Why Should We Take Supplements?

December 26, 2022

Many people believe that they can get all of the nutrients our body requires to function adequately, from food alone, especially if they eat organic, prepare their own meals or eat at top restaurants. This is far from the truth as explained below:

Soil Degradation. The quality of the soil that conventional produce is grown in is declining and if the nutrient is not in the soil, than it will not be in the food. As the soil becomes increasingly nutrient-deficient, so does our food. In conventional farming practices, typically, only three nutrients are fertilised back into the soil. There are nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. This means that 52 other nutrients are missing from the foods we eat. We cannot deprive our bodies from its biological requirement for nutrients and therefore obtain these from supplements.

Higher Nutritional Needs. There are many times in our lives when some nutrients may be required at higher levels that can be supplied via food. In times of huge stress for example, the body has to make additional units of stress hormones such as cortisol and because this is linked to saving your life, it takes priority and other parts of your body can miss out on the ready supply of vital nutrients. Our antioxidant requirements are also increased during times of stress, which is every day for most people.

Recommended Daily Intakes (RDIs). Please note the difference between the minimum intakes required to prevent nutritional deficiencies versus optimum nutrient intakes for outstanding health. RDIs are set at the amounts required to prevent deficiency and not necessarily the amount required to obtain excellent health and energy.

Oxidisation

When you cut an apple and leave it for a few minutes, the apple turns brown. This is called oxidisation. The same goes with other fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, which are main sources of required nutrients. Apart from oxidation by air, light is also another factor that oxidises certain foods, which is why some oils such as olive oil and supplements are best when these are packed in light and air proof containers.

Cooking on high heat or overcooking

Most of us have never learnt how to cook for maximum nutrition. We may have learnt from our elders, however this rarely means the older generation have the best knowledge when it comes to food preparation. Many of us cook on very high heat via deep frying, steaming or boiling. All these methods destroys the vitamins and minerals.

We must remember though that “supplements” are designed to supplement and not replace a well balance lifestyle including meal intake. Supplements are therefore not “magic pills” that will sort out our bad lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking and taking drugs.

Not all supplements are created equal or of top quality which is why you need to connect with a clinic such as ours, as we have done and continue to test the quality of various supplements and only recommend the best as we only have one body and must give it the best. You must not waste money on nutritional supplements that are not highly bioavailable or contact nutrients in inappropriate amounts or ratios for your needs. When it comes to supplements and food intake, quality makes all the difference and we must never eat only because it is convenient or tastes good.

Some of the key vitamins and nutrients that help maintain healthy organs and in particular eye health are as follows:

Vitamin A plays a crucial role in vision by maintaining a clear cornea, which is the outside covering of your eye. In developing countries, deficiency in this Vitamin is rare. This deficiency can lead to Xerophthalmia which is a progressive disease that starts with night blindness.

Vitamin B1 or Thiamine plays a role in proper cell function and converting foods into energy. It also helps reduce the risk of developing cataracts.

Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin is an antioxidant that has the potential to reduce oxidative stress in your body, including the eyes.

Vitamin B3 or Niacin helps your body convert food into energy. It also acts as an antioxidant and plays a role in prevention of glaucoma, which is a condition in which the optic nerve of your eye becomes damaged.

Vitamins B6, B9 and B12 for part of the B Complex Vitamins which can lower the levels of homocysteine, a protein in your body that is associated with inflammation and increased risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can protect your eyes against damaging free radicals. It is required to make collagen, a protein that provides structure to your eye, particular in the cornea and sclera, which is the whites of the eyes.

Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that helps protect your cells from oxidative stress. Studies have shown that age-related cataracts can be prevented by adequate intake of Vitamin E.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin are part of the carotenoid family, which is a group of beneficial compounds synthesized by plants. These carotenoids are found in the macula and retina of your eyes and these help filter potentially harmful blue light.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat. It helps form the cells of your eye and has anti-inflammatory properties which play a role in the prevention of diabetic retinopathy.

One of the trusted supplements suppliers we personally use and recommend is called Usana Health Sciences as they have been supplied top rated supplements and skincare for over 30 years. You may get access to their products via this link. Usana’s supplements have been independently rate by The Comparative Guide To Nutritional Supplements as the top Platinum Plus 5 star rating. It is the only supplier we know who creates supplements based on what our bodies require vs pricing based on what the majority are willing to pay and then choosing inferior quality ingredients accordingly.

To learn more about Why Should We Take Supplements, check out our other related blogs:

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