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It is my goal to limit supplements. I believe you can obtain most of the nutrition you need from wholesome food. There are some exceptions, but it is quite rare where someone really benefits from a shopping bag full of supplements.
Lesson 1: Chromium may help sugar cravings.
If you have problems with sugar cravings, some people have found chromium to be useful to control it. However, please be aware that it is far more likely that your sugar cravings are related to consuming extra carbohydrates or emotional issues that can be treated with psychological acupressure tools like EFT.
Lesson 2: Avoid iron in your supplements.
Please avoid iron in all your supplements unless your serum ferritin is decreased. It is rarely needed and can be quite toxic. Even then I would advise against supplemental iron unless you can't eat red meat. If you must take supplemental iron please make sure it is carbonyl iron as that is the safest form currently on the market.
Lesson 3: Carefully evaluate your need for a multi-vitamin.
Multiple vitamins are generally not necessary if you are eating a healthy diet, but you may want to take a multiple vitamin until you progress to a higher level.
Lesson 4: Make sure you get enough vitamin D.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. It's found in food, but also can be made in your body after exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun. The major function of vitamin D in your body is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. During the summer months, you will get enough vitamin D from just spending some time outside every day.
In the winter months, though, you will most likely not get enough vitamin D if you don't live in place that is sunny a lot of the time (such as the southwest U.S.). In that case, I strongly recommend cod liver oil, which is high in vitamin D and omega-3 (an essential fatty acid most Americans are in dire need of) -- because cod liver oil can vary greatly in quality, I have researched multiple brands and offer the highest quality cod liver oil in the "Recommended Products" section of the site.
Lesson 5: Be careful with Tylenol.
If you take Tylenol regularly, you should be on N-acetyl cysteine to prevent organ damage.
Lesson 6: Smell your vitamins.
It is important to smell your vitamins. If they smell bad, you should not take them. It is your body's signal that they are not good for you.
If you do take many supplements, a convenient way to store and transport your supplements is a small fishing tackle box (available at sports stores).
Lesson 7: If you are on the go, consider "supplementing" with a convenient but real food source.
While nothing can substitute for the health benefits of real vegetables, I do understand that sometimes people’s hectic lifestyles simply make consuming the proper meals impossible, especially if you are into the healthy habit of vegetable juicing. I would first urge you to reevaluate the prime importance of your health and try to prioritize your healthy eating accordingly -- when it comes down to it, health is the basis of life, as it provides energy, longevity, avoidance of disease, and the ability to focus on other areas, so what is really more important than eating properly?
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