When it comes to keeping our bodies in working order, we’re pretty much on our own.

So let’s talk about one of the basics: Enzymes.

Simply speaking, enzymes are proteins that spur chemical reactions to completion.

Our bodies do all their work via enzyme action. Thousands of different enzymes make millions of chemical reactions possible, which, in turn, make life possible.

One thing for sure, this whirlwind of activity means enzymes use up a lot of energy.

And if enzymes don’t get the nutrition they need? The gears slow down, grinding as they go. Sadly, we pretty much don’t have a clue what’s happening. All we know is we’re dragging. No energy, not much joy. But plenty of stress. And fatigue. Some days it feels as though we were born tired.

Vitamins and minerals nourish enzymes, giving them the oomph they need. Should you decide you want to leave fatigue behind and head for victory lane, the first pit stop you want to make is setting up a good vitamin/mineral program for yourself.

And then execute the plan. No matter how good it looks on paper, it’s not going to do you a lick of good if that’s as far as it gets.

Simply put, vitamins and minerals make the engine go. For instance, magnesium participates in more than 300 necessary enzyme actions every day, day in and day out, year after year. Almost all of us are deficient in magnesium, which may be why muscle aches and fatigue are such common complaints. Pumping up your magnesium to where it should be helps your enzymes do what they were born to do.

And magnesium just begins the list of things most of us need to pump up.

Helping your body’s enzyme interactions should take first place in any list of important things to do. Vitamins, minerals, et al are the ticket to success.

And while you need the heavy lifting of basic vitamins and minerals, some nutritional supplements act even more powerfully as co-enzymes.

For instance, the co-enzyme version of Vitamin B12, methyl cobalamin, helps brain function more than any other form of B12.

And Co-enzyme Q10 helps just about every body part you own, especially your liver, which, while not glamorous, is a major, major player in good health. The ubiquinol form is kind of like a co-enzyme’s co-enzyme–I’m talking powerful.

Pantethine is a form of Vitamin B5 that blesses your cells with co-enzyme A, which is hard to get anywhere else. Interestingly, while pantethine comes from B5, the two do very different things.

Want a little help in learning about vitamins and minerals? Read more by clicking here.