So, does it really matter to take dietary supplements if we eat a "balanced diet"?
By making food production cheaper, that means it is invariably heavily processed. The foods that most of us eat are hardly nutritious - they are not organic or even fresh, and more often than not they are loaded with salt, fat sugar, or unhealthy additives! Sadly a "good balanced" diet is not enough to be healthy. Taking into account the combination of poor food choices, over-processed foods, and poor farming practices, the nutrition we eat is pretty much substandard. Many people (including the elderly, vegans, and those with absorption problems) are not getting a adequate vitamin and mineral intake. It's worth emphasizing, we do have an increased need and reduced absorption of certain nutrients with age. Particularly in today's society, taking supplements is an essential step towards optimum wellness.
To quote Dr. Mark Hymann, Functional Medicine, "If you lived like our ancestors and hunted and gathered your own wild food, including mushrooms and 800 different species of wild plants rich in omega-3 fats, phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals; if you ate offal, bone marrow, and wild fish; if you spent your days half-clothed outside in the sun; and if you were never exposed to environmental toxins or chronic stress and slept 8 to 9 hours a night, waking and sleeping with the sun - then, no, you would not need nutritional supplements. If that describes you, skip the supplements. For the rest of us, supplements are essential insurance against our nutrient-depleted diet, toxic environment, and high-stress lives."
However, not all supplements are created equal. They are unregulated, so it is critical to choose supplements that undergo rigorous manufacturing according to good manufacturing practices.
What I love about the Young Living supplements is that they are infused with essential oils which are synergistically integrated in their natural bio-chemistry make up so they are actually way more bioavailable than even good and expensive vitamins and minerals. They also contain active forms of nutrients, and are free of fillers, additive, dyes and preservatives.
It is important to remember that any dietary supplements are designed to supplement our diet, not to replace nutritious foods, especially whole foods!
Again, let me make one thing absolutely clear: I am not a doctor! Please read my DISCLAIMER Here.
It is also important to understand that we all have our own unique bodies connected to our unique minds and brains and we all react or respond differently. What works for one person will not work for the next!
Bright blessings,
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