Food Isn’t Enough: The Shocking Truth About Nutrient Deficiencies.

Over a century ago, it was easier to maintain good health by regularly eating a balanced diet. Presently, the goal of modern farming is to make profit. The result is that we now have food produced with less nutritional value because the focus is on quantity rather than quality. Even if you make it a habit of eating a balanced diet, you might still lack most nutritional needs that your body requires. Purely organic food can fill in the gap, but they have their own limitations. There is definitely a need to augment nutritional shortfalls with properly & organically produced dietary supplements.

The Role of Basic Nutrients to Your Health

The Basic Nutrients are building blocks of your body. Your body needs them to function properly, to grow and repair itself. The basic nutrients are, Water, Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats, Vitamins & Minerals. Each plays a specific role in your body:

         ·         Water regulates body temperature, aids digestion, keeps the body and the cells hydrated.

         ·         Carbohydrate gives the body the needed energy for daily activities.

         ·         Protein is essential for building and repair of muscles, enzymes, & hormones.

         ·         Fats are key to brain health and storing of energy.

         ·         Vitamins & Minerals repair cells, boost the immune system & strengthen bones.

In these modern times, it is a big challenge to get the right amount of these nutrients. Even when you eat what seems like a healthy diet. The degree of deficiency of these nutrients in our food, differs from location. Those in Rural areas still practicing ancient farming methods, still produce food fairly rich in nutrients. In contrast, city dwellers make do with whatever is available. In subsequent posts, we will dive a little deeper on these nutrients.

Can You Rely on Organic Food for Your Nutritional Needs?

The general practice of growing Organic food without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or genetic modification, has made them very popular for health-conscious people. When compared to conventionally grown food or dairy, they are richer in nutrients and contain fewer harmful chemicals. True organic food is determined by the chemical residue in it. The source of the organic manure and other components used in organic food production determines if they are truly organic or not. Some manures and other components for organic food production may have been produced from plants or animals bred with synthetic manures and feeds, which may end up in organically grown food.

In reality, it is difficult to find true organic food due to certain factors. These factors can range from sharp practices by farmers, soil quality and farming methods. A study from the University of Texas, revealed a decline in vitamins and minerals levels of fruits and vegetables over the past 50 years (SOURCE). Eating organic food is not a guarantee that you will get all your body’s nutritional needs.

Modern Food Production & Decline of Quality

In our world today, the focus of modern farming is high yields, which is driven by profit goals. This has led to the production of fast growing, high yielding and nutritionally deficient produce.

A study published in NIM National Library of Medicine, revealed that crops grown presently have lower nutrient levels than crops grown decades ago (Source).

Another modern food production method worth mentioning are Genetically modified organisms (GMO), and synthetic poultry production.  GMOs are resistant to pest, increase yields, but their benefit and impact to health are still debated.

It is clear that the focus of modern farming has shifted from nutrient-rich food to high yields.

Can Nutritional Supplements Fill Nutritional Gaps?

The challenges of growing nutritionally rich food free of synthetic chemicals and rich in nutrients, has made it necessary to look towards incorporating nutritional supplements to our daily meals. It is increasingly difficult to get the necessary nutrients and in the right proportion that our body needs from food alone. This is where supplements are required. They provide essential vitamins, minerals and several nutrients that may be missing from our diet.  

Some key supplements are:

1.     Multivitamins: These are a range of essential vitamins and minerals that help the body function properly.

2.     Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Important for brain and heart health, also reduces inflammation. Can be found in fish and fish products, and some plant-based diets.

3.     Vitamin D: Mostly gotten by exposing our bodies to sunlight. It is crucial for immune function, bone health & heart health. A report from CDC suggests that 42% of Americans are vitamin D deficient (Source).

4.     Magnesium: Very important for bone health, muscle function and nerve transmission. Different forms of Magnesium have different absorption levels. The form of magnesium with the highest absorption rate is Magnesium glycinate.

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5.     Probiotics: They aid digestion and support gut health, which is crucial to maintaining a healthy immune system.

6.     Iron: Aid in red blood cell production and prevention of Anemia. It is very important for women and vegetarians.

7.     B Vitamins: They play crucial roles in brain function, energy production and cell metabolism. 

Incorporating these supplements to your daily diet can help ensure that your body get an acceptable quantity of its daily nutritional needs. The best results can be achieved from organically produced supplements.

Why Supplements Matter

Like I mentioned earlier, a lot of factors have made it necessary to include nutritional supplements in our daily diets. Factors ranging from declining nutritional content of food, busy and modern lifestyles, modern food production methods, limited access to fresh produce and many more have made it difficult to get the required nutritional needs of the body from food alone.

Some group of people are at a higher risk of nutrient deficiencies. They include but not limited to:

         ·         Pregnant women may need higher folic acid and iron levels.

         ·         Older adults due to age, absorb fewer nutrients and need vitamin D and B12.

         ·         Vegetarians and vegans may lack omega-3s, iron and B12.

         ·         People with Medical conditions may have difficulty absorbing nutrients.

Taking Supplements may address these gaps. Supplements must be taken responsibly with the guide of a qualified medical practitioner. Before considering taking supplements, it is wise to undergo some Medical Tests, such as Vitamin and Nutritional deficiency, Vegan Testing, allergy testing and many more, to ascertain what nutrients and vitamins your body actually needs.

Medical Test to Undergo Prior to Taking Nutritional Supplements

Although most nutritional supplements are classified as ‘Over The counter’ (OTC), which means that you do not require a doctor’s prescription to have access to them, It is always wise to carry out medical tests to determine if your body actually needs nutritional supplements. Here are three tests you must undergo before taking nutritional supplements.

• Vitamin & Nutritional Test: Vitamins such as Vitamin A, C, D, E, as well as minerals like iron, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium are essential for proper functioning of the human body. Your body needs these nutrients to perform basic functions of supporting the immune system, creating energy from food, healing wounds and many more. Health issues can occur if your body has too much or too little of these vitamins and minerals. Undertaking a Vitamin & Nutritional Test is a good way to know if your body actually lacks essential nutrients or not..

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• Vegan Test: Vegan diet is widely known for its health benefits in lowering risk of heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. But Vegans can still lack some essential nutrients such as B-12, Calcium, Zinc, and a host of others. It is essential for Vegetarians to undergo a Vegan Test to know what their bodies are lacking, so that they take steps to address such deficiencies.

• Allergy Test: Allergies are a result of your immune system overreaction to certain substances in food, vitamins and medicine. Allergies develop as you age and can range from mild reaction to potentially fatal anaphylaxis. It is important to know your allergens, so that you can avoid them and have a better quality of life. Allergy Test can help you and your physician identify allergens that your body is not compatible with, and take measures to address them.

Allergy testing options for various categories and tests. You can carry out these test even if you don’t have a medical insurance.

A Balanced Approach to Nutrition

Ideally eating fresh, nutrient-rich food can meet almost all of your daily nutritional needs. But modern-day reality is far from being ideal. Conventional food production may be efficient, but hugely sacrifices nutritional quality for high yields.

Organic food can fill in the gap, but like I mentioned earlier, several factors prevent it from being a complete solution. A balanced approach will be required to achieve optimal health. This will require both a healthy diet & high-quality supplements. By doing this, you can ensure that your body is fed right with the minimum nutrients it needs to thrive in these modern times.

When you next eat, check your diet. Are you getting all the nutrients you need from your food alone.? If not, consider supplements as a practical way to support your health. Seek professional advice from a medical practitioner before embarking on supplementation.