Top 5 Reasons to Supplement Your Diet
- Michael V Farnum
- Dec 15, 2016
- 4 min read
Like a lot of people I dislike taking medicine. But sometimes we just have to suck it up and take our big boy, or big girl, pills. Years ago a medical condition compelled me to start taking iron supplements for a time. The more I come to learn about nutrition, the more I realize that often times a healthy diet may not be enough. Despite the marvels of modern technology, the sad fact is the commercially produced food that we consume in present times is simply not as nutrient-abundant as it used to be. For myriad reasons, our agricultural soil is not as rich as it once was. Laden with chemical preservatives, artificial sweeteners, toxic pesticides and other contaminants, the food we routinely buy in supermarkets is not as healthful as it should be. Obviously there is no substitute for a healthy diet, but since I began supplementing my nutrition from a reputable source, I have become a believer. I possess more energy, experience far less fatigue and suffer fewer illnesses and infections than ever before.
#1: Too much sugar, Sugar, and other bad things . . .
It is so-o-o tempting. Often irresistible. Our commercially produced food has been invaded by the sweetly diabolical, highly addicting stuff. Checked a food label lately? Sugar and its even more addictive artificial counterparts are ever present in our food supply. It pops up all too often, even in so-called healthy foods like yogurt, juices and diet bars. Sugar addiction has become a health pandemic globally. Sadly, what should be relegated to a very infrequent indulgence has become a toxic, diabetes-inducing, obesity-producing food staple. Our bodies weren't meant to consume the massive amounts of sugar to which our taste buds and brains have become accustomed, constantly demanding more all the time. Meanwhile the body demands an incredible amount of nutrients just to digest the stuff. Consuming sugar causes us to need even more minerals such as zinc. Alcohol, caffeine and other unhealthy things neutralize our crucial B-complex vitamins. Our digestion suffers, so does our immunity. We become susceptible to fatigue, malaise, infection and disease. We have come to rely on antibiotics and steroids to fend off our infections and allergies, further robbing or denying ourselves of precious nutrients. It is a vicious cycle. Where are these essential nutrients going to come from? Your diet? Really? Which leads us to Number Two . . .
#2: Your Diet May Not be as Healthy as You Think . . .
You think you're doing pretty well, eating your veggies everyday. But if your produce is not organic, you're probably consuming concentrated amounts of pesticides. And thus your body requires more nutrients to digest, detoxify your blood and hopefully eliminate the toxins. And even the healthiest of diets may not be achieving therapeutic range in all nutrients. Never heard of it? Therapeutic range is taking your nutrient consumption to the next level. This is crucial for maximum energy production, optimal athletic performance, fighting chronic infections and disease, fatigue and healing. The B-complex vitamins and Vitamin C in particular are nearly impossible to acquire in therapeutic range via diet alone.
#3: Liver Detoxification
Your stressful, non-stop, cosmopolitan lifestyle isn't doing your liver any favors. Neither is your fast-food, your sugary, high-fat, frozen delights diet and your stress-relieving happy hours. I'm not here to judge, just stating the facts, ma'am. This resilient organ is responsible for cleaning your blood and breaking down fats from food, twenty-four, seven. And it does it's heaviest lifting late at night. If you are consistently eating and/or drinking late and often, your body is expending precious energy and nutrients on digestion, and thus your body's essential detoxifying processes will suffer. After years and decades of sub-par nutrition, over-eating, high stress and the oft unavoidable bio-accumulation of environmental pollutants, something has to give. And especially if you are not sleeping enough, sooner or later, you are going to have big problems with your Liver-Gall Bladder Energetics, brothers and sisters. While stress management and a healthy diet are important factors in this arena, healing herbal supplementation can be a big help, particularly in replenishing the antioxidant vitamins, A-C-E . . .
#4: Healing Herbs
Liver detoxification is just one area where nutritional supplementation can be a boon to your healthier lifestyle. Healing herbs such as dandelion, borotutu bark, milk thistle, greater celandine, chicory and turmeric are all potent natural medicines to aid the liver. Supplementation from a reliable source, via capsule, tablet, powder or liquid form, and in herbal teas, are the safest, most convenient methods to ingest these healing herbs. These natural medicines can be utilized to treat and alleviate untold health conditions. Melatonin is a key supplement to relieve insomnia. Numerous adrenal health formulas are available to aid in stress relief, cortisol balance and to reduce fatigue. Unique tonics consisting of healing herbs, enzymes and amino acids are indispensable in improving digestive health. Green super food supplementation provide valuable phytonutrients most of us simply aren't getting enough of from our unhealthy western diets.
#5: Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical drug use has escalated to record levels. Most medications deplete essential nutrients, making people more vulnerable to deficiencies.
Aluminum antacids interfere with your body's absorption of Vitamin A, Vitamin D, folic acid, calcium, chromium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc.
Beta-blockers also block your body's melatonin and co-enzyme Q 10.
Antibiotics rob your body of B-complex, Vitamin K, zinc and healthy bacteria that aid digestion.
Statin drugs and those designed to lower cholesterol deplete the fat-soluble vitamins (ADEK), beta-carotene, vitamin B12, folic acid and iron.
The only viable solution to averting drug-induced nutritional deficiencies is to replace the depleted nutrients through nutritional supplements, dietary sources, or both. Long-term use of pharmaceuticals results in additional bio-accumulation in the body, which once again brings us right back to the all-important issue of liver detox.
References:
Flaws, Bob. The Tao of Healthy Eating, 1998.
http://www.ucsusa.org/center-for-science-and-democracy/sugar-coating-science.html#.WFMLdn1EIvA. 12/15/16
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