Do I Need to Take Supplements for Optimal Health?

In the modern world there are endless options for supplements to meet your needs. You might find the sheer number of options to be very confusing. You might also be wondering whether they’re really going to help you, or whether they’re a waste of money.

High quality food can provide your body with amazing nutrition. Ideally you would get every single nutrient you require from diet alone. With a well-balanced and varied diet, you should be able to obtain what you need for general health.

However, modern farming practices mean that nutrients in our soil, and therefore in our food, are no longer as high as they used to be. Modern lifestyle factors can either contribute towards depletion of vitamin and mineral levels or block absorption of important nutrients. High-stress levels and poor food choices are among these factors. If you’re very active you might also notice benefits from supplementation.

Therefore, if you want to achieve optimal health, supplements can form an important part of that quest. When deciding to invest in supplements, there are important points to consider:

Supplements, not replacements

Supplements are designed to do exactly what is defined by the word itself – supplement and not replace. They should be used to support what you are already doing in terms of consuming a healthy diet and leading an active, healthy lifestyle.

Not all supplements are created equal

Just as food varies in quality, so do supplements. You might pay a lot more for high quality supplements but with that should come the benefits of nourishment for your body. Low quality supplements might end up depleting you further and could be a total waste of money. Look for supplements that are based on whole foods or organic ingredients, and that are free from synthetic additives. 

If you have very specific needs you might opt for synthetic vitamins. In this situation, choose those that have been well research and tested, and that contain limited additives.

Supplementation should be personalized

Don’t choose your supplements based on what the next person is taking! Guesswork can be expensive at best and dangerous at worst. Ideally you should get your vitamin and mineral levels tested to see what is lacking, before choosing your supplements. Even better, a professional health practitioner can advise you on what is best for your personal needs. 

It’s important to recognize that vitamins, minerals and medications can all affect each other. An imbalance of vitamins and minerals can create health issues. Some medications can interact dangerously with certain supplements. Therefore it’s best to seek advice from a professional about what is best for you.

Consider ‘super’ foods

Natural, whole foods such as fruits and vegetables should all be considered ‘super’ in their own way. However there are some foods that deliver superior levels of vitamins and minerals. If you know you are deficient in something, find out how you can get more of that nutrient via ‘super’ foods.

For example, many soils around the world are commonly depleted of the minerals selenium and iodine. In turn, this means that people are commonly deficient in these minerals. Learn how to get more of these minerals into your daily food intake. For example, Brazil nuts are a great source of selenium. We are lucky in South East Asia that seaweed is commonly used in dishes because it is an excellent source of iodine.