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Feeling tired? The 7 best vitamins for boosting energy

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I get it. Sometimes you don’t get the best night’s sleep, and you wake up all groggy and grumpy. It happens to the best of us, and we all have our favourite pick me up, whether that’s a coffee, a cold shower, or having a cheeky afternoon nap. 

But what do you do when your levels of energy feel constantly depleted? It’s easy to drink more coffee, reach for a sugary snack or add another 15 minutes to your nap timer, but those quick fixes might not be addressing any underlying problems. 

Often, when we’re feeling tired more than usual, the culprit is our levels of essential vitamins. Not getting enough vitamins and minerals can lead us down the road of constant fatigue no matter how much sleep we get, and then you might find yourself needing a prescription to get your vitamin levels back to a healthy level! 

So, before it gets to that point, here are just a few of the vitamins you can look to for an energy boost. 

Vitamin B12

B12 is, in my humble opinion, one of the most important vitamins. It helps with the creation of energy from food, it supports our metabolism and it reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

However, one of the most important roles of Vitamin B12 is helping the body to absorb folic acid. Folic acid is not only required in the production of energy, but also in its release and regulation, which is super important for maintaining healthy levels of energy and reducing fatigue!

B12 deficiencies can cause fatigue, weariness, weakness and other more severe side effects over time. These include nerve damage, impaired cognitive function, and anaemia. It is also possible for the body to store B12 for a number of years before reserves become depleted and the signs of a deficiency begin to show, so making sure you are including a B12 supplement (especially on a plant-based diet) is crucial for your long term health. 

The ‘other’ B Vitamins

I feel a little bad about lumping all of these in together, but we’d be here all day if I waxed lyrical about each one! 

The B Vitamin family is vital for energy, growth, and converting what you consume into energy. B1 (Thiamine) is needed to convert carbohydrates into energy, with B2 (Riboflavin) also converting fats and proteins into energy, especially in the muscles, where we often feel the most fatigue. 

B3 and B5, also known as Niacin and Pantothenic Acid, also play a role in the conversion of foods into energy, and are used by the body to create hormones. For example, a B3 deficiency may well lead to high levels of fatigue due to the body’s inability to produce thyroid hormone, which helps to regulate the rate at which energy from calories is used.

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) is used by the body to help break down glycogen stores and aid in the regulation of our metabolism. It is thought that athletes should make sure that their levels of B6 are high so that they can access this store of energy when they need to. 

Now, it might be sounding a little tricky to ensure that you get enough of all the B Vitamins you need every day - but what if I were to tell you that THRIVE, Vivo Life’s Green Powder and Multinutrient supplement contains them all, a whole host of essential vitamins and minerals, as a blend of fruits and vegetables, and live cultures. 

This includes our next entry on the list, the Sunshine Vitamin… 

Vitamin D

Now, I’m sure I’ve said somewhere before that I have been the unfortunate recipient of a Vitamin D deficiency once upon a time, and it’s not something I would wish on anyone. Having a lack of the Sunshine Vitamin leads to fatigue, it can exacerbate the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and it can lead to back pain, bone weakness and hair loss if left untreated. 

Around 50% of people are thought to lack Vitamin D, and getting enough of a plant-based diet can be tricky - especially if we’re not getting outside enough. It is considered to be an essential supplement in the winter months, and I couldn’t recommend making sure that you get enough. Vivo Life’s vegan liquid Vitamin D supplement is perfect to add to a smoothie or breakfast bowl, and really packs a punch, with 1000% of your daily requirements of Vitamin D per serving. 

Of course, there are other ways to make sure you’re doing your best to stay energised, including a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, staying hydrated and exercising. Relaxation, regular self-care and mindfulness are also great for ensuring that you don’t get to a stage where you feel burnt out and tired. THRIVE is a great addition to your self-care routine; not only does it give you a boost of energy-raising vitamins and minerals, it can also be incorporated into some time away from your desk for maximum enjoyment. 

Ultimately, if you’re concerned about fatigue, your energy levels, and whether or not you might have a deficiency, please speak to a medical professional. They might well recommend a short course of supplements to raise your levels, and then you can move on to building healthy supplement habits with your favourite products.

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