You may wonder if you are eating a relatively balanced and healthy diet, if there is any need to spend money on vitamins. Actually, there are several good reasons you still need to take vitamin supplements.
First, modern farming methods do not replenish the soil as well as they should. You are not getting all the nutrients you need from your food. Think about this—crops are picked before the fruits and vegetables have had time to ripen on the vine. They’re still raw. How many times have you bought fresh fruits or vegetables and had to wait several days before you could actually eat them? Also, produce is shipped from far away, and preservatives (toxins) are heavily used to make sure the food doesn’t rot before it makes it to your local grocery store. Have you ever wondered how it’s possible to eat oranges in the dead of winter? These fruits are out of season during the cold months. The fruit you’re eating may have come from half way across the world. When produce is picked while still green, heavily doused with preservatives, and shipped from far away, it’s nutritional value is questionable.
Another reason you want to take vitamin supplements is that our bodies require different nutrients at different stages of life. For instance, a pregnant women requires a different level of nutrition than an elderly person or a child. If you have genetic or stress issues that require more of a certain substance, a good way to add that to your diet without extra calories is by taking a nutritional supplement. Chronic stress is another good example because it affects each of us in different ways. One person may develop back problems due to stress. Another person may develop a nervous condition such as an eye tic. Vitamins and minerals can help with such problems.
Of course if you’re not eating a healthy diet, that’s even more of a reason to take nutritional supplements. You’re really short changing your body if you don’t do this.
During the course of the day, people often become forgetful. It happens so much that there is now a name for it—senior moments—except they happen to young people who are nowhere near being seniors. This leads to another example, so called brain fog. This is where your brain just doesn’t seem to be working right. You may lock yourself out of the car, wear your house shoes to work, or some other thing that seems silly. This is a symptom of your brain not having the nutrients it needs to function properly.
One example of modern day stress is overeating. People often overeat when they are stressed because they are trying to get nutrients their bodies crave. Unfortunately filling up on empty calories only makes you obese. This is another Western phenomenon—being obese yet malnourished.
What should you look for when choosing a nutritional supplement? First, it should be a vitamin and mineral supplement. Many people swear by prenatal vitamins. You don’t have to be pregnant to take them. Women, especially, should look for supplements that contain iron. Men may want to find a supplement that doesn’t contain iron as many men have too much iron in their bodies. Take into account any health problems you may have. Do a little research and find the supplement that will help you out the most. Ask your doctor what he or she takes. It’s not a bad idea to choose organic supplements. The people in your health food store can point you toward some good choices. Probiotic vitamins are another good choice. They contain beneficial bacteria and many people say they are easier on the stomach. Whatever supplement you choose, find one tailored to your needs and the stage of life you’re at now.
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