In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need any supplements. Our food would supply us with all the vitamins and minerals we required. Unfortunately however, we don’t live in a perfect world!
Supplements can help ensure our bodies are functioning to their most potential.
What is a dietary supplement?
We live in an era where supplementing our diets is almost essential due to our fast-paced lives and the types of lifestyles we lead.
Supplements are categorized by their packaging:
- Pills
- Capsules
- Liquids
- Powders
These delivery methods offer a quick way to receive a unique blend of nutrients. Bear in mind that supplements shouldn’t be treated as replacement or substitutes for food.
Our bodies are under constant stress and exposure to pollutants. By taking a supplement it can help improve the body’s ability to fight off common and chronic infections.
However, it’s essential to realise that your focus should be on consuming a balanced and nourishing diet. There is no quick fix in fulfilling your nutrient intake apart from eating healthy. Most importantly, supplements should be taken as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.
Taking vitamins and minerals does not replace eating right, exercising. In contrast, when you maintain a normal diet, exercise, and take good care of yourself, food supplements will help you utilize vital nutrients.
Reasons People Take Food Supplements
- Filling the nutritional gap – supplementation is intended to bridge the nutritional gap. So that we retain a proper balance of nutrients from food and supplementation
- Poor eating habits – several factors make it difficult for our bodies to extract all the nutrients it needs to from food.
- Nutrient absorption decreasing with age – Over time, malabsorption becomes more of a problem because your body no longer has the same capacity to breakdown and absorb nutrients
- Exercise increases nutrient requirements – Athletes need a lot of energy and nutrients to stay in shape. As you exercise, your body uses up the energy and nutrients that have been stored in your body..
Which supplements do we need?
