Why to take supplements ?

The world is changing…. The air is polluted, the ocean is contaminated , the soil is poorer.

All the vitamins and minerals that we get from food have decreased. Even if we eat well, we still may not be getting an adequate amount of certain nutrients. The water we drink is not pure, but purified with chemicals and additives harmful to health, like fluorine.

When we should take supplements? 

 As we get older our body looses nutrient absorption capacity. As a result, this will cause us deficiencies in many vitamins and minerals, that are needed to our body. For example, older adults can benefit from dietary supplements that contain vitamin B12. Because vit. B12 helps in inflammation of the stomach lining, and others.

Pregnant woman can gain a substantial benefits, because in early stages of pregnancy, the nervous system of the embryo starts to develop. Thus is recommended for the mother to take folic acid or folate (the natural form of folic acid and it is better to absorb) Folate is a B vitamin, that protects against birth defects.

 Alcohol  Consumption can interfere with normal digestion by damaging cells in the stomach and intestine and interfering with the release of digestive enzymes. Alcohol also acts as a diuretic, which can promote excretion of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Alcoholics might need  to increase their intake of the B-complex vitamins and vitamin C, because these vitamins are water soluble, and they flush out of the urine system, and this process can lead  to a vitamin deficiency.

Cigarette smokers might need to supplement their diet with vitamin C, because this vitamin helps break down the harmful compounds found in cigarette smoke.

Caffeine promote excretion of vitamins and minerals, and inhibit the absorption of Iron, Calcium, B vitamins and magnesium which is very important for heart health and other mechanisms in the body.

Drugs

Prescription Drugs —- Certain medications can bind with nutrients and inhibit their absorption and the  body’s ability to digest and use these vitamins. Ex: antibiotics can destroy the good bacteria in the gut, disturbing the absorption of vitamins and minerals. Thus we have to take probiotic  to replace good bacteria. Another example is the use of statins drug, which depletes Coenzyme Q10 that is very important because acts as an antioxidant, and protects cells from damage and plays a role in the metabolism.

Stress decrease nutrients and minerals such as copper, iron, zinc, chromium, magnesium, vitamins A, C, E and B.

You should  to improve your diet. Nutrients are potent when they come from food. They have hundreds of carotenoids, flavonoids, minerals and antioxidants. But  you have to choose organic foods, which are more full of nutrients than conventional foods, and are without chemicals.

But if you are unable to make dietary changes or you have a deficiency in most vitamins and minerals you should to supplement.

The most common deficiencies are:

Vitamin D —- One billion people worldwide have Vitamin D deficiency caused by lack of sunlight exposure and a variety of food sources. Vitamin  D promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the intestines and maintain bones in a healthy state, which avoid osteoporosis, and the risks of many cancers types such as colon, lungs, breast and chronic disease.

B12 —- Deficiency may lead to a reduction in healthy blood cells (anaemia) The nervous system also can be affected. Symptoms are fatigue, breathlessness, numbness, poor balance and memory trouble, heart palpitation, vision loss, pale skin and much more.

Vit. C —- Your body needs to making collagen, an important component in connective tissues, carnitine, hormone s and amino acids formation. It is essential for bone and healthy blood vessels. It is also an antioxidant, supports immune function and facilitates the absorption of iron.                                                                                                                                                                              Inadequate Diet can cause deficiency in Vitamin C.

Vitamin K2 —- Refer to a group of compounds (menaquinone) synthesized by bacteria in the intestinal tract. The amounts does not satisfy the Vitamin K requirement. Its acts to put the calcium in the bones and not into the artery wall. Helps to maintain bone heathy and strength.

Magnesium —- The soil is depleted of magnesium. Nowadays is very difficult to get enough magnesium through the diet. The body needs magnesium for more than 300 essential biochemical reactions. For example: promotes cardiovascular health, supports heathy blood pressure, healthy memory and youthful cognitive function, energy and metabolism.

Also these supplements are important:

Fish Oil —- Probably has the most scientific evidence to support its use. Fish Oil can promote heart healthy. Contain Omega 3 fatty acids EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) that are know to reduce inflammation in the body and improve hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides) Contribute to normal brain function and eye development.

Probiotics —- The microbiome  is important to gut health, but it can also affect everything from mood to heart health. Probiotics are living microorganisms such as bacteria, that promotes health and prevent and treat diseases. It is very important to populate our intestines with good bacteria through the use of probiotics.

Melatonin —- is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland. This hormone has been produced and marketed in pill or liquid form, to help regulate sleep-wake cycles in people with temporary sleep pattern problems. Melatonin also helps regulate body temperature, blood pressure and hormone levels. Evidence shows that melatonin can help you fall asleep faster and help people with jet lag get to sleep. Taking melatonin may benefits  you with other health problems, like reduce symptoms of tinnitus, increase growth hormone, help with depression and other neurological conditions.

In conclusion :

How we can see, supplements include vitamins, minerals and herbal products. People take these supplements to make sure they get enough essential nutrients,  to boost and maintain a good health.

But Caution : Too much of certain supplements can be harmful. Supplements are  regulated as food and not as drugs. You should to  choose reliable manufactures on the market, and always ask your doctor what is right for you.

by Helena

       Naturalize Yourself !

Ref:

Healthline.com

Mayoclinic.com

The efficacy  of melatonin and melatonin agonists in insomnia. Tian Ling Low, Faith Nadine Choo, Shian Ming Tan.