We’ve all heard the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But is that really true? Can we assume that as long as we eat the right things, we will be ok? Can we get all the nutrients we need from food? Or do we need supplements?
Are You Getting Enough Nutrients From Food?
Food is an important source of nutrients. However, it’s not always easy to get all the nutrients you need through diet alone. In fact, most people don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables to meet their daily nutrient requirements. Moreover, most people don’t have time to cook nutritious meals daily.
That’s where a good supplement comes into play. Nutrient supplements can help fill in the gaps left by an unhealthy diet or lack of knowledge about nutrition. It’s always best to try and get all of your nutrients from food first, but sometimes it isn’t possible—and that’s when supplementation becomes necessary.
Why Aren’t We Getting Enough Nutrients From Food?
When you think about all the food we eat every day, it’s easy to assume that we’re getting everything we need from it. After all, our bodies need vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients to stay alive. But are we really getting enough nutrients from the food we eat?
It’s no secret that your food is not as nutrient-dense as it used to be. And that’s a problem because your body needs nutrients to function at its best. There are several reasons for the decline in nutrient-dense food, including:
Poor Soil Quality
Soil is the foundation of healthy living. But it has been depleted of nutrients for decades due to modern farming practices. Industrialized farming has stripped away the soil’s natural ability to produce healthy foods. And this is happening at a rapid pace.
Our soils are now full of fertilizers and pesticides —chemicals that are not good for our health. The problem is that food grown in these depleted soils doesn’t contain the nutrients we need to thrive.
Moreover, the food grown in this way is loaded with chemicals that can harm our health. These chemicals have been linked to a number of diseases, including cancer, asthma, and diabetes. Soil depletion has also led to the widespread use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in our food supply.
Industrial Food System
It’s not just that we’re not eating enough veggies and fruits or even that they’re grown in soil depleted by years of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It’s also that the industrial food system is designed to keep nutrients out of our food so that we can sell more products.
The industrial food system was developed to meet two goals: efficiency and profit. To do this, the food industry relies heavily on chemicals to preserve and process foods so they can be stored for longer periods of time without spoiling. This means that many people are eating foods that are nutrient-poor—and even toxic!—without knowing it.
Toxins
Toxins are everywhere. They’re in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. All day long, toxic chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals enter our bodies through the foods we consume. These toxins are harmful to our bodies and can also interfere with the absorption of nutrients.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Genetically modified organisms have been one of the biggest contributors to nutrient deficiency in recent years. With GMO crops, farmers can produce more food with fewer resources, but there’s a downside: we’re getting fewer nutrients from our food than ever before.
Genetically modified foods are designed to survive in harsh conditions and to produce more yield with fewer resources. Unfortunately, this also means that the plants contain fewer nutrients than their natural counterparts. This is because the plant’s DNA has been altered for it to take on these new properties.
How Much Of The Nutrients Do We Need?
The most important thing we can do for our health is to ensure that we’re getting the right amount of nutrients in our diet. And that’s where supplements come in! But what does “the right amount” mean? And how do we know for sure that we’re getting it?
But here’s what is certain—we can’t use the RDA anymore. The RDA was designed in World War II when they were trying to figure out rations for soldiers. It was never intended to be used as a guideline for how much nutrients adults should get each day. It was supposed to help them survive long enough to return home safely from war zones.
How To Know If Were Getting Enough Nutrients?
Now, we know that the RDA is way too low for most of us. Our bodies need more than what they say you should be getting each day. However, what makes it trickier is that the body needs 40 micronutrients at least to function properly.
Many people are under the impression that they get all of their nutrients from a balanced diet, but this isn’t always true. For example, vitamin D is found in very few foods and can be difficult to come by if you don’t get enough sun exposure.
Fortunately, there are better ways to measure our nutritional needs using Biochemical Indicators like blood tests and saliva tests that can help tell how much vitamins and minerals your body needs every day. And, since our need is complex, we use the testing we have and also have to look out for some of the symptoms of common nutritional deficiencies.
For instance, if you’re feeling fatigued, have difficulty concentrating, and are feeling depressed, it could be a sign that your body is missing some vital nutrients. Also, if you have been feeling like your bones are aching more than normal, it could be a sign that you’re not getting enough calcium.
Bottom Line
We don’t live in a perfect world where we can get all the nutrients we need from food alone. Even with the best diets, considering how nutrient-deficient the soil is, the travel time for our food, and the toxins we ingest, it is clear that we need supplements. However, supplementation should always be done with caution as they are not meal replacements and should never be used as such. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us! We are here to help you.
