We’ve all been there: you’re staring at your computer screen — trying so hard to be productive — and suddenly your eyes start feeling heavy. Before you know it, you’re nodding off at your desk. The answer to your mid-day slump might just be adding one of the best vitamins for energy to help you get through the day.
But how do you know which ones to pick? The choices can be overwhelming and when you search online there are literally hundreds of brands. What's more, the industry is largely unregulated, making it even tougher to determine if a product is worth your money.
I askedTeri Bunker DNP, FNP, nurse practitioner at Bridge City Family Medical Clinic in Portland, what we should be looking for when selecting vitamins to boost our energy. She said it’s all about the two key ingredients:
“It is important to talk to your healthcare provider about your optimal ranges for vitamins, but in general the B vitamins and vitamin D will have the greatest affect on energy levels.”
On top of focusing on B and D vitamins, Bunker said you can find out more about the brand at Consumerlab.com to see if the vitamins you're considering are legitimate. Simply do a search of the company in the upper righthand corner and you'll find tons of unbiased consumer reviews, studies, and other information. You can also check with NSF International to see if they have been certified.
In the meantime, I've done the heavy lifting for you and found some of the best vitamins for energy.