The Case for 'Supplement Insurance'
Never has it been more necessary for us to take responsibility for our own health. That's why we have to turn to nutritional supplements to get the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients we need on a daily basis for optimal health.
According to the Healthy Eating Index, most Americans had a diet that needs improvement: Ten percent of the population had a good diet, 16 percent had a poor diet, and the remainder had a diet that needs improvement. But if you do make an effort to eat a healthy, well-rounded diet, doesn't that provide your body with the nutrients it needs each day?
While no one can deny that the foundation of our health is in the foods we eat – or don't eat – it must also be noted that there are a number of reasons why we aren't getting the nutritional value out of our food that we should.
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• Eating packaged, processed foods - Refined foods contain up to 80 percent fewer vital nutrients than do whole foods.
• Soil depletion - Fertilizers, synthetic sprays and high-yield farming have depleted the soil of many minerals, meaning the crops produced are slowly declining in nutritional value.
• Transport and storage – With foods coming from further away and spending more time in transit, storage or on shelves, the nutrient content is reduced even further.
At the same time, there are external factors that are depleting nutrients in our bodies and compromising our ability to use them:
• A proliferation of toxins and pollutants in our air and water
• Increased stress at home and in the workplace
• A rising use of pharmaceutical drugs
Because of these and other reasons, nutrient deficiencies are becoming more common. Consider these examples:
• Up to 75% of us don't get enough zinc, a key element in protecting the immune system.
• 80% of the population is deficient to some degree in chromium, a trace mineral that helps insulin work properly.
• 75% of diets are deficient in copper, which can lead to hair loss, anemia, weakened arteries, and fragile bones.
• There is RDA for Omega-3 fatty acids, but most people do not get the amounts recommended by researchers, doctors and nutritionists.
• Less time spent outdoors, increased use of sunscreen and decreased intake of dairy products has led to rapidly rising rates of vitamin D deficiency.
So how can we get the blessing from our food if the nutritional value of that food is increasingly depleted? How do we offset the environmental influences on the level of nutrients in our bodies? Fortunately, God has given medical science the "knowledge of witty inventions" (Proverbs 8:12) and specifically, knowledge of new nutritional supplements, making it easier for everyone to get the nutrients they need to stay healthy.
Medical studies consistently show that people do better when taking nutritional supplements. In fact, research indicates that there are 22 health concerns or functions that can be addressed with a nutritional supplementation program:
1. Immune Function
2. Free Radical Defense
3. Energy and Endurance
4. Joints and Muscles
5. Vision and Macular Function
6. Memory and Mental Clarity
7. Heart and Cardiovascular Function
8. Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels
9. Blood Pressure Levels
10. Veins, Arteries and Circulatory Function
11. Blood Sugar Levels
12. Prostate/Men's Well-being
13. Menopause/Women's Well-being
14. Cellular Function
15. Weight Management
16. Mood
17. Digestion and Absorption
18. Liver and Detoxification
19. Skin, Hair and Nails
20. Teeth and Gums
21. Lungs and Respiratory Function
22. Thyroid Function
Each of these categories is essential to living a full, healthy and abundant life, and each requires a variety of nutrients – being replenished daily – to operate efficiently.
A recent article in the highly regarded Journal of the American Medical Association stated, "Insufficient vitamin intake is the cause of chronic disease…Evidence shows that suboptimal levels, even those well above levels for sufficiency syndromes, are risk factors for chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis….A large portion of the general population is at increased risk for this reason."
The article also acknowledges that the evidence base for clinical effects of vitamins is increasing rapidly, and physicians need to keep up with new developments.
Most importantly, the authors of the Journal of the American Medical Association article said, "We recommend that all adults take a multivitamin daily. This practice is justified mainly by the known and suspected benefits of supplemental folate, vitamins B6 and B12 and vitamin D in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis, and because multi-vitamins at that dose are safe and inexpensive."
And it is no longer enough to just take "vitamins" as they are only one component of the basic nutritional needs. A good supplement must also contain a full spectrum of major and trace minerals; ingredients that aid digestion and absorption; omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA; a full range of antioxidants; extracts from green tea, fruits and vegetables; and nutrients to support the brain and nervous system.
