BEYOND THE MULTIVIT
From PMS to achy joints, there’s a supplement out there for all your annoying health niggles
CLINIC
Well over half of Brits now take supplements, many regularly, according to a report by Mintel. But with so many lesser-known supplements on the market, some of us could be missing a trick. ‘A multivitamin and mineral is great for giving you a broad range of nutrients,’ says nutritional physiologist Rick Hay (rickhay.co.uk). ‘But if you have a particular health niggle, then topping up your levels of a specific nutrient could make all the difference.’ Here are seven increasingly popular supplements to consider …
L-TYROSINE
Good for:
A sluggish thyroid, stress, fatigue, poor concentration.
Think of tyrosine as your thyroid’s best friend. The amino acid is a key component in the production of thyroxine, a hormone that controls everything from metabolism to mood. ‘When we’re stressed, levels of L-tyrosine can become depleted,’ says Hay, ‘so thyroid function suffers.’
Symptoms of a flagging thyroid include fatigue, poor concentration, low mood, and difficulty losing weight, so if you’re experiencing any of these, this supplement could be worth a try. ‘There’s mounting evidence L-tyrosine can also help improve mental performance,’ says Hay, ‘particularly when you’re feeling stressed or under pressure.’