Do I even need supplements?
Lyle MacWilliam MSc, FP author of Comparative Guide To Nutritional Supplements states:
"After 20 years, the American Medical Association (AMA) has completely reversed its previous anti-vitamin stance and now encourages all adults to supplement daily with a multiple vitamin. A landmark review of 38 years old scientific evidence by Harvard researchers , Dr Robert Fletcher and Dr Kathleen Fairfield, has convinced the conservative Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) to rewrite its policy guidelines regarding the use of vitamin supplements. In two reports published in the June 19, 2002 edition of JAMA , the authors conclude that the current North American diet , while sufficient to prevent vitamin deficiency disease , such as scurvy and pellagra , is inadequate to support the need for optimal health "
After WWII traditional mulching and manuring practices were abandoned for synthetic fertilizers which has lead to the depletion of micro-nutrients in the soil . Nowadays even if you are eating the daily recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each , which only 20% of the US population does, it is still virtually impossible to get the optimal nutrients your body needs since these fruits and vegetables are grown in mineral depleted soil.
What are antioxidants?
Every cell in the body has a mitochondria or furnace. Oxygen is essential for the mitochondria to produce energy and create life, however occasionally a charged oxygen molecule also known as a free radical is created. A charged oxygen molecule has an unpaired electron in its outer surface and can create havoc in the body over time leading to premature aging and numerous diseases . Antioxidants bind with the unpaired electron and neutralize the free radical. Organically grown fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants.
What is Oxidative Stress?
When the lifestyle that you are leading creates too many free radicals and your intake of antioxidants isn't high enough to neutralize them Oxidative stress occurs.
How does Oxidative Stress Affect Us?
Oxidative stress leads to premature ageing and numerous chronic degenerative illnesses. This is what Ray D. Strand M.D. Specialist in Nutritional Medicine says :
" Over the past 7 years , I have reviewed well over 2,000 medical and scientific studies in regards to nutritional supplements and their affect on your health. These studies appearing in medical journals like the New England Journal of American Medical Association and Annals of Internal Medicine report that beyond any doubt the "root" cause of well over 70 chronic degenerative diseases is "oxidative stress" . Diseases like heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, chronic fatigue, Alzheimer's dementia, macular degeneration, lupus, MS, and fibromyalgia. "
How do I choose a supplement?
Two thirds of the US population take supplements. Supplements however, aren't regulated by the FDA. Many don't live up to their claims because of lack of quality control- inferior ingredients or low dosages and poor absorption . Some even cause more harm then good because of high levels of lead and toxins. As consumers we don't really know what is in the supplements we are taking or how much is really absorbed by the body. Often popular supplement companies spend much of their budget on marketing and advertising and produce products that are inferior in quality that not only don't they live up to their claims but can even be harmful.
Here is why USANA is my supplement of choice:
- Founded by Dr Myron Wentz, a world renowned microbiologist and immunologist, winner of the Albert Einstein Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Life Sciences. Dr Wentz founded Gull Laboratories and developed the test for diagnosing the Epstein-Barr virus.
- Supplements aren't FDA regulated since they are food grade. USANA's advanced formulas meet United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) guidelines for potency, uniformity and disintegration; and they are manufactured according to pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) standards.
- Received the NutriSearch Gold Medal of Achievements for proven product excellence. Only four nutritional supplements out of over 1,500 from Cananda and the US that have been tested have received this distinguished award.
- Receiving 5-Star Gold Standard rating from NutriSearch means that USANA has met 18 rating criteria developed from scientific literature. It also means that the supplements have been independently tested for dosage, stated ingredients and absorption and guarantees that what is on the label is really in the bottle.
- USANA is listed in the Physicians' Desk Reference. This widely distributed volume is the reference of choice for doctors who need an accurate and authoritative overview of prescription and non prescription pharmaceutical products.
- Endorsed by numerous holistically minded physicians including Ray M. Strand M.D. author of What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutritional Medicine May Be Killing You.
- Endorsed by Christiane Northrup M.D. New York Times bestselling author on women's health.
- Endorsed by Dr. Denis Waitley, former chairman, Sports Medicine Council, U.S. Olympic Committee.
Which product do you recommend?
If you are an adult I would start taking the ESSENTIALS. This is a complex blend of pharmaceutical grade vitamins, chelated minerals and antioxidants. You can also fill out the health assessment questioner on my USANA site which will tailor a program for you based on your answers and recommend certain optimizers for best results.
No comments:
Post a Comment