Are supplements necessary & why are people in their 20s taking them?

I used to think that supplements are for old people, the kind my mum insists are “good for you” even though she can’t explain why.

So imagine my confusion when I realised that people around my age, late 20s, are also starting to take supplements.

I dismissed it as another wellness fad initially, until my health-sceptic friend, Ber, mentioned that she also started taking supplements in passing.

Like… seriously why?

Ber admitted she started them because of her bad diet.

“I wanted to improve certain parts of my health that we don’t usually get much from our lifestyle, like vitamin D, vitamin B12, and folic acid.”

She added that another big reason was to prevent herself from falling sick easily.

Fair, since the open office concept does make it hard to avoid viruses.

Not everyone takes supplements for the same reason though. Take my boyfriend, Ter, for example.

Tl;dr, Ter only takes supplements that helps him exercise better.

Curious to know if he would be expanding his supplements library to be like that of Ber’s and my mum’s, he nodded but added a caveat that his annual check-ups must first reveal that he’s lacking a particular vitamin.

Not fully convinced, I questioned them further…

Can’t you just eat healthy and exercise?

Turns out, being a sceptic like me, Ber had an answer ready for me.

She pointed out that you technically could get everything you need from food, but only if you eat like a nutrition textbook.

Even if Ber decided to eat more cabbage and broccoli to get more folic acid, it’s also dependent on how she cooks them.

At this point, I’m growing a little concerned as my diet consists mainly of mala, fast food, and hot pot…

Supplements ≠ Replacements

After doing my own digging, here’s how I would sum it up:

• As the name suggests, supplements are not replacements.
• Supplements can help if you know what you’re taking and why.

Your lifestyle and diet still play a big role in keeping your body healthy.

Just because someone takes a particular supplement and sees good results does not mean the same for you.

Think of it this way: We all have different needs, whether its for maintenance or performance, supplements help provide the vitamins and boost that we need in life.

If you’re like me, and is just getting started on your supplement journey, Recogen may be a good place to start.

Leaning towards maintenance like my mum and Ber? Recogen Gold helps to relieve joint pain and support cartilage health.

Or if you’re like Ter and is all about maximising your fitness journey, you can consider Recogen Active, which contains bioactive collagen peptides and high-quality whey protein isolate.

It helps restore sore and tired muscles after a workout, enhance stamina and performance, strengthen the connective tissues and in turn, lower the risk of injury while exercising.

But recommendations aside, always consult a qualified healthcare professional before you start your supplement routine.

Writing this Recogen-branded article helped this writer realised that you can’t out-pill a bad lifestyle regardless.

Top photos from Canva.