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Does eating a healthy balanced diet alone supply all of the nutrients that the body requires to function properly? There are many different kinds and brands of supplements available to the buyer, but what are the benefits of using these products?
These are just some of the questions people might have regarding nutritional supplementation and the aim of this article is to answer many of these questions.
There are many different types of nutritional products currently available and the health and fitness industry is one of the fastest growing sectors at this time. This is because of a lot of factors such as the increase in obesity and the increasing numbers of people being diagnosed with degenerative diseases.
It’s sometimes believed (particularly amongst older generations) that eating a balanced diet and regular exercise is sufficient to maintain good health, but there’s also the conflicting argument that without supplements, a lot of people’s intake of crucial nutrients falls far short of their body’s needs.
Before I discuss these problems, I would first like to give a quick overview of some of the nutrients that the human body needs to work correctly:
Firstly there’re the macronutrients. Macronutrients include Carbs, Proteins and Fats. At the most simplified level, carbs supply our bodies with energy, proteins are responsible for constructing and repairing muscle tissue and fats provide extra energy reserves and allow for the transportation of micronutrients around the body. Fats are also required for the production of certain hormones.
Secondly there’re micronutrients. Micronutrients include vitamins (also called antioxidants) and minerals. Each vitamin (A, B12, C, D, E, K, etc.) and mineral (Zinc,Magnesium, Iron, Calcium etc.) performs a specific role in the body and they are all necessary for good bodily function. Deficiencies in minerals and vitamins have been identified as one of the primary factors in the development of degenerative disease, as vitamins in particular are responsible for the removal of free radicals within the body.
Free radicals are dangerous molecules, that are made by chemical reactions within the human body, and also by factors in our external environment. They attack healthy cells causing them to break down (degenerate), potentially resulting in the development of degenerative disease in the long term.
As an example, it has been suggested that in order to promote optimum health, 400 IU (International Units) of vitamin E must be consumed each day. To put this into context, an individual would have to consume 14.5 kg of spinach daily to achieve this level. Alternatively, 1kg or almonds would provide the same oxidative defence for the human cells. This example should highlight that it’s very difficult to consume 400 IU of vitamin E without incorporating nutritional supplements. This value is significantly greater than the Suggested Daily Permitting (RDA) for many reasons:
Firstly, RDAs were established in the 1940s and were recommendations to prevent diseases such as scurvy and rickets and are sometimes considered to be somewhat outdated. In addition, the external environment in which we live nowadays contains higher amounts of pollutants, radiation and other toxic compounds, which considerably increases our need for anti-oxidants.
It’s known that the levels of vitamins in fruit and veggies depletes over time, thus to get the best anti-oxidative defence from foods, we would have to consume them instantly after they were harvested. This is really difficult nowadays due to the nature of supermarket’s distribution processes.
In summary, high quality multi-vitamin and multimineral health supplements could be beneficial for everybody, to make sure the intake of sufficient quantities of vitamins and minerals. This may support healthy body function, increase energy levels and may also reduce free radical damage and cellular degeneration inside the body.
Macronutrient health supplements (i.e. proteins, meal replacements and healthy snacking options), also serve a purpose to many individuals:
An example would be for a vegan who may usually find it hard to consume sufficient quantities of proteins. In this case, a Soy Protein supplement could be of use. Soy protein does not contain animal products and can provide all the essential amino acids that the body needs for developing and repairing bodily tissues.
For individuals looking to manage their weight, meal substitutions may supply the proper balance of nutrients in a low calorie supplement. Meal replacements can be a convenient method for people with hectic lives to manage calorie consumption.
Healthy snacking options might also provide an excellent method for getting a good balance of nutrients with little or no preparation. It would usually be more beneficial to an individual’s health to eat a top quality healthy snack bar than to purchase a snack from a convenience store.
Therefore, the use of macronutrient snacks usually depends on an individual’s health goals and personal dietary needs.
Andrew Smith is an Independent Affiliate for Usana, who manufacture world leading nutritional supplements. To read a comprehensive Usana products review go to this site: usana products uk
