"Which Nutritional Supplements Should I Take?" I hear this every week in my acupuncture practice. It's a reasonable question. Even conventional medical doctors are realizing that it is difficult to get optimal nutrients in a modern American diet.This blog is not going to discuss every reason we might benefit from supplementation. But, consider these few items:
1. Most food is grown on nutrient depleted soils. If it's not in the soil, it's not in the food.
2. Most food is sprayed with pesticides and herbicides. These toxins create additional stress on the body.
3. Stressful lifestyles cause the body to burn through nutrients more rapidly.
Each one of those topics could be a chapter in a book. But let's cut to the chase.…where to start?
The following are general suggestions for your consideration.
1. If you can only take one product, consider a good Multi-Vitamin. I carry products form several companies and they all make good Multi-Vitamins. The one I personally use is Life Extension Mix Tablets. This may not be a good fit for some as they suggest 9 per day. I use 6 per day, but I understand that some people only want to take a "One a Day" or "Two per Day" supplement. Life Extension makes those as well.
The reason I'm willing to take that many tablets is that is has so many plant extracts, minerals and unique nutrients, it covers a lot of bases in one product.
2. Fish oil/Omega 3 Fatty acids. If you're willing to add another product, essential fats have many benefits from supporting a healthy inflammatory response to promoting heart health. My personal choice is Life Extensions' Super Omega 3.
Also, I don't think it's wise to buy inexpensive supplements. Use name brand supplements by companies that specialize in nutritional products. It would be better, in my opinion, to take less of a quality product than to buy cheap products and take full doses.
With those 2 general products as a foundation, you can add others that are targeted to your specific needs.
Important supplements that many people can benefit from include CoQ 10 and Vitamin D. How do you know if you need to supplement with those? Easy! Get a blood test. You may have to request these and your insurance may not cover them. However, check with http://www.lifeextension.com to see if their blood test prices are less expensive than what your doctor would charge.
Another service Life Extension offers is that you can discuss your blood test results with a physician on staff. They can give you another perspective on your needs based on your blood work.
If your CoQ 10 or Vitamin D levels are not optimal, these would be excellent additions to your wellness program.
This article was not intended to be a plug for the Life Extension Foundation, but their products are the foundation of my personal wellness program. I use products from several companies but I do notice that most of them are from Life Extension.
Good nutritional support is just one pillar of a healthy lifestyle. Adequate exercise, quality sleep and stress reduction are also important.
It would be nice if it didn't matter what we did and we could just feel great. For most of us, our conscious choices will determine how good we feel and how much quality of life we have.
