The typical diet in most first world countries is high on processed foods that happen to be nutrient-poor. In addition, added sugars and refined grains lead to a prevalence of chronic disease and inflammation. Recently, there has been a concentrated shift in the way people eat and how they feed their families. That is to say, more effort is being placed on serving well-balanced meals and getting nutrients from food. Even with these changes, many people are still not getting the nutrients their body needs. This can be due to age, food quality, or any other number of reasons.
Getting Nutrients From Food vs Supplements
Fresh food is full of nutrients humans need to thrive. Vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A & C, calcium, and magnesium are just a few that we need on a regular basis. Supplements are a great way to fill gaps in a person’s diet. On the other hand, those absorbed from food are much more important. In addition to beneficial nutrients, fresh food also has antioxidants and flavonoids that are not usually included in health supplements.
The Research On Supplements
Dietary supplements can fill in gaps in your diet. However, taking them without knowing what your body needs can be harmful. Many supplements have a cross mix of nutrients which can cause more harm than good. Some vitamins and minerals can become toxic if the levels get too high, vitamin A is just one example.
Some supplements fail to divulge the percentage of nutrients they contain, which is most often true of multivitamins. According to research, there is a small benefit to taking supplements such as a multivitamin for specific health concerns, however, as a whole, their benefit is very small. Most doctors will not recommend taking a supplement as a way to ward off disease, however, if your diet is lacking in any one nutrient, a supplement can help bridge the gap.
Big Pharma and Supplements
Unlike prescription medications, health supplements are not held to the same standards of testing or even the same standard of quality. The supplement industry is currently valued at more than $130 billion, and this is set to increase even further. Many healthcare professionals suggest taking multivitamins for various ailments. Furthermore, social media influencers push vitamins in exchange for remuneration, even without knowing if they actually work. A lot of companies have jumped on the bandwagon and started pushing all in one solution instead of a healthy diet. The question remains, which is best, proper eating habits or taking a supplement?
Proper Nutrition Through Healthy Eating Habits
Vitamins and minerals are vital to proper bodily function. They are tasked with creating red blood cells, maintaining our vision, helping ensure joint health, and much more. Low levels of certain nutrients can cause health problems, or in serious cases, death. The most common deficiency is iron, but there are plenty of other nutritional deficiencies that people face. Popping a supplement may help reduce an imbalance, but according to many studies, the most benefits are gained with nutrients that are absorbed through food.
Every time you eat food passed through a complex digestive system. This system starts at your mouth and ends with waste exiting your body. The enzymes in your body from your digestive system separate nutrients from your food and send them to the right areas of your body. Anything this is not needed will be discarded instead of stored. Your body knows how to properly separate and process nutrients from your food, but is less efficient when those are delivered in the form of supplements. Many vitamins need others in order to be absorbed. One example is calcium. Eating an orange will infuse your body with vitamin D and Calcium. Vitamin D helps the calcium to absorb. If you simply take a calcium supplement, then the other vitamin will not be there to lend its support.
What can Fortress Nutrition LLC do for you?
Rest assured that you’re in good hands with Fortress Nutrition. To learn more about how we tailor our blending, ingredient sourcing, logistics, consumer packaging, and other services to meet customer needs, and to find out how we can partner with you to ensure compliance with new GMO laws, contact us today.