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5 Powerful Reasons to Take Food Supplements

March 14, 2016 By Marisol

Dietary supplements continue to be a debatable issue among health professionals, fitness specialists and nutrition experts. On one hand, there are people who believe that all the vitamins and minerals needed by our bodies can be obtained through diet alone. They have even come up with studies that show the negative effects of these products that come in the form of tablets, capsules, drinks and energy bars, increasing the risk for mortality in certain age and gender groups, even if direct cause has not been proven. These pills and tablets are not regulated, they say, and taking them could do more harm than good. On the other end, there are physicians and nutrition scientists who advocate the use of these health products, claiming that while sensible eating provides us with the necessary nutrients, the changing times are depriving us of sufficient amounts to protect our tissues and organs, hence lowering our immune system and making us more susceptible to diseases.

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https://www.flickr.com/photos/colindunn/4397922243/

Carol Haggans, a registered dietitian and consultant to NIH, says, “It’s possible to get all of the nutrients you need by eating a variety of healthy foods, so you don’t have to take one but supplements can be useful for filling in gaps in your diet.” Fast-paced lifestyles, environmental destruction and climate change, and a host of other factors have widened these gaps, contributing to our nutritional deficit. Hence, the need for dietary reinforcement becomes more urgent.

Five Reasons to Take Food Supplements

We are eating more nutrient-deficient processed food and fast foods.

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The fast-paced lifestyle of today has people multitasking and being always on the go, making processed foods and fast food offerings a very convenient way of taking one’s meals. Yet fast foods have been stripped of their nutrients and replaced with chemical additives and preservatives to make the tastier and more filling. If you are making them your regular meals, you will need vitamin and mineral pills.

We are exposed to environmental toxins daily.

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External toxins and free radicals abound in the environment, coming from cigarette smoke, exhaust from cars, pesticides and even household items like hair sprays and cleansers. You inhale them and absorb them through your skin. To combat the damaging effects of toxins on our health, you need adequate amounts of antioxidants. Unless you are fastidious about the food you eat, your regular diet is not enough to provide you with ample amounts of antioxidants. You can only get them from dietary supplements.

The earth’s soil has been depleted of nutrients.

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Back in the early 1900s, our planet’s land was rich in vitamins and minerals. These were passed on to the organic matters that grew on them – trees and their fruits, vegetables and other plants that we eat. Today, the potassium, calcium, magnesium and other important micronutrients that nourish and protect our bodies are severely lacking in our earth. Business in agriculture is partly responsible for the depletion of the nutrients in soil. Farmers abuse the land, planting and harvesting for profit without giving the land enough time to regenerate the nutrients. One negative outcome of this is seen in our fruits and vegetables. Compared to years earlier, they now have less of the vitamins and minerals they used to be abundant in.

Cooking methods and storage decrease the nutrients in our fruits and vegetables.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/agrilifetoday/15244283410/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/agrilifetoday/15244283410/

Vitamins and minerals are affected in different manner by specific cooking methods and storage. When cooking vegetables in water, most vitamins and minerals leak out to the water, so throwing the water away means you’re not getting the nutrients in the food. If it’s broth or soup where you eat the liquid, you’re getting the nutrients, too. High heat and longer cooking time destroy Vitamin C, potassium and folate. Long storage time, even in cool places like your refrigerator, also depletes food of its nutritional value.

Adults now experience more stress than their ancestors.

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The adults of today are more stressed than their parents. In part, this is due to the emphasis placed on loving one’s self, achievement of external goals (money, success, fame and image) and overly high expectations from other people. These are all stressful objectives, especially if unmet. Stress impairs proper breathing. Stressed people have small short breaths, depriving their lungs of sufficient oxygen. Stress produces too much adrenaline and cortisol, leading to higher blood pressure and other medical conditions. Being stressed also leads you to unhealthy actions, like smoking, drinking and eating your comfort foods that are usually high in fats and sugar.

Now you know why diet alone isn not enough. Although ideally, we should be getting all the required nutrients from the food we eat, it is nearly impossible when we are surrounded by the unavoidable toxins and our fruits and vegetables are not as vitamin- and mineral-rich as they used to be. If we want to stay healthy and live longer, supplementation is a good way to begin.

Filed Under: Health & Beauty Tagged With: benefits of food supplements, food supplements, minerals, vitamins

How To Maintain A Strong Immune System

December 26, 2013 By Dave

If you take a moment to think about your immune system, you’ll quickly come to the realization that it is truly extraordinary. There are millions of different types of bacteria and viruses, but your immune system manages to keep you safe from nearly all of them. Sure, you may pick up the occasional bug, but when you compare this to all the diseases that are out there, this is a drop in the ocean.

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However, your immune system needs you to give a helping hand if it is to stay in top shape. There are lots of different ways you can do this, but the first place to start is with eating a good diet. A good diet means a balanced diet – you need to have foods from all the five food groups if you are going to get all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that you need. For example dairy products have lots of vitamin A and B12, both of which can help to boost your immune system. On the other hand, foods that are high in fats and sugar will suppress your immune system – you need some of these for energy, but if you have too much it can actually stop your white blood cells from attacking bacteria. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Diet & Fitness Tagged With: health, immune system, vitamins

Stevia Also Has Vitamins

August 30, 2012 By mamasaurus

Metabolic diseases like diabetes are potentially debilitating problems that can wreak havoc on the sufferer’s lifestyle and quality of life. Unfortunately, there are still no known effective cures for diabetes and various metabolic disorders. The best, and so far, the only way to handle diabetes is taking medication and initiating a complete lifestyle change, most specifically doing more exercises and changing the diet. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Health & Beauty, Wellness & Kids Health Tagged With: health, stevia, vitamins

Vitamins for healthy hair

May 13, 2011 By Gary

Shampoos, conditioners, and even an expensive hair treatment at the spa are all great, but the best thing you can do for your hair is to eat a healthy diet. Vitamins and minerals are crucial in keeping your hair follicles healthy—which translates to hair that grows faster, and is stronger and more shiny.

These are some of the most important vitamins and minerals for your hair. Include them in your daily diet, and you’ll see and feel the results. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Health & Beauty, Skin Care & Your Body Tagged With: beauty tips, hair, vitamins

5 Tips for Choosing Vitamin Supplements

February 7, 2011 By Gary

Our body needs vitamins and minerals to function properly. We often get them from the food we eat. Unfortunately, many people do not have a proper diet that they do not get the right amounts of vitamins and minerals into their body. Sometimes, stress and bad lifestyle choices can also affect the vitamin and mineral levels in the body or actually prevent its proper absorption. That’s why many people try to augment this deficiency by taking vitamin supplements. Which do you need? [Read more…]

Filed Under: Health & Beauty, Popular, Skin Care & Your Body Tagged With: vitamins, well-being

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