“Do I really need to supplement?”
“Which supplements should I take?”
“Do I really need to take all those?”
With all the contradictions floating around out there about nutrition, and the overwhelming amount of choices and claims in the supplement world, you have probably asked yourself these questions at some point in your life.
Briefly, I believe the answers are, respectively, “Yes”, “It depends”, and “Probably not.”
Three reasons to consider taking supplements
First, the modern-day water supplies are generally low in minerals. One of the common denominators among the longest-lived people groups in the world is they all have (or used to have) access to mountain water, brimming over with minerals.
Second, modern-day food – yes, including organic whole foods – are much lower in nutrients than they were a century ago. Happily, between composting and a mass production of soil amendments, many organic farmers and gardeners are progressively more able to produce food closer to its original nutritional value. However, if you only buy food from a store, you can never be exactly sure what you’re getting.
Third, modern-day stress levels are through the roof. Since stress causes depletion of the body’s mineral supply, even someone eating a very healthy diet may be deficient in some nutrients.
“But, how do I know which supplements to take?”
First, determine your personal nutrient deficiencies. Hair analysis is one way, but not the best as it tells you the nutritional state of your body from four months ago. If at all possible, see a doctor who does functional medicine. The test is not cheap – $500 is a typical rate – but it will reveal what nutrients you are deficient in.
After you understand your deficiencies, add the appropriate foods and whole-food based supplements to your diet.
Second, take a superfood-based supplement that you notice makes a difference in your body. Masaji contains many different superfoods, and therefore a wide range of nutrients, and very dramatically changed my life.
Third, consider taking a supplement based on your genetic history. For example, if many of your relatives have struggled with heart disease, take a supplement specifically formulated to improve heart health.
Follow these guidelines for supplementation, and you won’t have to worry about spending hundreds of dollars a month on dozens of different supplements that you most likely don’t need…no matter what the gurus say.
And your pantry will be a lot cleaner!
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Supplements are not the be-all and end-all of superior health, but just one component. To learn all the crucial aspects of living healthier, longer and disease-free, don’t miss my e-book, Weird Health. You can download the first few pages for FREE!