Should you take supplements?
As a chiropractor my patients ask me a lot of questions about nutrition and using supplements. Patients usually ask: Are supplements helpful? Are they worth the money? And what should I take? With so many supplements on the market it can be hard for people to make the right choices. Here are a few tips to help you the next time you are deciding which ones are right for you.
When it comes to supplements my opinion is that they are not only helpful, but they are essential to achieving great health. Let’s face it; the typical North American diet is harmful to your health. Most of us, myself included, do not always make good healthy choices when we are deciding what our next meal will be. Even if we try to make healthy choices many of our foods have been altered in some way that it affects their nutritional value. This is where supplements are helpful. By adding essential vitamins and minerals our body can use these to work at its very best. Adding supplements can help you to feel better, have more energy, and help you to be healthier.
The next question that people ask is where should they buy supplements? Not all supplements are created equally. Supplements are only helpful if your body can absorb them and then process the material. Good supplements typically have ingredients that are pulled from natural food and plant sources. When these types of supplements are taken, 70 to 90 percent of the active ingredient can be absorbed. On the other hand, there are supplements that are derived from poor sources. These sources are often manmade compounds. These supplements are absorbed at a much lower percentage rate. It is important when buying supplements to buy high quality products. These can be found at a good health food store, in our office, or other doctor’s offices like ours.
What should I take? This is a question that always comes up when I talk to someone about using supplements. There are many options depending on your specific health goals. If you were only to take one supplement daily, without a doubt, I would recommend that you take omega-3 fatty acids. These are essential to your body’s health and they can only be taken in from food or supplements. They are found in fish like salmon and tuna, some plants and algae, and some nuts. Omega 3’s are crucial in brain development and function. These essential fatty acids have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and decrease inflammation in the body. Some studies have shown that omega 3 fatty acids can be helpful with high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, mood disorders, and many other diseases. Taking omega 3 fatty acids is extremely beneficial to your health.
In conclusion, I feel supplements are a great way to take in all of the vitamins and minerals that our body’s need to thrive. You should educate yourself before deciding what to take. If you are currently taking medications or have health conditions it is important for you to ask a doctor before adding supplements to your diet. Once you begin taking supplements you will experience great changes in your health.
