Why Take Vitamin and Mineral Supplements?
The most common misunderstanding in the field of food supplements is the word “supplement” itself.
This is the definition from the Oxford Dictionary:
“Something added to supply a deficiency; an addition to anything by which its defects are supplied”
Therefore we see that the purpose of health supplements, by definition are to supplement the defects in your normal diet.
You may have heard the mantra, oft repeated in medical publications and by the Drug Companies that “supplements are unnecessary where a person is eating a healthy and balanced diet”. Due to modern farmin methods this is false and can severely affect your overall health.
This statement would be true if it wasn’t for one thing:
What is not factored into this statement is the element of “soil quality”. In other words the plants have to actually absorb all the necessary Nutrients in order to pass them onto us.
To do this they have to feed on high quality soil.
Unfortunately the push for profit in farming means the use of artificial fertilisers, the over cultivation of soil (exhausting the necessary minerals and nutrients the plant needs to be healthy) and the use of pesticides all reduce the quality of food and the essential Phyto (plant) nutrients in the plants themselvesad therefore the food.
Nutrients are split into the following categories:
Water, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. These are the classes of nutrient that are generally considered vital for health.
There are, however, many trace elements that are also important for health. Science had discovered many of theese, but many others are yet to be studied and many more, I am sure are yet to be discovered. The only way to be really sure of receiving enough nutrients and trace elements is to consume a diet of food that has been fed on mineral and trace element rich soil. If you live in a area where yiou cannot get this (as most of us in the west do) , then you need to supplement. Some people prefer vitamins and mineral supplements, others prefer to buy special prepared superfoods that are rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Superfoods are usually food concentrate derived from very healthy sources such as seaweed or barley.
The other thing I would say is don’t buy the propaganda line that Natural Health is somehow “unscientific”. This is complete nonsense there is an ancient scientific method of studying something known as “empirical”. Again the Oxford Dictionary defines this as:
“ Medical: of a Physician: That bases his methods of practice on the results of observations and experiments, not scientific theory. B. of a remedy , a rule treatment etc. : That is adopted because found (or believed) to have been successful in practice ; the reason for it’s efficacy unknown.
In other words if it is tried and observed to work and there are no ill effects observed then this is a valid form of scientific research. In fact for our ancestors there was no other way of doing it in the absence of labs etc. To dismiss this perfectly valid form of ancient science is, however, arrogant and stupid.
Don’t buy the line that Natural Health products have “dangerous side effects”. In actual fact it is necessary to distinguish between vitamin and mineral supplements (which are food) and herbal supplements (which are a natural medicine). There is no evidence of dangerous side effects for any vitamins or minerals, except where they are used in ridiculously high quantities. There can be side effects from herbs, usually these are well documented, so anyone taking herbs should check these before taking.
So, to summarise, supplements are not only a good thing, they are essential.
Don’t buy lies perpetrated by the medical profession and the drug companies. These are based on basic economics: Eestablish your market, establish a reputation, nullify or remove any competition by whatever means, gain the maximum market share.
Lets not let a simple problem like people getting sick or dying get in the way of this. Realise that the health industry is still an industry, concerned mainly with making profit.
I have made some websites which have information on really good quality vitamins and supplements. They are at these links:
Different types of vitamins and superfoods:
Probiotics (healthy bacteria) for a healthy intenstine and gut.
If you are a bit older, then the following website recommends
supplements for lack of energy and other conditions closely related to the over thirty fives.
Have fun and be healthy
!Liam Jones
The author has spent several years in the natural supplements industry in sales. The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author alone. The Author does not represent any other individual, body, groups, organisation or company of any kind whatsoever. The statements in this blog are not intended to recommend the treatment if any illness,. if you are ill or are concerned about your health, see a qualified health professional, preferably one who Is qualified in both conventional medicine and natural health methods and takes a holistic approach.
Tags: fitness, Health, Suuplements, Vtamin
