Why Do We Need Supplements?
1. Depleted Soils.
Even if you eat a healthy, predominantly plant-based diet with lots of
fruit and vegetables, chances are good (unless you’re consuming
everything organic) the food comes from soils that have
insufficient mineral content. When foods are grown over and over again
in the same soils, the mineral content of that soil becomes depleted
over time. This is ANOTHER reason why it is so vitally important to
consume organic foods as much as possible. Organic farming practices
include “crop rotating” so that soil depletion does not occur.
Unfortunately, even buying organic doesn’t always mean you’re going to
get superior foods. Although organic soil can get depleted, buying
organic remains the better, healthier choice for you and the planet!
2. Long Transit Time for Delivery.
Have you noticed an increasing amount of produce finding its way to
your grocery store comes from other countries? If you think your
favorite mango or pineapple (from Hawaii or the Philippines) was just
cut at its peak ripeness, then immediately boxed, rushed to the airport
and shipped overnight to your favorite grocery store, you’re sadly
mistaken. Sometimes, foods are picked weeks and even MONTHS before we
see it on our shelves. So much for obtaining the maximum amount of
nutrition! I always suggest that my clients buy as much of their food as
possible from local growers to reduce transit time and improve the
nutritional value of the food they’re eating.
3. Overcooking Our Foods.
Americans have a bad habit of cooking our food “to death,” resulting in
a massive loss of nutritional value, meaning far fewer vitamins,
minerals, antioxidants and enzymes to go around. What’s more, eating
these depleted foods over time creates its own set of health problems.
Cooking does “kill” the food, resulting in lost nutrition. As far as
fruits and vegetables, consuming them in as close to a raw (uncooked)
state as possible is always the best way.
4. Not Eating Regular Meals.
So many people skip meals. Grabbing a bagel or doughnut while slamming
down some coffee and rushing to work does NOT constitute a meal. Making
up for it later in the day at an “all-you-can-eat” buffet is not in the
best interest of our bodies either, as it puts much undue stress on the
digestive system and will eventually cause a lot of uncomfortable
symptoms.
5. Normal Aging = Digestion Issues. As we age, our
bodies produce fewer enzymes, including all the important ones needed to
properly digest and assimilate the foods we eat. Eventually, this
results in “common” stomach complaints, like reflux, heartburn, upset
stomach and chronic constipation.
6. Stress + Stress, + Stress = Compromised Immune System.
No question, we all lead busy lives and some of us are busier than
others! Between commitments to your family, school, work, community,
faith and other obligations, our lives are stressed to the max! All of
this stress takes a toll on your body and weakens your immune system.
Taking supplements can help to bridge that gap and give your body some
of the nutrition it needs to function optimally.
Of course,
nothing will take the place of eating a good and healthy diet. But
taking quality, whole food-based natural supplements can go along way
towards helping you maintain a better level of health. Besides, if
you’re still working through some bad habits (skipping meals and not
eating organic foods), you need them even more!
