The most commonly asked nutrition question is “Do I really need to use a supplement?” The answer is conclusively YES. Nutritional supplementation can improve your health as well as your nutritional status.
The health risk of supplements is absolutely minimal when compared to the risks of prescription drugs. In the last 50 years, there has been one recorded death 9 a massive overdose due to nutritional supplements. In contrast, approximately 125,000 people die every year from prescription drugs. Prescription drugs, are of course, often necessary to help prevent those same diseases from attacking.
THE FIVE PRIMARY REASONS TO SUPPLEMENT ARE:
1. Supplementation Helps to Correct Nutrient Deficiencies
Many people think that nutritional deficiencies are only found in the third world countries where children are starving. The reality is that, we are an overfed and undernourished society. The nutrient deficiencies created by our “modern” diet cause the body to be more prone to:
1. Viruses diseases
2. Infections
3. Obesity
4. Allergies
5. Headaches
6. Stress
7. Stroke
8. Fatigue
9. Ulcers
10. Bowel/ Colon problems
11. Tumors/ Cancer
12. Weak Immune System
13. Heart/ BP problems
14. Kidney problems
15. Growth & circulation problem
Today’s “modern” diet does not provide enough of the nutrients we need. Only 9% of the population consumes the recommended five servings of fruits & vegetables daily. The 1997 World health Report stated that our modern diet is too high in fat, sugar, sodium, and saturated fat and does not provide enough vitamins, minerals or fiber to meet our nutritional needs.
Supplementation helps to overcome the negative effects of poor eating habit.
2. Supplementation Helps to Replenish What’s Missing in Food
Depleted soils, pesticides and refining processes lower nutrient content in food. Processing, transporting and storing foods reduces nutrient content even further. Supplementation with high quality plant enzymes, whole food vitamins and chelated minerals can help to replace the vital nutrients your body needs.
3. Supplementation Helps to Combat Environmental Stress
With today’s polluted environment and high-stress lifestyles, there are more reasons than ever for taking nutritional supplement.
a. Inadequate chemical disposal and environmental waste increase health stress.
b. Chemically treated food can lead to disease and premature aging.
c. Increase electromagnetic fields (e.g. microwaves, cellular phones, computers, etc.) can weaken the immune system.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that there are 3000 different carcinogenic chemicals found in our food. These chemicals enter your body and begin to attack the tissues and can lead to letter b.
Our bodies do not make enough antioxidants to combat the damaging effects of today’s world, so it is essential to supply the body with the extra support it needs. Supplementing with antioxidants gives your body the ammunition it needs to fight back against free radicals, repair damaged cells and tissues, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, increase immune function and decrease infection.
4. Supplementation Can Help Meet the Higher Nutritional Needs of Today’s Lifestyle.
a. The rigors of stress compromise bodily function and can deplete vital nutrients. Stress creates a higher demand for specific vitamins and minerals. Unless these nutrients are replenished, host of stress related symptoms and diseases can arise.
b. The use of oral contraceptives, heavy exercise, alcohol consumption, certain drugs, pregnancy and lactation, and other activities in today’s busy lifestyles increase the level of stress.
c. Supplementation can help to overcome nutrients depletion from lifestyles stress.
5. Supplementation Helps to Decrease Risk of Disease and Reduce Health Costs.
Coronary Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the USA.
a. Strokes (sudden blood clots in arteries)
b. Hypertension
c. Cancer causes
d. Diabetes
e. Osteoporosis (symptoms of broken bones cause by weak and brittle bones)
f. Obesity – is a significant factor of cardiovascular disease and associated with higher mortality rate.
Economist estimates that by increasing our intake of vitamins and minerals, we would reduce health cost by 25% for cardiovascular disease, 16-30% for a variety of cancers and 50% for cataracts. The simplest and most effective way to increase nutrient intake and reduce health care cost is through supplementation. This fact is strongly supported by scientific research studies.
Author: Dr. Rowena Quilang
