When you reach for a bottle of Vitamin A, C, D, E or Fish Oil, you wonder if they are effective and if they are safe to take. The first question you ask yourself is whether you need them.
Most people take one or more dietary supplements daily. Dietary supplements are available without a prescription and are usually in the form of a tablet, capsule, powder, or liquid form. The group of dietary supplements includes vitamins, minerals, and natural products. People take dietary supplements to ensure they get enough essential nutrients and to maintain or improve their health.
It is generally accepted that a person obtains all necessary nutrients by following a healthy and balanced diet and that supplements are unnecessary. I believe you all have friends who condemn supplements. They consider them unnecessary. Nowadays, the need for supplements is much greater than in the years when your grandparents were children. Here you can find 7 answers to the question "Why take dietary supplements".
1. Depleted soils
Improper farming practices disrupt the nutrient levels in the soil. When crops are repeatedly grown on the same land, the soil loses nutrients faster than they can be replaced. Over time, plants have fewer nutrients to grow. Fertilizer contains enough nutrients for plants to survive until harvest, but not enough to support human health. As a result, market plants have up to 75% fewer micronutrients. In addition, most commercial plants are not harvested ripe, as they are not sold immediately afterward. They sit in trucks, on store shelves for weeks before being eaten. Over time, the nutritional content of these plants decreases.
Most modern fruits and vegetables are grown to increase their sugar content, but not their nutritional value. As a result, most common fruits and vegetables are artificially high in fructose and lower in key nutrients.
Consequently, when plants contain fewer nutrients, the animals that feed on these plants are also malnourished.
2. Water depletion
Water is also depleted of minerals due to modern production methods. There is a huge difference in the mineral content of mineral and tap water, with tap water usually having more (surprisingly). This may not be the case with properly produced mineral drinking water.
3. Low-calorie diets
If you are on a low-calorie diet, it means you consume fewer micronutrients. Humans are designed to consume a large number of calories and not gain weight. When you eat less (as everyone thinks you should), it's easy to become malnourished. When you consume quality foods, it's easier to get the necessary amount of nutrients without gaining weight.
Animal products are generally higher in calories and nutrients, so it's no surprise. As the modern trend is to reduce the consumption of animal foods, people consume fewer nutrients.
Vegetables treated with pesticides have lower levels of phenols than organic ones.
This is because polyphenols are synthesized as a defense against pests and pathogens. When there is no reason to protect themselves, plants stop producing polyphenols. Unfortunately, organic farming is not always possible, due to financial or logistical reasons. Even when you can find organic foods, they are not necessarily better.
4. Grain-fed animals and processed dairy products
Compared to grass-fed animals, grain-fed animals have a very low content of antioxidants, micronutrients, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. When herbivorous animals are fed grains, they remain malnourished. This can also lead to increased nutrient needs.
Unpasteurized, unprocessed, full-fat milk and dairy products are good for you, but in processed form, these products are not very healthy. Most of the nutrients in milk are found in the fat (cream). When you remove or reduce fat, you also remove and reduce the nutritional content. Pasteurization destroys some of the nutrients in skimmed and whole milk.
5. Toxin exposure
Your body needs nutrients to deal with toxins.
Your body has to deal with dietary toxins, stress, and lack of sleep daily.
There are hundreds of other sources of unnatural stress that increase the body's need for proper nutrition. Even if you do everything in your power regarding nutrition - it's almost impossible to get all the nutrients from food.
6. Nutrient absorption decreases with age
Several studies show that children need more nutrients to support growth, and older people need more nutrients due to malabsorption of nutrients. As people age, they often take medications that can interfere with nutrient absorption. This means that more nutrients should be taken in the most absorbable form possible.
7. Intense workouts
Athletes often think that workouts are the key to a longer and healthier life (not exactly). If you do more exercise, it significantly reduces the number of energy reserves, which also means using more nutrients for energy production and recovery. As a result, athletes are at an even higher risk of nutrient deficiencies. Since many athletes eat a low-nutrient, high-toxin diet - this is a serious problem.
Do you think a supplement is necessary for optimal health?
