By Previnex®
A common question we see is: “Do I really need supplements, or can I get all the nutrients I need from eating well?” The simple answer is yes, you most likely need supplements!
While food is a powerful vessel for vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients, there are some nutrients that, unfortunately, cannot be obtained in high enough quantities from diet alone. At Previnex, we see optimal health as a five-pronged approach:
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Food
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Supplementation
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Exercise
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Sleep
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Stress Management
These five pillars together create a well-rounded lifestyle, which allows you to create and achieve optimal health. We also get it, though—diving into the world of supplements can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s look at why supplementation is an important part of a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle.
Do I Get All the Nutrients I Need From My Diet?
Simply put, no. It is virtually impossible to get the necessary amount of nutrients required for optimal health from diet alone. For example, let’s look at Vitamin E.
To get the most out of Vitamin D, it’s recommended to consume 2,000 IU of Vitamin D3, or up to 6,000-8,000 for optimal benefits. It would be physically impossible to obtain that much Vitamin D from diet alone. Since Vitamin D3 is the form of the vitamin our bodies can absorb, and many supplements and food sources are Vitamin D2, supplementation becomes imperative. Foods rich in Vitamin D include cod liver oil, fish, beef liver, and other fortified foods, but these food sources do not contain anywhere near the amount of Vitamin D our bodies need.
Vitamin-rich food sources are a crucial part of a well-rounded, healthy diet. Unfortunately, many food sources do not provide enough nutrients to replace supplements entirely. This is due to how much the food industry has changed, stripping nutrients out of our food. The richness and vitality of the soil we use, the length of time from harvesting to food being put on the shelf, and even the quality of farming practices in general have all caused our food to be less nutrient-dense than even 50 years ago. And, there have been advances in the field of nutritional science over the last 10-20 years that help inform what optimal levels of key nutrients are.
Today, over 60% of the food we eat is considered processed. Fast food chains were introduced in 1921 with the invention of White Castle in Wichita, Kansas. Now, on average, McDonalds sells 75 hamburgers per second. Throughout time, as the emphasis on high-quality, organic, locally farmed food has gone down, so has our nutrition. Unfortunately, because of these changes, our food is not nutrient-rich or nutrient-dense enough to give us all the necessary vitamins and minerals we need for optimal health.
Are the RDAs of Certain Nutrients Sufficient for Optimal Health?
No, RDAs are not the most accurate measure of optimal health. The Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) were developed and first introduced in 1941, during World War II, to provide “standards to serve as a goal for good nutrition.” Initially, they were focused on establishing nutrient levels that would protect soldiers from deficiency diseases like scurvy, rickets, and pellagra. While these diseases are highly uncommon in developed countries like the United States, our entire food labeling system is based on the RDA approach. The underlying suggestion here is that if you’re getting 100% of the RDAs or Daily Value (DV) of various nutrients, you’re protecting your health by getting all that is required.
The Recommended Daily Value is what you should be getting at a minimum to avoid being deficient in vitamins and nutrients. But to obtain optimal health, you need more than the RDA—and that comes through a combination of diet and supplementation.
What Are Antioxidants, and Why Are They Important?
Antioxidants are molecules that help your body fight free radicals (basically invaders that can compromise healthy cells). Antioxidants are important because they lend an electron to these unstable molecules (oxidants) and thus better protect your underlying cells from free radical damage. To illustrate, in absence of antioxidants, free radicals will “steal” an electron from healthy cells, which then compromise healthy cells that can replicate and cause issues. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals (antioxidants are quite literally anti-oxidation) and can help your body fight off infection, disease, and anything harmful that enters your system.
Free radicals are compounds that, if levels become too high, can lead to serious disruptions over time—they’re linked to multiple illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Since free radicals are constantly being formed in your body, they would become dangerous quickly without antioxidants. But free radicals aren’t all bad—they also help your immune system fight infections.
While your body generates its own antioxidants, they’re also found in some foods—in particular, in all whole foods of plant and animal origin. Your life depends on the intake of certain antioxidants like Vitamin E and Vitamin C. Some good sources of antioxidants are berries (especially blueberries), green tea, coffee, dark chocolate, and pomegranates. Antioxidants can also be consumed through Vitamin C and E supplements, as well as other supplements.
The Bottom Line
Most people are not getting enough vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and nutrients from diet alone. Proper supplementation is a necessary part of achieving and maintaining optimal health. Eating a well-balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables is a great place to start, and should be one of the most important parts of your routine. Some things that can help are adding a greens powder like Gut and Green Superfoods, a high-quality vegan protein powder like Nourify® PLUS, an Omega-3 supplement like Omega Pure PLUS, an immunity supplement like Immune Health PLUS, and for your kids, Super Vites® Multivitamin is an amazing way to ensure they’re getting necessary nutrients. Make sure to consult your healthcare provider before you start any new supplements. Ready to achieve optimal health? Arm yourself well with a well-balanced diet, a sustainable exercise routine, good sleep, and a few high-quality supplements.
