DO WE GET ENOUGH NUTRITION FROM OUR FOOD?

I often get asked the question weather or not their is a real benefit to supplementing our diets with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.  In an ideal world people would consume foods in their whole form un adultered by man.  Even in this ideal scenario I still question weather our current farming practices allow our foods to reach nutrient maturity.

As the demand increases and our technology allows for it so will the production or supply of food increase.  This has led to numerous changes in farming practices who's net result is to create a food supply that is less nutrient dense then it once was.

With the standard american diet (SAD) being hihgly composed of what's known as empty calories (calories that supply energy but no nutrition) our ability to realisticlly get all the optimal nutrient levels our bodies need is compromised significantly.

Even those who consume an otherwise healthy diet may be deficient, or acquiring sub-optimal levels of nutrition. Due to the changes in agricultural practices and our centralized food distribution systems, the need for mass production and a long shelf life, much of our food quality and nutrient content has suffered.

If we want to achieve optimal function we must obtain optimal nutrition.

In the June 19, 2002, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Drs. Fletcher and Fairfield reviewed studies published during the period from 1966 through January 2002, and found significant data supporting the need for vitamin supplements.

Other things such as smoking, alcohol consumption, stress, anxiety and poor digestion, to name a few, can have significant impact on your body’s ability to properly assimilate nutrients from your food.

Keep in mind that consuming large amounts of foods/calories does not necessarily mean you are getting adequate nutrition. In fact, empty calories are a major contributor to obesity and disease.

What does all this mean to you?

Basically, you must supplement your diet with OPTIMAL levels of nutrients.  The RDA is very misleading.  The RDA was established as the required minimum amount of a given nutrient to prevent signs of a deficiency.  This means that these dietary levels of nutrient intake are just barely enough to maintain you in the symptom free range.  The amount required to achieve optimal health, in most cases, is significantly higher. 

Most arguments to the contrary, that I have seen, have based their recommendations on the RDA.  This just doesn't make good sense as you can see.  The amount of food you would have to consume to gain the necessary, optimal, daily intake of nutrients would simply be to large a volume for most.

Also worth mentioning is that the quality of the supplement you choose is equally important.  It doesn't make sense to save on the purchase price if your body will never gain the benefits intended from using it in the first place.  What I'm really saying is do your research and understand the real value of buying a quality whole food multivitamin and mineral supplement.  You should approach this much in the same way you would when buying 'real' food.

If you're going to make the effort to do something positive for your health make sure you do it right. 

One company that has a committment to excellence in the otherwise unregulated food supplement arena is vitamin research products.  In an independant review they were rated 'top products overall' in the US and Canada. 

If you are looking for a basic nutrient supplement this is your best choice. However, if you have something more serious going on and would like the help of a professional you may want to contact us to help you create a customazied nutrional program to best suit your needs.

For our specific programs please take a look at the following how to resources:

How to...Reverse the aging process naturally

How to...Drop pounds of unwanted body fat, safely and steadily

How to...Perform your best, physically and mentally

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