Supplements help fullfill nutritional needs and are preventive against disease

Reasons for supplementation

Supplements were for years rejected. We all grew up believing that if we ate a reasonable diet that would take care of all our needs. Sadly, this was also supported by many clinicians which received poor information about nutrition during their careers.

I'm a chemist-pharmacist-biologist, I not only understand molecules, but I also love them, and I'm a believer that improving our nutrition will give us better chances for a long-well-living. I think if you solve your doubts about the subject, you can take the decisions that help you lead a healthy lifestyle.

That's why when someone asks me about nutritional doubts or concerns, I'm always glad to help and share what I know, or furthermore, I like to research whatever is needed for giving best answers. (This is an opening for you that are now reading this page, feel free to ask if you want).

When I was thinking about pregnancy, I asked my doc if I should take supplements (pregnant or not), and I was amazed with the answer!: Just folic acid 3 months before being pregnant!

Then, during the gestational period, he recommended a brand that I later researched and learned that was only giving me 5% of effectiveness and could have possible risks for my kidneys!!! So, I was disappointed I was only taking a placebo with no benefit at all and possibly harmful!

If you have given a thought to taking supplements or are already consuming some, you might have some questions, first one I assume will be: Do I really need to supplement myself?

In a small poll I made, I found people have considered supplements in this rate:

Out of 42 responses of people from all over the world:Do you currently take any nutritional supplement?

45% Yes. A high percentage, just in the US the percentage is about 50% of the population! So this poll seems to copy that.

52% No.

2% Unable to Answer.

My doc said: No way you need it if you're healthy!, don't you see how the isolated community of I can't remember which indian tribe from the US are eating healthy and never get sick? But then I thought... And how many people that I know really eat that healthy nowadays??? Why is there obesity, diabetes, etc.?

Fortunately, The American Medical Association has completely reversed this anti-supplement stance and now encourages everybody to use supplements daily. Why this change? Well, research has recently shown that insufficient vitamins and minerals are one of the apparent cause of chronic diseases.

If you think this is an exaggeration, let's ask for example: Do you currently consume the five servings of fruits and vegetables? It's a fact that 80% of the American population doesn't, Mexico is not an exception, and I think many other countries too.

Not only we aren't eating enough of the proper food groups, what we choose to eat can sometimes be far short in vital nutrients and with a sense of alarm high in calories, salt, sugar or fats.

To make matters worse, have in mind that commercial processing depletes many nutrients from foods as well as mass production processes of storing, drying, cooking, freeze-drying, extracting, and hydrogenating. Then, add that most of our food is poisoned with pesticides, herbicides, etc. Before they reach the industry.

Living longer but not healthier