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Nutritional Supplements - Should I Take Them?
Lots of people take nutritional supplements to
bridge nutritional gaps in their diet or as proactive
health measures against certain health conditions.
Are you sure you are taking the right nutritional
supplement specific to your health needs? Taking
some time to assess your health needs can help
you choose the best supplement for optimal health.But
your question may be more basic: Do I really need
to take nutritional supplements? We live in unique
times. Stress, pollution, conveniently accessible
processed foods, unhealthy eating habits and sedentary
lifestyles overtime can take their heavy toll
on our health.
This may manifest itself in bouts
of tiredness, unhealthy weight gain, digestive
problems, insomnia, or a weak immune system. In
addition to these common symptoms of poor health,
each of us has uniquely individual health needs.Taking
care of your body today is like investing in your
health for tomorrow. Let's address some common
reasons why many people do not take nutritional
supplements. And those who do take nutritional
supplements may also discover that you can benefit
by changing or adding nutritional supplements
to your diet as you assess your individual health
needs.Let's begin with:
* I don't need nutritional supplements. I eat
healthy and get enough nutrition through my diet.I
would suggest you do a simple exercise to confirm
whether your diet is meeting your nutritional
needs. Note down everything that you eat for two
weeks, including the quantity. Check a nutrition
table and track the nutrient value of everything
you eat. After two weeks, work out your daily
average and check your daily rating against your
RDAs.
You may be in for a slight shock! Statistics
show that most Americans don't meet their nutritional
needs. Lack of protein, too many carbohydrates.
You might find that your diet lacks protein but
is too high in carbohydrates. This is very common
in the American diet. Cutting down on the carbs
and supplementing your diet with spirulina or
chlorella (high-protein content) will help fill
this nutritional gap. Lack of fiber. Another common
feature is lack of adequate fiber. Fiber supplements
are available as an individual product or may
be included as an ingredient in a whole food nutritional
supplement.
Fiber is known to bind toxins in your
GI tract and help speed its transit through your
digestive system, thus minimizing their absorption
in the body. Fiber is also known to promote healthy
cholesterol and blood sugar levels. If your diet
falls short on many RDA counts, consider taking
a superfood supplement which includes multi-vitamins,
minerals, protein, dietary fiber, probiotics and
enzymes for good digestion.
* I have a busy life. I've tried taking them,
but my schedule doesn't allow me to be consistent.
I travel a lot.If you lead a busy lifestyle, taking
a nutritional supplement regularly will help you
have the energy and concentration power you need
to perform at your maximum best. You may be on
the go all the time and miss out on meals. Nutritional
supplements are available in convenient-to-carry
individual packets. This is usually in powdered
form to be mixed with water. You can carry packets
with you any where you go, and use it any time
you feel the need for an energy pick-up.
It is
important to attend to your health needs as a
priority, in addition to the many other important
demands in your life. A busy schedule can add
stress to your life. Stress can increase the toxin
levels in your body. Not only would your body
need to be armed with B-complex, but nutrients
like resveratol and omega 3s can help to increase
your concentration and cognitive abilities. Green
tea is also known to have soothing benefits for
a tired mind.
* I don't know which nutritional supplement to
take. Take some time to assess your health needs.
The simple exercise mentioned above will help
you find your nutritional needs. You can either
adjust your diet to meet your needs or introduce
supplements to bridge the nutritional gaps. If
you are still unsure, seek the advice of your
doctor before you take any supplement.However,
everyone can benefit from taking a multi-vitamin
supplement. An effervescent multi-vitamin formula
is the best since it allows 99% bioavailability.
Look for one from a reputed company.
* I take a multi-vitamin. I don't think I need
to take anything else.As research on nutrition
advances, there are more nutritional supplements
available to strategically help you with specific
health needs. Some might be formulated for health
conditions you are facing or you may likely face
because you are in a higher risk category for
such diseases. These include: High cholesterol
levels.
If your cholesterol levels test high,
or you have a family history of coronary disease,
then you should look for herbal supplements that
can help you maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
Omega 3 supplementation is advisable for improved
heart health. Look for a pharmaceutical grade
fish oil. Other nutrients for heart health include
resveratrol, cocoa and green tea. Some products
contain a combination of all 3 for powerful antioxidant
power that promotes cardiovascular health. Diabetes.
Green tea is also known to help support healthy
blood sugar levels.
Green tea supplements are
available in various forms. Arthritis: Omega 3
fatty acids, along with other nutrients such as
glucosamine sulfate, methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM),
hyal joint have been well researched for their
role in supporting joint health. Stress Induced
Conditions. Stress is known to cause poor immune
health and a host of health issues such as premature
aging due to free radical damage. Antioxidants
also help to reduce free radical activity. Free
radical activity is the unstable activity of cells
which can lead to their malfunction and malformation.
Antioxidants help maintain normal cellular growth
and repair of cells.
* I'm scared I may overdose.It is very unlikely
that you will overdose from nutritional supplements.
Nutritional supplements do not provide you your
complete RDAs-just a portion of them. The rest
you must get from eating a balanced diet.
Many health problems can be linked to nutritional
deficiencies. For some this may mean that the
road to better health may lie in improving nutritional
habits. This is where nutritional supplements
can play an effective role in supporting your
health.Nutrition experts recommend that you get
your nutrition from your diet as often as possible.
Nutritional supplements are to be taken in addition
to a well-balanced diet. A regular exercise routine
can benefit your health as well. Discuss with
your doctor about taking supplements that could
strategically meet your individual health needs.
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