| A common question asked by many health | | | | of adults indicate they are taking a one a day |
| conscious people is whether it is necessary to | | | | vitamin supplement each day. While the thought is |
| take a multi-vitamin or dietary supplement each | | | | admirable, the effect on nutrition is negligible from |
| day. The real simple answer depends on the | | | | this type of supplement. The problem is that the |
| quality of your diet. The human body has a | | | | typical multi-vitamin is of very low quality and is |
| certain requirement for all known vitamins and | | | | made of synthetic components which the body |
| minerals which have been conveniently | | | | has difficulty using. Stay away from any vitamin |
| categorized as 'Recommended Daily Allowances' | | | | which is solid and made from compressed |
| (RDA by the FDA). These minimal requirements | | | | ingredients. These pills are of little use to the |
| for vitamins and minerals were developed half a | | | | body, and due to the poor quality of the raw |
| century ago to make public the smallest amount | | | | chemicals used will have no positive effect, and |
| of each substance required to prevent diseases | | | | may actually cause harm. A much better choice is |
| which were associated with an RDA deficiency. | | | | a natural vitamin supplement which will always |
| Current research is continually proving that the | | | | come in a vegetarian capsule. And quality vitamins |
| RDA specifications are not always the optimal | | | | take up space, so you will probably need to take |
| dose necessary to prevent vibrant health into old | | | | 6 - 12 of them spaced out through the day. You |
| age. | | | | will notice that the RDA amounts will be well over |
| To supplement or not supplement, that is the | | | | 100%... this is a sign that the maker has done |
| question. Most natural health specialists believe | | | | research which indicates they are including the |
| that supplementation is required for optimal health, | | | | optimal dose, and not the meager RDA amount. |
| under the correct circumstances. To begin, there | | | | Read the label, and look for naturally sourced |
| is no substitute for a good quality diet composed | | | | ingredients and be sure the manufacturer has a |
| of raw vegetables (organic where possible), | | | | good reputation. A little research in this area will |
| minimal fruits, lean protein, seeds, nuts and | | | | go a long way in something as important as your |
| legumes. This should be the core of your diet, | | | | health. |
| with foods eaten raw being 85% of total calories, | | | | Recently we have been provided solid science to |
| and lean animal protein composing a maximum of | | | | back up the theory that dietary supplementation |
| 10%. This leaves no room for the empty calories | | | | through our lives can yield powerful results in |
| derived from sweets, candies, refined wheat | | | | disease prevention as we age. Researchers have |
| products or processed foods of any type. The | | | | published the results of feeding an 'anti-aging |
| types of food contain virtually no nutrients and | | | | cocktail' to mice (mice are perfect test subjects |
| lead to the epidemic growth of obesity and many | | | | as they have genetically similar pathways to |
| lifestyle diseases (heart disease, cancer, stroke | | | | humans), and made the observation: "complex |
| and dementia). This type of healthy diet will | | | | dietary cocktails can powerfully ameliorate |
| provide your body with virtually all of the known | | | | biomarkers of aging and modulate mechanisms |
| RDA nutrients. Even more important, there are | | | | considered ultimate goals for aging interventions." |
| other as yet unknown micro-nutrients in whole | | | | The cocktail consisted of essential vitamins and |
| foods when eaten raw (cooking can damage or | | | | minerals and a handful of recognized extracts |
| destroy many of the essential enzymes contained | | | | (carnitine, carnosine, resveratrol, COQ10, ginkgo, |
| in many food items) which have yet to be | | | | Omega-3's and green tea extracts). All |
| discovered. It is clear that there is a synergy | | | | components were provided in optimal doses. By |
| between all of the nutrients contained in these | | | | comparing a group of supplemented mice to a set |
| unprocessed foods which are essential to our | | | | who received no intervention, the researchers |
| body. | | | | were able to determine that the mice who |
| The human body has an amazing capacity to | | | | consumed the cocktail showed a 50% reduction in |
| process the nutrition from the foods we eat, and | | | | the critical biomarkers which scientists use to |
| an even higher capacity to protect us when we | | | | gauge cellular aging. Although the mice did not live |
| routinely take in lower than necessary amounts of | | | | longer than the non-supplemented mice (only |
| the vitamins and minerals required to enable all the | | | | Calorie restriction has been documented to |
| chemical and electrical reactions which we call life. | | | | extend life), the supplemented mice suffered |
| The body has many backup mechanisms which it | | | | much less from disease, and had more energy |
| uses to allow us to survive a nutrient deficiency, | | | | for an extended period. |
| but eventually over the course of years and | | | | While there is no substitute for a good healthy |
| decades it is no longer able to compensate. We | | | | diet of raw unprocessed foods, we know that |
| are sent signals that there is a pending problem. | | | | most people require additional support to live a |
| We see them as life's little aches and pains, | | | | disease-free life. Proper selection of a dietary |
| indigestion and headaches. We ignore the problem, | | | | supplement is essential. Additionally, some people |
| and then finally go to see a medical professional | | | | may need further specific dietary aids, depending |
| for a quick fix. We are given a pill, and go away | | | | on health conditions. Diabetes, heart disease and |
| thinking all will be well. But the problem has only | | | | cancer all require a special regimen of |
| been masked and continues to develop, as we | | | | supplementation which is beyond the daily |
| have done nothing to correct the root cause. | | | | multi-vitamin. It is important to research your |
| We know that, regardless of the type of diet we | | | | needs based on health concerns, and avoid the |
| eat, it is necessary to compliment our nutrient | | | | barrage of 'lifestyle' pharmaceuticals which do little |
| intake with some degree of dietary aid. Many | | | | to create vibrant health on a long term basis. |
| people know this, which the reason nearly 70% | | | | |