Why Do I Need Supplementation?
Written by Brandy Siegler, Wellness Specialist
If asked, most people would say, “I eat pretty well- don’t I”? The fact is that 99% of American adults fail to meet the USDA “ Food Pyramid” dietary guidelines, according to an article reported in 1998 by the Council for Responsible Nutrition. The Anarem Report, which documents a governmental National Food Consumption Survey of over 21,500 individuals, showed that not a single personconsumed 100% of the RDA for the following studied nutrients: protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, and magnesium. These are scary statistics! We live in one of the richest countries in the world, yet may of us have such poor health.
Our lifestyles make it difficult to eat well. We eat on the run due to the fast-paced lives we lead. Very few families sit down to one good meal a day, let alone three. Single parent households or households in which both parents work means that healthy meals are often replaced with nutrient-poor fast foods. Did you know that health experts recommend 25-35 grams of fiber daily and that we average only 7-14 grams a day? Of the 1500mg of daily calcium recommended, 68% of us consume less than 800mg. Last, but certainly not least, 88% of us do not get all of our B vitamins from our diets.
There is a logical explanation. Today 80% of our food is processed, compared to 10% of our food being processed in 1910. When food is “processed” it has chemicals and preservatives added, and in this process vital nutrients are lost. Many of these additives are actually toxins and require additional nutrients in order to be eliminated from our bodies. In essence, our bodies are working overtime just to rid us of toxins we are eating.
One of the enemies in the war for good health is altered fats, which create free radicals that cause cell damage and increase our risk of cancer and heart disease. Altered fats are found in margarines, processed oils and foods, and in fried foods and heated oils. Other health challenges come in the form of meats and poultry that are injected with antibiotics and hormones, in fish loaded with toxins from polluted water, in soil depleted of trace minerals and essential nutrients, and in early harvesting, transporting, and storage of fruits and vegetables, which reduces the nutritional value of our food.
Stress also contributes to our ill health. Studies show that most people experience stress every ten minutes during the day. Stress rapidly depletes B vitamins and vitamin C. These nutrients are critical to help us get the energy we need from our food and to keep our immune systems strong and healthy. Stress also causes muscles to tighten up, increasing our need for calcium and magnesium. In addition, most of us experience fluctuations in our blood sugar level and suffer from the accompanying mood swings. Blood sugar rises too high and drops too low when our diets include excessive amounts of sugar, caffeine, and processed foods. When our blood sugar drops too low, we experience fatigue, irritability, headaches and food cravings. The best way to stabilize our blood sugar is to take in adequate amounts of protein, fiber, and B vitamins every 3-4 hrs.
Six of the ten leading causes of death are related to diet, including heart attack, stroke, arteriosclerosis, cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, and diabetes. Many young children today suffer from chronic ear infections, learning disabilities, high levels of cholesterol, and the first stages of arteriosclerosis. Allergies, arthritis, and infertility are on the rise. Sixty percent of Americans suffer from digestive or colon disorders, conditions that have been directly associated with the typical U.S. diet. Our immune systems need help, as evidenced by the dramatic increase in such immune-deficiency disorders like chronic fatigue syndrome and a wide range of environmental illnesses. Most people believe that the symptoms associated with these conditions are just part of life and take over-the-counter or prescription drugs to make the symptoms disappear without addressing the underlying problem. We are just not getting everything we need from our food and our health as a nation reflects this fact! It’s obvious we need to supplement our diets. The only question remaining is which supplements to take?
There are so many nutritional and herbal supplements on the market today that the average consumer is overwhelmed with choices. The sad thing is that not all companies care about the quality, safety, and bioavailability of the products they make, and many consumers literally waste their money buying supplements that might be of no benefit at all and may even be harmful to their health. Some guidelines for choosing safe and effective supplements are to ask for proof from the manufacturer that: 1. the products are bioavailable, meaning that they break down and reach the appropriate site within the gastrointestinal tract to be absorbed and assimilated to ensure maximum benefit, 2. the raw ingredients that are used to make the products are safe, 3. the claims that are made about the product are backed by scientific proof and clinical research. The nutritional and herbal supplement industry is only minimally regulated so it is up to all of us as consumers to educate ourselves and demand proof of quality. I have done extensive research on this subject and found Shaklee products to be excellent supplements. I would be happy to share the details with anyone who is interested and can be contacted at
814-643-3768 or jjs99@verizon.net.
Make 2004 the year in which you take charge of your health. Happy- and Healthy- New Year!
The Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association makes no medical claims or recommendations. Check with your doctor about your specific health care needs.