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RISING WOMEN EXPERT ADVICE...
Supplementing
- What's the Big Deal Anyway?
Do we need to supplement vitamins and minerals? What kinds do we need? How
much are required? How much can we assimilate and how much is too much?
The truth of these questions really relies on your diet, exercise, age,
toxins exposure and the functionality of your digestive system, as these
things create the variables. We all need vitamins and in a perfect world we
should be able to get them from our food, however this is not always the
case. Through my blood analysis work I see these deficiencies in almost all
who come through the doors.
Organic foods have been proven to contain more nutrients due to the soil
they are grown in and the type of nutrients they are fed. However, if we
cook, or overcook, all our food then we are limiting the live nutrients and
enzymes available in these original raw fruits and vegetables. I find the
perfect balance is to combine foods that are half steamed and half raw. This
allows for variety as well. Eating organic is certainly the way to go, and
when you have your digestion working well and your body nutrients are
already where they need to be, then obviously you would need to supplement
less.
A person who eats a diet of meat, potatoes and limited vegetables...then has
numerous cups of coffee and a daily fried lunch of fast food, then drinks
alcohol when they get home...will naturally require more nutrients. Yes,
there are some vitamins in what they have consumed, but certainly not what
they would have received should they have eaten fruits, vegetables, nuts and
organic protein whether from beans, fish, chicken, beef, etc.
It is also important to eat regularly and refrain from skipping meals. It
doesn’t take a lot of effort to prepare healthy food in advance, especially
for lunches for ourselves and our children. This is a sure fire way of
making sure that you are getting foods that are more packed with nutrients
than fast food and restaurant menu choices.
Yes, even restaurant food can be a culprit where nutrition is concerned.
Between the questionable freshness of the produce and meats used, whether it
is washed properly and how it is prepared, leaves a lot to be desired.
Healthy food takes time to prepare, but it doesn’t make a difference whether
it is organic or conventional as far as time goes, it all needs to be washed
properly, rinsed well, chopped, cut, steamed or cooked. However your health
knows the difference and you will definitely feel better by making more
healthy choices.
Basically, we need all the vitamins from A to Z and there are many charts
and opinions out there as to what is the right dosage and what is too much.
If you follow the Required Daily Amount (RDA) published by the Health Board
you can’t go wrong. When buying supplements, only choose the ones that tell
you the amounts of ingredient. I also recommend that you do your own
research as to what multi-vitamin to take so that you can include your
lifestyle variables, as there are many health problems that require a person
to take more or less of a certain vitamin. A person who is constantly
stressed may need more vitamin B, or a person with bad bones may need more
vitamin D. If your vitamin counts are low, then you will need to take more
to build your system. And I do not suggest trying to take them all
separately, that would be insane. I recommend you take a good multi-vitamin
and add extra vitamin A, B, C, D or which ever ones you are low in. Once
your system is built, you can probably get away with a good multi-vitamin
and can omit taking the extras, unless you are compensating for your toxic
environment.
You will still need to supplement calcium and minerals. There are 74
minerals that the human body requires; 18 of which are major and the rest
are minor. Every gland, organ and body part requires minerals to function
properly. Even minor minerals such vanadium are important. We get even less
minerals in our foods than we do vitamins so they are the most important
supplement for everybody.
I recommend you find vitamins and minerals which are from organic sources
such as vegetables and fruits and refrain from time released, enteric coated
or synthetic (the “dl” form of any supplement is synthetic). Look for
products that are tested in all phases of its production, from growing its
ingredients to manufacturing, to testing for potency and quality control.
Clinics quite often carry therapeutic vitamins and minerals to suggest to
their clients. With these higher grade products you would typically need to
take fewer pills because, for instance, one therapeutic vitamin B carries
more units of the product versus a commercial product where you would have
to take 2 to 3 to get the same units. Lots of the therapeutic vitamins also
have DIN or NHP numbers which means they have to meet certain standards to
be eligible for that certification.
Most vitamins you can take higher doses of for short periods of time without
any side effects, and certainly if you do take too much your body will let
you know either through an allergic reaction such as a rash, diarrhea or
headaches. Our bodies should be able to break down and assimilate vitamins
and minerals the same as food. Test your vitamin and minerals pills in a
glass of water, leave them for 4 to 8 hours and see if they dissolve.
Although the water does not contain the stomach acid or enzymes we get from
our digestive juices it will still give you an idea if the vitamin is
absorbable. And you should always take your vitamins and minerals with food
in your stomach. I recommend that you take them 20 minutes after your food
actually so you are not diluting your digestive juices with a lot of water.
Bon Appetite!
Janet Rowe, owner of Health & Natural Lifestyles, offers Blood
Analysis, Iridology, Homeopathy, Rife, therapeutic vitamins, herbs, minerals
& essential oils. Book your blood appointment today at 403.212.6077.
www.healthy-option.com |
