While there are certain supplements that fill your unique needs, there are a few that almost everyone should take. Let’s take a look at the big four that we recommend.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is actually not a vitamin at all, but a steroid hormone. It boosts your immune system, alleviates depression, and aids in calcium absorption. Vitamin D may even help to ward off cancer and heart disease.
Certain genetic mutations, such as the VDR mutation, may leave you with even more of a vitamin D deficit. If you inherited this defective gene from both of your parents, it means that you only absorb 30% of the vitamin D you take in!
Vitamin D levels are checked with a simple blood test that your doctor orders. If you are critically low, a high dose, such as 5,000 IUs a day may be needed initially to treat your deficiency. Make sure you get a Vitamin D supplement that is delivered in fatty oils. Vitamin K2 is also essential for optimal absorption. Without this crucial vitamin, your Vitamin D supplements may elevate your calcium to a dangerous level.
Fish Oil
Fish oil is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatories available. It helps preserve the brain’s cell walls, since they are, in part, made up of Omega-3 fatty acids. This means protection from both age-related brain atrophy and trauma.
Fish oil’s anti-inflammatory nature also helps to protect against autoimmune disease.
Multivitamins
Let’s face it… None of us eats a perfect diet. You make a valiant effort, but you know you have cheat days every now and then. And, even if you always eat the perfect foods, the sad truth is that they don’t contain as many nutrients as they did when your grandparents grew them.
The remedy for this is to take a daily multivitamin. However, with so many multivitamins on the shelves, how do you know which one to choose?
A good rule of thumb is to avoid any synthetic vitamins. These are the ones that are usually inexpensive and chewable, and they contain a lot of fillers. Instead, look for multivitamins made from whole foods, such as this one from Standard Process. Although, at first glance, it may seem that whole food supplements don’t contain as many nutrients as their synthetic counterparts, whole food supplements contain valuable phytonutrients that work symbiotically with the vitamins.
Remember to take a multi mineral with your multivitamin as well.
Probiotics
Your health depends on your gut, which is the driver of your immune system and the location of mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters. It makes sense, therefore, to ensure that your gut remains in good condition.
One of the best ways to do this is to take a daily probiotic. This replaces any good bacteria you have lost through poor diet or illness.
When you set out to choose a good probiotic, look for one that needs to be refrigerated. This means that the cultures are active and will be able to repopulate your gut. The exception to this rule is with saccharomyces boulardii. This is a type of yeast that colonizes the intestinal tract with good bacteria.
It’s not always easy to make sense of nutrition in a world that constantly throws new ideas at you. One day something is good for you, and the next day you’re told to avoid it like the plague!
Forget the fads. Good nutrition follows just a few fundamental principles. Check them out in our ebook: Better Health Through Good Nutrition: A User’s Guide. You’ll learn about which myths are sabotaging your health, what to do when you’ve tried everything and you still can’t lose weight, and the one thing nutritionists wish we all knew. Download your copy today, and start eating your way to good health! Read More
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