Why Supplements?

In the perfect world, we would all get everything we need for optimum health from fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep. Because today's society is like that right? Hmmm.

For a long time I resisted. I hated the thought of taking in anything that I considered 'artificial' or a 'non-food source'. I had a decent diet and believed I took in all the nutrients I needed. Right? Wrong.

In my late 30s my body felt like it was starting to 'break'. I had joint pain and digestive issues. I decided to talk to a nutritionist to try to figure out if there was anything I could be doing to support my body naturally. She reminded me that particularly as we get older (I was aware of this from my own studies but I was obviously in denial!), our bodies don't break down and absorb they need to stay healthy quite as easily. She also reminded me that supplementation has come a long way since the initial 'pill popping' days of the past and, although food sources should be the first port of call when it comes to healthy diets, there was nothing terrible about adding a little of what we need through high quality supplement sources (those without nasty fillers or additives). I listened.

Apart from the absorption issue, I was also reminded of number of other reasons why supplementation might be a good idea.

1. When we exercise, we increase the need for nutrients

When we exercise frequently we require a lot of energy and micro/macronutrients to stay in shape and in good health. When we train, our bodies use up the energy and vitamins and minerals that have been stored. Therefore, we must replenish these essentials in order to restore energy levels, and promote recovery. Athletes' diets require significant amounts of quality carbohydrate and protein.

Sure, post exercise we could make a big bowl of pasta and chicken, however if time is limited or you've simply run out of energy, you could opt for a high quality protein powder. Even the plant based vegan varieties are much better than they used to be (we've tried and tested many).

2. Filling gaps in the diet

A high percentage of us don't get the recommended amount of important vitamins and minerals from food alone. We don't meet dietary recommendations due to strict dieting or calorie restrictive diets or changing appetites and nutritional needs.

Supplements can help to bridge gaps, in order to maintain the correct balance. Nutrient density and quality of your diet is enhanced through supplementation in order to ensure we take in the right amounts tailored to our needs.

Multivitamins and multi-nutrients are recommended to cover all the bases and support overall health. We have a couple of different varieties, both vegan and non-vegan, all of which you can see here:

3. Avoiding harmful chemicals

Unfortunately, many pesticides and herbicides are used to farm much of our food. Chemicals can be found everywhere. This compounded by external environmental issues, like pollution, can drastically increase our need for extra vitamins and minerals, as these chemicals can create free radicals that attack our digestive and immune system. On that note, modern techniques use fertilizers that can deplete the soil and rob plants of essential nutrients. Fertile soil is a crucial agriculture element for absorbing the proper amounts of minerals. Plants can't form essential vitamins needed by the body without it.

Taking in Antioxidant supplements can help and protect our bodies against damaging free radicals.

4. Poor eating habits

None of us are that perfect right? Eating habits that are erratic, eating junk food, and stress can contribute to poor digestion. Poor digestion makes it challenging for our systems to extract and utilise all we need from food.

Supplementation can not and should not replace a poor diet. However it can assist in the prevention of damage caused by poor eating habits.

5. Prevent health issues

Our health system is over run without a doubt. Healthcare providers are encouraging people to look for disease prevention instead of disease treatment. Taking daily supplements together with a high quality diet and getting regular exercise can reduce the impact. More than ever before it's essential we take preventative action.

If you have a health condition, it is absolutely essential you seek the advice of a regulated health professional prior to embarking on any dietary supplementation programme. We always recommend food sources first!

If you need any guidance, we have on hand highly qualified nutritional consultants. Feel free to email elementarywellbeing@gmail.com or message us via socials for support.