Should You Use Supplements?

Nutritional supplements have become so popular that they’re readily available in supermarkets and even department stores. But are they good for you? And do you need them?

Diet Comes First

Just as their name suggests, nutritional supplements are meant to supplement a good diet, not replace it. If you’re not eating well, supplements aren’t going to make up for it.

Our bodies are evolved to get the nutrients and minerals we need from food, not pills. Because natural foods often contain unique combinations of nutrients that are necessary for proper assimilation, natural food is often absorbed and utilized better than supplements are. And depending on the quality of the supplement and whether it’s from a natural or synthetic source, the nutrients from the supplement may not even be absorbed at all.

Besides, science has yet to discover all the nutrients we get from food and how we utilize them. Knowing this, would you rather trust millions of years of evolution or some guy in a white lab coat? As I indicate in my article about science vs. nature, I prefer to error on the side of nature.

More Symptom Chasing

Before I discuss why we do need supplements, there’s one more thing I’d like to point out. In many cases, supplements have provided a successful and safe alternative to dangerous medications. However, this is the same symptom chasing mentality found within conventional medicine and it’s reliance on prescription drugs.

While you may be eliminating dangerous side effects by replacing prescription drugs with natural supplements, the primary issues are still often left unresolved. Rather than simply aiming to alleviate symptoms, your use of supplements should be focused on supporting optimal function and addressing problems at the root level.

Supplements Are Important

Despite my criticisms, nutritional supplements are very useful when used properly and can have a significant impact on your health. But because many supplements contain much higher concentrations of nutrients than food, it’s easy to push your body out of balance if you’re not careful. With this in mind, here are three major reasons why nutritional supplements are important.

1. Modern Life is More Demanding

Modern society puts a greater demand on our bodies than ever before. Many of us are under a lot of stress and pack as much activity into each day as we possibly can. We also live in an environment full of chemical toxins that are nearly impossible to avoid. All this puts a tremendous demand on the body and creates the need for additional nutrients to sustain proper function and recovery.

I’m certainly not suggesting that supplements can take the place of proper rest, but many of us are in positions where it’s not always possible to cut down on stress and activity. In this case, incorporating supplements into an already healthy diet can make a big difference.

2. Food Quality Isn’t What it Used to Be

Conventionally farmed foods are often grown in depleted soil, and as a result, they have low levels of nutrients and minerals. They’re also sprayed with pesticides and other chemicals that further reduce the nutritional quality. And because of environmental pollution, even organic food doesn’t contain the amount of nutrition it did just a century ago.

Fortunately, supplements help compensate for the reduced nutritional content of your food. But this shouldn’t be misinterpreted to mean that supplements are an adequate alternative to eating organic food. Unless you have a specific problem that needs to be addressed, eating organic food should always be a priority over using supplements. If you’re not convinced, read my article about why organic food is better.

Also keep in mind that quality applies to supplements just as it does to food. As with many modern foods, supplements often contain chemicals and other unhealthy ingredients as well. Because of this, it’s important to make sure that the supplements you use are from a reputable source and don’t contain any problematic ingredients.

3. Impaired Digestion

Because poor diets have become so commonplace in modern society, many of us have compromised digestion and are not properly assimilating all the food we eat. While this is a serious health concern that should be addressed as soon as possible, it’s important to temporarily find an additional source of nutrition to compensate for the impaired absorption. Since it would be difficult to eat the amount of food required to accomplish this, supplements are a much more convenient means of obtaining the additional nutrients.

Customizing Your Supplements

As I described in my article about Metabolic Typing, we are all unique in regards to the amount of various nutrients we need to function optimally. Just as the body’s various control systems are stimulated by certain foods, they’re stimulated by supplements as well. And similar to food, a supplement that does great things for one person may make someone else feel awful.

If you’re serious about improving your health and are contemplating the use of supplements, I highly recommend that you get started on the Metabolic Typing diet first. If you need help or would like support, click here for more information. In addition to promoting optimal health through proper food selection, Metabolic Typing also incorporates the use of supplements that are formulated specifically for your individual requirements. This ensures that your supplementation will further support and promote optimal function rather than detracting from it.

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