Even though in an ideal world we would get all the nutrition we need from delicious and nutritious whole foods, there are many reasons why supplements may be beneficial or even essential.
One of the reasons more people may find themselves needing supplements is that our nation is experiencing an alarming amount of depleted soil due to modern agricultural methods. Depleted soil results in less nutritious produce. I’ve heard it said that a piece of fresh picked fruit eaten today contains only a fraction of the nutrients it would have contained several decades ago.
Another reason people may need to supplement is due to gut damage caused by a poor diet and lifestyle resulting in poor absorption of nutrients. Eating fake, highly-processed and ultra-processed food takes its toll over time in many ways, one of them being the physical damage it does to our digestive system.
Long-term medications are often culprits that contribute to vitamin deficiencies as well. Since Web MD states that as of 2016, 4.5 billion prescriptions are filled each year, there’s a good chance that many of us might fall into this category.
In my case, the main reason I had to begin supplements was due to scarring throughout the lining of my colon, which was caused by collateral damage from severe Ulcerative Colitis flare-ups. The scarring makes it harder for nutrients to be absorbed, thus deficiencies were occurring. Many people with even less severe cases of Ulcerative Colitis and Crohns Disease experience this as well.
Lab tests ordered by my Naturopath showed me what vitamins I was deficient in - there were numerous deficiencies, but the biggest ones were two very important ones, Vitamin D and Vitamin B12.
Gone undiscovered, deficiencies can become a huge problem. For example, low levels of Vitamin D are associated with a weakened immune system, meaning an inability to fend off illnesses. In our current COVID world it’s extremely important to make sure our D levels are up to snuff. Deficient levels can also contribute to depression and osteoporosis. Something important to note about Vitamin D deficiency is that MOST people are likely deficient and don’t even know it. We really don’t spend enough time outdoors in the sun anymore, but even when we do we are so good about protecting our skin from the sun that low D levels are a consequence. When it comes to Vitamin B12, low levels can lead to anemia and severe nerve damage, and can also cause neurodegenerative disorders and cognitive impairment. Other vitamin deficiencies cause other problems; none of them good.
Needless to say, it is extremely important to get your vitamin levels checked periodically, especially if you have a poor diet or a chronic disease. In my experience, either my naturopath or a conventional physician will write me a lab order, then off I go to get blood drawn. After it runs through my insurance I’ve only ever had minimal bills to pay for regular blood work. After the blood work, your physician will give you your results and proper dosage instructions, which is important because too much of a good thing can of course be harmful too.
Just like with food, quality matters, and high-quality is going to be more expensive. But also just like with food, the extra expense is well worth it, especially if it can save you future suffering as well as future outrageous medical bills.
I get my supplements through trusted brands that do not have many “other ingredients” on the label. The brands that I have had success with are Garden of Life, Thorne, Pure Encapsulations, and Vital Nutrients, to name a few. Garden of Life even uses organic ingredients.
For your reference, here is a list of what I am personally supplementing with currently - keep in mind this is for my specific scarred colon situation - you may not need to supplement beyond a good multivitamin or perhaps just only in a couple areas. EveryBODY is different, and this is where getting your vitamin levels checked comes in handy as then you can know specifically what you need to take.
There are many pieces of the puzzle when it comes to healing and staying healed. A BIG piece, without a doubt, is making sure our bodies are supported by providing enough nutrients through healthy whole foods, and when necessary, through supplementation.
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