The Case For Using Supplements

In our programs, we encourage our clients to add some nutritional supplementation and organic foods to their lives.  Here’s why:

Back in the day when I first opened my exercise studio, I thought that nutritional supplementation was completely unnecessary… a big marketing scheme to make people think that their lives would be so much better by taking all sorts of “vitamins.”

I also thought the same about organic vs non-organic food 

A few years later, when I was researching to expand my program offerings,  I came across articles and studies that suggested the complete opposite of my beliefs about nutritional supplementation and organic food.  So I reached out to some colleagues and did more research on the subject, and basically did a 180.

Now, I understand the importance of both and I include recommendations in all of my programs.  

Well Dorian, what changed your mind, you might be thinking.

Well, there are a multitude of reasons.   

Two major categories that I see,  food and lifestyle.

Let’s talk about food first.

What happens to our food before we actually sit down and eat it matters, and it matters significantly.

Antibiotics 

There are several reasons supporting the argument for the use of antibiotics in livestock when “responsibly used” 

•  prevent animal suffering
•  to keep the animals healthy, and this makes healthy food
•  help make food safe by reducing bacteria
•  minimize impact on the environment

So what’s the big deal?  Antibiotic resistance.

Hormones in Livestock

Hormones (estrogen) are used to accelerate growth rate so the animal matures earlier.  This creates less time for the animal to be on feed and fewer resources per pound of meat which keep costs and end-user prices lower.

The argument for hormone use is that the amounts used in livestock is relatively low as compared to other food sources. 

Fertilizers and Pesticides

Industrial agriculture relies on two types of chemicals: fertilizers and pesticides.

Fertilizers boost soil fertility, making crops more productive,  $$$

Pesticides protect crops by controlling weeds, insect and animal infestation and fungal/mold diseases

One of the arguments for the use of pesticides and fertilizers is not only plant protection and production, but to keep humans from vector-borne diseases ( blood feeding insects), such as malaria. And it keeps the prices lower

Not only do these chemicals sit on top of the plant, but can come into the plant through the root system.

PGR’s Plant Growth Regulators

PGR’s are compounds that modify (alter function,shape and size) of plants.

PGR’s can be plant produced hormones or synthetically produced compounds that act on the plant at a cellular level.  For instance stimulate cell enlargement.

Some examples:

•  the use of growth regulators to prevent apples and pears from dropping to the ground before they are ready to pick…Higher yield
•  In greenhouses young fruit can be artificially stimulated and often made to stick on the vines and grow vigorously…Higher Yield
•  Stimulate root systems…Higher Yield
•  Weed Killers
•  Stimulate to ripen faster
•  Stimulate to grow faster 

Why are they used?  $$$

Another thing to keep in mind about plant growth, is that the produce is stimulated to grow faster, so it doesn’t have the same amount of time to absorb nutrients from the soil or the sun. They are harvested before totally ripe and then are put into shipping containers. That’s why you see often in the grocer store, half ripe produce. They are starting their ripening process under the grocery store lighting versus the sun.

Preservatives

The argument for “Preservatives and preservation techniques is that they prevent foods from spoiling and oxidizing quickly. This allows grocery manufacturers to distribute foods across the country and the globe without impacting food safety or quality.” Preservatives extend shelf-life and keep the food “safe”

Well, I would beg to differ on that. But again, it’s a trade-off 

There’s more, but I think you are getting the jist.  I do believe that there is an up side and a down side to everything I’ve just shared with you.  I think it all comes down to balance and doing your own research.  And that’s where the next factor comes in…

Lifestyle

Ahh lifestyle…so what does that have to do with nutritional supplementation and eating organic food?

A lot!

Fast paced lifestyles

Look, we are all really busy, that’s one of the reasons fast food chains do so well.  WE are so busy doing stuff for everyone else that we don’t leave the time to take care of ourselves…prepare healthy meals.  So we get to the point that we are starving, so we seek out the closest food window that we can.  Or perhaps we are so busy that we rely on pre-prepared foods that we buy at the grocery store and keep in our homes.  You know, the frozen vegetable lasagna..that’s healthy and nutrient dense, right?.  Yeah, but how much added fat, sugar and preservatives are in that yummy meal?

Stress

Chronic stress is in my opinion a health epidemic.  My friend Dr. Jennifer Montes calls stress the “new smoking.”  Stress can make us crave highly palatable foods, and on top of that, the stress hormones cortisol causes us to store fat.

Culture

Let’s face it…we are bombarded with marketing from the food and weight loss industries on a daily basis.  Prepared food is glamorized and marketed to solve all sorts of problems such as kids who are picky eaters and busy schedules.  We have been conditioned to the idea that processed and fast foods are good for us.  They aren’t.

And sadly, there is more.    

So what can we do about all of this?

•  Eat as much organic produce, meat and groceries as possible.
•  Prepare your own meals with whole ingredients
•  Supplement with high quality, highly bioavailable anti-oxidants
•  Supplement with high quality, highly bioavailable essential vitamins and minerals
•  Supplement with high quality, highly bioavailable herbs and other plant based supplements to support individual needs such as sleep, stress, hormonal balance, energy, focus etc…

Sources

https://exploreanimalhealth.org/3-reasons-antibiotics-given-farm-animals/ 

https://extension.sdstate.edu/hormones-beef-myths-vs-facts 

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00148/full 

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