The Five Primary Reasons To Supplement Are...
To correct nutrient deficiencies and/or make up for poor dietary choices.
To replenish what is missing in your foods (vitamins, minerals, enzymes, flora, and antioxidants).
To provide your body with the nutrition necessary to combat today's environmental stresses.
To meet the higher nutritional needs of today's lifestyle.
To decrease your risk of chronic disease and reduce health care costs.
The chronic disease statistics reported in The World Health Report are incredible.
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the USA .
Sudden blood clots in arteries (strokes) occur in about 500,000 people a year in the U.S. and for about 150,000 of those people, the stroke is fatal. About 2 million American’s daily lives are affected by stroke-related disabilities.
58 million people in the US have hypertension – a major risk factor for coronary heart disease.
Nearly a million cancer cases are found each year in people in the U.S.
Approximately 16 million Americans have diabetes, the severest forms of which cause kidney damage, limb damage, and other cardiovascular damage.
1.5 million broken bones a year have been identified as partially caused by weak and brittle bones due to osteoporosis. It is estimated that 20 million Americans over the age of 45 are affected by osteoporosis.
34 million Americans are obese. Obesity is associated with a higher mortality rate, and is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Even more astounding than the chronic disease statistics is the amount of money spent on health care for preventable diseases. Americans spent over $3,000 per person in 1993 for health care. Japan and Sweden spent less than half that amount and yet their life expectancy and infant mortality rates are respectively first, second or third; America is 16th and 17th. Reviewing this data reveals a distinct trend – the countries with greater use and history of natural medicine rank much higher than the U.S.
Do You Know How To Choose The Supplements You Really Need?
Things You Will Need To Decide--
Identify what - or if - you need to include supplements in your dietary plan, you will want to start with a health care professional or licensed dietitian to evaluate what you are currently eating and what you may need to do to make sure you are getting all the nutrition you need. You have to be prepared to be very honest and answer all questions completely. A professional can only help if you trust them with ALL the information they ask for. This is doubly important if you are taking prescription medications or even over-the-counter drugs. Some supplements can interact with these, either interfering with their effectiveness or actually causing more problems.
Your also want to ensure that whatever supplement you take really supplies the nutrients to the cells. Many pills and capsules never dissolve and simply pass through your digestive system and are eliminated. They provide absolutely no nourishment. So you will also want to look for supplements that have a delivery system that guarantees that they provide the nutrients that you expect.
How To Choose:
-Vitamin Supplements
-Mineral Supplements
-Antioxidant Supplements
-Probiotic Supplements
-Enzyme Supplements
I can't possibly provide all the information about all the supplements above, but perhaps this book can answer some of your questions.
