Teenagers aren’t known for their healthy eating habits. From sugary snacks to irregular meal times, plus a heap of stress, the teenage lifestyle alone would cause anyone to miss a few essential nutrients in their diet. However, the risk of nutritional deficiency is even greater for teens, whose bodies go through a ton of rapid changes and require extra-special care to ensure they are getting the required vitamins and minerals for healthy growth and development.

But what do teenagers really need to fuel their growth and maintain happy, healthy bodies? These 6 vitamins and minerals are essential for general well-being, and teens should make sure they are getting enough of each, whether through diet or supplementary intake.

This crucial mineral is involved in over 300 of your body’s natural processes, and getting enough will ensure healthy energy levels, metabolism and bones. Magnesium helps prevent and treat muscle cramps, easing growing pains as your teenager’s body changes, and can even assist with anxiety and depression.

Everyone knows that ginger is good for your immune system, but you might not know that this is due to the root’s high levels of zinc. Zinc is vital for strong immunity and infection-resistance, and encourages healthy growth in children. Research has also suggested that this mineral may play a key role in regulating neuron communication for improved learning and memory. The mineral’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help prevent and treat skin conditions such as acne.

Vitamin D encourages efficient and effective calcium absorption, working with the mineral to build strong, healthy bones. This vitamin may also assist in the prevention of chronic heart disease later in life if deficiency is avoided during the developmental stage.

While all B vitamins are important for metabolism, energy levels, and heart and nervous system health, B12 is one of the most vital. This vitamin cannot be synthesised by the body, and mainly comes from animal-based foods such as meat, fish and eggs. This poses a problem for teens on a vegetarian or vegan diet, and supplementary intake will probably be necessary. Certain methods of processing foods may lower the amount of this vitamin in our meats, too, and teens should keep an eye on their B12 levels to ensure optimal brain and metabolic function.

This powerful antioxidant strengthens the body’s immune system, helps protect cells against damage caused by free radicals, and is thought to assist in the prevention of certain forms of cancer, heart disease and eye issues. Vitamin E also plays a part in keeping blood vessels healthy, and assists with the healing of scarring on the skin.

Omega-3 fatty acids have an incredible range of benefits for both your body and brain, from eye, bone and joint health to improved memory and cognitive function. Studies have even shown that omega-3s may be an effective treatment for depression and anxiety, two states of mind that teens are prone to.

While we all need to fill our quota of essential nutrients for optimal well-being, these 5 vitamins and minerals are crucial for teenage growth, and to maintain good health in their developmental years. BFC Pharma’s range of premium multivitamins, minerals and probiotics are geared to provide the best nutritional balance for your lifestyle, with special formulations for everyone from infants to seniors.

This premium multivitamin is specially-designed to promote overall health in teenagers, and may assist in boosting energy and metabolism while enhancing concentration, brain function and stress management. It also contains essential vitamins and minerals to encourage clear, healthy skin.

This super-potency vitamin B complex is packed with all the crucial B vitamins your teen needs, and may assist in boosting energy levels, relieving stress, contributing to a healthy nervous system and promoting brain function and focus.

Our Premium Magnesium is designed to assist with fatigue, irritability, anxiety and insomnia, while easing muscle cramps and growing pains. The added potassium may support healthy blood pressure and stress management, helping your teenager effectively manage lifestyle and hormonal stress.

Specially-formulated to boost the immune system, our Premium Zinc is designed to increase infection resistance and prevent and soothe acne, cold sores and other skin conditions. The selenium may assist in preventing cell damage, and our Premium Zinc contains added vitamin A for bone health and development, and vitamin E for the promotion of healthy skin.

Our Premium Omega Range has options for every lifestyle. Our Premium Salmon Oil contains added EPA and DHA to assist with healthy memory and proper cognitive function, and our Premium Flaxseed Oil is a great alternative for vegans and vegetarians, and may further assist in maintaining healthy hair, skin and nails. Our Premium Omega 3 & 6 is designed to maintain skin and eye health, while encouraging your brain to operate at its best.

Click here to browse our full range of premium multivitamins, minerals, probiotics and omegas.