vitamin/nutrient deficiency. Some personal circumstances may increase dietary needs, and this is especially the case with bodybuilding. So, taking a daily multivitamin makes sense.

Benefit 10: Healthy skin and membranes

The fat-soluble Vitamin E, usually found in a good multivitamin, helps to maintain healthy skin by protecting cell membranes, blood circulation, heart, nerves, red blood cells, and muscles. There isn't much a good multivitamin won't help you with, which is why they should be at the centre of your supplement regime. What's more is that whether you are a male or female bodybuilder, there's a tailored multivitamin for you. A woman's multivitamin blend can contain nutrients aimed at looking after the skin, hair, nails, and teeth, while a men's might contain ingredients such as horny goat weed to enhance prostate health.

Conclusion

Hopefully, after reading the above, you will appreciate the benefits and uses of multivitamins. A great multivitamin should be at the centre of your training regime, the first supplement you take in the morning. 

Have you been neglecting to take a multivitamin? If so, you might not have been meeting your true health, fitness and bodybuilding potential.