Why Take Nutritional Supplements? by Jane Thurnell-Read

Many authorities argue that providing you eat ‘a balanced diet’ you do not need to take supplements, but there is mounting evidence that many people can benefit from taking supplements:

• Allergies and tolerance problems can lead to an inadequate diet in an attempt to control their symptoms. Getting your allergies sorted out is a better bet.
• Unwillingness to eat a healthy diet will lead to nutritional deficiencies. This is particularly true of many children and teenagers.
• Relying on snacks and take-aways because too busy. This is a particularly feeble excuse, because most people who use this excuse do have time for TV, window shopping, etc.
• Dieting unwisely. Many diets leave you short of good nutrition. This doesn't make sense in the long term - eat wisely and take exercise.
• Over cooking food, either initially or reheating. Heating reduces nutrients particularly water soluble vitamins (the B complex vitamins and vitamin C).
• Illness can affect absorption, e.g. coeliac disease alters lining of small intestine so less efficient uptake of nutrients.
• Some people have problems absorbing a particular nutrient even without a "clinical disease".
• Healing means that more nutrients will be needed for the detoxifying and repair process.
• Puberty and pregnancy increase the need for nutrients.
• Inappropriate habits: e.g. excess coffee interferes with B vitamin absorption; smokers need more vitamin C.
• Exercise increases need for nutrients.
• Taking drugs can affect need for nutrients.
• Pollution has led to an increase in the need for antioxidants in the diet.
• Most soil is now depleted of trace minerals, because food is grown repeatedly in the same place and only some nutrients are replaced.

Copyright 2008 Jane Thurnell-Read Online Nutritional Supplements Health Shop