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Take Your Vitamins, Minerals, and Electrolytes

The energy provided through vitamins can be a very useful tool during an intense day of leg-training. Vitamins indirectly regulate important processes within the body such as growth, digestion, energy transfer, and nervous system functions. Unfortunately, they are not created in large amounts by the body. When vitamins combine with enzymes, they indirectly allow specific functions to occur throughout the body, one of the most important processes is the creation of energy.

Minerals, which often function as electrolytes, are crucial for leg muscle contraction. They regulate fluid balance necessary to gain strength and improve results. Minerals also regulate nerve impulse transactions; this mechanism determines force output during your leg workouts. The more hydrated your muscles, the more force output you will have and the better the opportunities for developing toned, lean muscle. Minerals are essential and can’t be created by the body. Therefore, they must be ingested through the diet.

It is important to get the majority of vitamins and minerals from foods because research shows that whole food sources provide greater health benefits than taking vitamins and minerals in supplement form. I always recommend taking a daily multi-vitamin just in case and to avoid taking individual vitamins. Research shows that taking isolated vitamins, such as vitamin E, seems to increase disease risk rather than decrease it.

The most nutrient dense foods, like lean meats and dairy, fruit and vegetables, and minimally processes starches, have more nutrients than they do calories and will therefore improve health while also aiding in weight-loss and the development of lean and defined musculature.