Are you confused regarding the advocation of supplements in place of food nutrients and how it fits into a wellness program of Functional and Lifestyle Medicine?
Our bodies are designed with necessary processes (ie. digestion and absorption) in extracting from foods the essential nutrients our bodies require to function properly. For many people, food derived nutrients ingested is below their functional nutrient needs. This is due to depleted soil nutrients from over farming and modern agricultural practices, poor nutritional habits, poor food quality, digestion insufficiency, nutrigenetics or an increased need for particular nutrients not derived from a healthy diet.
Augmented lifestyle therapies, such as proper and adequate supplementation, when deficient in certain nutrients, is critical for optimal functioning.
There are many research studies cited over the past 50 years that demonstrate how augmentation via supplementation of isolated or combinations of nutrients have been remarkably helpful to overall health in developed countries. This is even only if to compensate for depleted nutritional density from modern agricultural practices and industrialized food supply. Nutritional supplementation has also alleviated nutritional deficiencies and saved lives of those in underdeveloped areas of the world.
There are so many supplement companies and we know that there are many inferior companies. Quality, actual ingredients, fillers, therapeutic effect – This is all so confusing. When selecting a supplement and company here is my top 10 list to inquire regarding the supplement company and product selection.