WHY SUPPLEMENT?:
Why Do We Need To Supplement If We Eat Carefully?
Your body needs macronutrients as well as micronutrients. That means the broccoli (macro) and carrots (macro) you eat must have adequate amounts of both vitamins (micro) and minerals (micro). But our food value isn't nearly as abundant as it was 20 years ago . Many studies are available. These studies also include why your foods are so depleted in the appropriate nutrients.
What Are "Free Radicals" And "Anti-Oxidants"? Why should you know about them?
The most important medical discovery of the last half-century concerns "free radicals" and "anti-oxidants". Free radicals have been linked to (at last count) to at least 60 diseases. And we now have evidence that anti-oxidants can stop and (in some cases) can even reverse the damage done by free radicals" Dr. Robert D. Willix Jr.
Here is a definition of the term: "chronic": A chronic condition is continuous or persistent over an extended period of time. A chronic condition is one that is long-standing, not easily or quickly resolved. "Chronic" is the opposite of acute. Do you go to the doctor for fatigue, diabetes, heart problems, elevated cholesterol levels? Those are chronic illnesses.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has already reversed its position on the use of supplements. 'Policy-Reversal' of the American Medical Association - who now consider supplements to be a very important aspect in preventing disease.
JAMA Recommends Taking Supplements! Please draw your own conclusions.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/287/23/3127
The variety of nutritional supplement products out in the market place is staggering. It leaves the consumer with a very confused mind as to what are the correct supplements to take for their particular health concern. You are at the mercy of the Retailer who probably has no more knowledge than the consumer about the quality, and effectiveness, of one particular brand against another brand. The Retailer often has only the Sales Representative to rely on for information. That is where Ethics come into play. Many times Ethics are only important when the mighty Dollar is not. Nutritional companies are really not required to put in their tablets what they say is on their label. The quality of products that is placed in most supplements is of inferior quality and their manufacturing processes are generally suspect.
Of course not every Retailer or Distributor is totally concerned with just moving their products out the door but there are many who have not taken the time, or have the interest, to do their research.
Your challenge is to find the supplement best suited to your needs. To make this a little easier, included here is information from Lyle MacWilliam's highly respected 'Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements' (3rd edition) Lyle MacWilliam, BSc, MSc, FP www.comparativeguide.com. It is suggested that you get a copy if you are serious about your health. He shares a lot of essential background knowledge, which allows you to make better-informed decisions.
Some people are willing to settle for "piecemeal" (individual products) and then create their own formulation. However, you may not know how to do this. You need a firm foundation of a balanced, complete supplement to complement your regular daily meals. Maybe then you can adjust the "add on' to fill in the "deficits".
A recent study of all common brands of vitamins bought off the shelf at Health Food Stores, Pharmacies, and Super Markets, were found to be made with the wrong ratio of nutrients or too little of the more expensive ingredients, or were missing some altogether. Also there are many companies who “fudge” the truth on their labelling. For instance the word “natural” is a big selling point but most pill ingredients are synthetic. It often pays to read the small print but then of course most consumers are not sufficiently educated to know what amounts of any nutrient has any benefits in the prevention of disease. But the consumer surely must be aware that you get what you pay for.
No matter which way you choose the fact remains that you are "buying" the expertise of the manufacturing company! (And don't kid yourself to think that because it's called a manufacturing company, the products are "unnatural" ...all products are manufactured somehow.)
This field of supplements, vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc. is largely unregulated. In Canada supplements are required to carry a DIN Drug Identification Number. So regulation is implied, but the important question is "does the manufacturer meet those standards. And if there are no regulations, how will you know what is safe to eat...
In order to see how to understand what you are trying to do, it would be a good idea to pretend that you are standing in the health food store or drugstore, ready to buy. (Please remember that there are many other providers of such supplements, and the same standards will apply. Your health is at stake.) Now you are faced with this row upon row of bottles, all labelled with words you aren't sure you understand. Some names jump out at you: Vitamin D, folic acid, Glucosamine sulfate. And then you see all these boxes of "multivitamins". You recognize names from TV ads. Surely they are safe and helpful?. Please continue your research by reading on
GUIDELINES FOR CHOOSING SUPPLEMENTS
