What are the 7 best supplements for fighting fatigue?

Recap: why do we get fatigued?

There are many potential causes of fatigue: sleep problems, an unhealthy diet, a sedentary lifestyle, stress, burnout … Very often, it’s a combination of several of these factors which produces the feeling of fatigue over the medium and long term: the body simply can’t keep up and rest alone is no longer enough to recharge your batteries!

While it’s entirely natural to feel tired after an exercise session or a particularly hard day at work, it is not normal for that tiredness to persist after a period of rest, or to be ongoing.

To help you regain your equilibrium, you may want to consider taking any of these 7 anti-fatigue supplements as soon as you feel the need.

Magnesium to help reduce fatigue

An essential trace-element, magnesium is involved in almost 300 of the body’s chemical reactions! Close to half our magnesium reserves are found in our bones and teeth.

Magnesium deficiency is relatively common, affecting almost 23% of women and 18% of men. Found in dark chocolate, pulses, whole grains and bananas, magnesium supports normal energy metabolism and helps to reduce fatigue (1) and maintain psychological function.

In terms of supplements, choose a form with good bioavailability such as magnesium malate, or magnesium citrate (contained, for example, in the product OptiMag).

Ginseng, the medicinal plant of vitality

Ginseng is one of the most popular medicinal plants in China where it has been used for thousands of years for its numerous beneficial properties. Considered an adaptogen like ashwagandha and rhodiola, ginseng supports the body when it becomes unbalanced.

In particular, ginseng helps to maintain vitality. The World Health Organization recently recognized as “clinically-established” the use of ginseng for “supporting physical and mental capacity in cases of fatigue, exhaustion, concentration problems and in those convalescing” (2).

Ginseng contains numerous beneficial elements including essential amino acids, minerals, and vitamins B, C and E. When it comes to supplements, try to choose one with a high content of ginsenosides (such as Ginseng 30%). Alternatively, you could take a synergistic formulation combining several adaptogen compounds.

Vitamin C for a welcome ‘shot in the arm’

Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is essential to health, particularly for supporting the immune and nervous systems. It is also known to help reduce fatigue (3).

Good sources of vitamin C include peppers, chillies, and citrus fruit, as well as green vegetables such as spinach and cabbage.

To boost your intake, you can also take a dietary supplement (such as Triple C) to help support your body during periods of fatigue or when the seasons change.

Vitamin B12 and energy metabolism

Found in meat, poultry, fish and dairy products, vitamin B12 is often lacking in vegetarian and vegan diets, with supplementation recommended in such cases.

Vitamin B12 plays a number of roles in the body: it contributes to normal energy metabolism and nervous system function, and helps reduce fatigue (4).

The most effective form of vitamin B12 for the body is called methylcobalamin, a powerful coenzyme involved in many of the body’s reactions.

Aloe vera and its anti-fatigue properties

Known for its benefits for the skin and immunity as well as its anti-fatigue effects, aloe vera was widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, as well as in ancient Egypt and in India.

Aloe vera contains a number of nutrients such as A and B group vitamins, enzymes, polysaccharides, amino acids (5) and minerals.

In terms of supplementation, try to take aloe vera gel obtained from fresh leaves, preferably organically grown (such as Organic Aloe Vera).

Vitamin B3, to help restore your energy levels

Vitamin B3, with the alternative names of niacin or vitamin PP, also offers a host of benefits for supporting your body during periods of fatigue!

Vitamin B3 plays a role in the synthesis of enzymes involved in producing energy from the nutrients ingested via our daily diet. It helps to reduce fatigue and maintain normal psychological function (6).

Niacin is predominantly found in red meat, poultry, fish and vegetables. It can be taken in supplement form either on its ownNicotinamide Riboside Chloride, a rare and valuable form of B3) or combined with other active ingredients (such as GABA.

The absolute essentials: multivitamin supplements

To benefit from the potent synergistic effects of various minerals and vitamins effective against fatigue (magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin B3...), supplementing with a multivitamin can be invaluable in cases of deficiency or simply to help boost your daily intake – alongside a balanced diet, of course.

These supplements may also contain other active ingredients with complementary properties to help restore your well-being and equilibrium.

Choose a correctly-dosed supplement with highly-bioavailable compounds, also rich in natural extracts and phytonutrients, such as Daily 3® (or for even greater convenience, the one-tablet-a-day: Daily 1®).