28/08/2024
The PROS and CONS of taking SUPPLEMENTS
Something that is increasingly becoming a health concern is that many people are self-prescribing and/or recommending supplements and herbs to friends and family members, without proper health assessments or any understanding of individual requirements, doses and length of treatment to be used.
We know that some diets can be very restrictive, also we know that modern agriculture has negatively impacted the quality of our soils, and by looking at these factors alone, it could make sense to start taking nutritional supplementation.
Firstly, it’s important to understand that many nutritional supplements are not natural, they are synthetic forms of nutrients often attached to carrier molecules to increase its absorption. Supplements can also contain non-listed ingredients called excipients, some known to cause some adverse effects.
It’s also important to understand that herbs, vitamins, minerals and other supplements have the capacity to positively or negatively interact with nutrients in foods, with other supplements and with pharmaceutical drugs.
Supplements can inhibit each other by competitive absorption, can interfere with medications and potentially become toxic at random self-prescribed doses.
Please know that taking supplements on a regular basis may also hinder your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from foods.
A widely spread myth is that taking the highest dose of a supplement is better. Unfortunately, many people end up with liver and kidney damage, and permanent peripheral neuropathies or nerve damage.
Most people take supplements to prevent disease, complement a poor diet or to enhance physical performance, however, its important to understand that supplements are not dietary substitutes.
A wholesome diet consisting of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds are packed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals that protects you against oxidative stress, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, cancers and premature aging.
So ideally, one should eat organic spray free fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes and free-range organic eggs, organic dairy or wild caught fish and grass feed meats.
Also, there are times when we actually need to take supplements, so we can replenish nutrient deficiencies or to support our bodies against certain infections, to balance hormones, to regulate inflammation, allergies and much more.
Supplements can help usredtore good health when taken according to our individual needs, at the right dose and timeframe for our case.
Before taking any supplement, one should always consult with a qualified Naturopathic/Nutritionist Practitioner who is fully qualified and a current member of a reputable Naturopathic Medicine Association and undergoes continuous professional development and is knowledgeable in functional medicine and holistic healthcare practices.
If you have any questions, please feel free to drop them in the comment section beneath about any supplements that you are taking and I might be able to give you some feedback.
