We all know that taking the right amount of vitamins is good for our health, and this is especially true for adolescents, whose nutritional and physical lifestyles may prove to be the foundation of their future well-being.

But here's one more reason to encourage your kids to eat healthy. According to MedicalNewsToday.com, a new study has found that the levels of micronutrients in an adolescent's blood may be related to his or her performance in physical activities.

Luis Garcia-Marco and his team from the University of Zaragoza in Spain based their findings on the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescents Cross-Sectional Study (HELENA-CSS). Around a thousand participants between the ages of 12 and 17 had blood samples taken and tested for micronutrient levels.

They were also subjected to various physical tests, which included running and jumping. Researchers found that the amount of vitamins in the bloodstream was closely related to the adolescents’ performance levels--those with better nutrition seemed to be more fit than others.

Although causality is yet to be proven, it’s not too far-fetched to think that vitamins and minerals have an intimate relationship with our physical well-being, as most help with certain bodily functions such as muscle repair.

With tons of ready-to-eat food out in the market today, it’s quite easy for children to forgo a proper diet, but this study shows why it's important to prioritize family nutrition.

In order to make sure that your kids get the right nutrition that they need, try to make time to prepare a hearty baon for them to eat at school, complete with veggies, meat or fish, and dessert. If your doctor or nutritionist recommends it, give them supplements to ensure they keep their vitamin and mineral levels up. To strengthen their bodies, encourage them to try a sport they may already be interested in; if they don't prefer any particular sports, you may want to expose them to more than they have been aware of or have them do a few trial sessions. Help them formulate healthy habits that will stay with them until they grow up.

(Photo by Cheryl Empey via sxc.hu)