'Supplementing Your Life - To Do Or Not To Do'
For one thing, there’s compelling evidence that “real” food isn’t as real as it once was, its nutritional value has been leached out by selective breeding, factory farming and over-processing.
For another, pills and powders have never been more advanced, and the best ones harness deep scientific research and best-practices in nutrition to help your body receive nutrients that are difficult to get in daily life.
And someone who has always given top priority to fitness and nutrition, supplements for me have always come in handy in multiple ways. Let’s understand supplementation better in order to understand whether you need it or not.
What are supplements?
In simple words, supplements help you overcome the various deficiencies your body faces, with the convenience of only a few doses. Some supplements can help assure that you get enough of the vital substances the body needs to function; others may help reduce the risk of disease and even cure some diseases faster. But supplements should never replace complete meals which are necessary for a healthful diet – so, be sure you eat a variety of foods in the first place.
Who can benefit from supplements?
As it turns out, the best way to stay healthy is to choose a wide variety of nutritious foods from all food groups; however, this is no easy task to achieve. Nutrient deficiencies are not common among people, and for varying reasons, some people cannot reach the recommended nutrient amounts without using supplements and/or including fortified foods in the daily diet.
In addition to a balanced diet, these individuals may need nutrient supplements depending on their lifestyles. If you are eating less than 1,600 calories each day because you have a poor appetite or you have trouble eating for some reason, I would strongly recommend you to discuss the need for supplements with your doctor or registered dietitian nutritionist.
As people age, it can be difficult to get enough vitamins B12 and vitamin D. And for vegetarians, the sources of vitamin B12 and vitamin D are anyway negligible – so in these cases supplementation is recommended. Getting B12 from fortified foods or taking it alone or as part of a multivitamin/mineral supplement can help maintain B12 levels in your blood. If you're taking calcium or a multivitamin/mineral, choose one that also has vitamin D as sufficient amounts of vitamin D is required for absorbing the calcium.
Getting your vitamin E in pill form seems a lot easier. I’m specifically addressing vitamin E because this is one nutrient that you don't want to run low on. As an antioxidant, it scavenges free radicals, stimulates the immune system, protects against cancer and cardiovascular disease. If you’re not eating enough nuts and seeds (rich in vitamin E) then a deficiency and resulting disorders are likely.
Supplements can become an important part of your wellness
As our lives have become fast-paced, it’s gotten difficult to keep up with the nutritional body requirements. This is where supplements come into the picture. All of us can take a giant leap toward longevity just by taking supplements.
Supplementation not only protects against deficiency but also bridges the gap between average nutrition, which culminates in reduced quality of life. The extra (essential) nutrients that supplements provide can help prevent marauding free radicals from harming healthy cells and speed up the repair and regeneration of damaged cells. The upshot this is a longer and healthier life.
All in all, I would say supplements are intended to enhance the nutrient density of your diet. By nutrient density, I mean the ratio of micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients) to macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat).
In my opinion, supplementation can make the difference you’re looking for in your health goals but it is very important to choose the right types of supplements – those with reliable quality and high bio availability.
