There is always a debate going on whether you should be taking supplements or not.

In an ideal world you shouldn’t have to, if you are eating a healthy diet consisting primarily of fresh vegetables and fruit. However, if you don’t grow your own, or live somewhere where you can’t get organic, vine ripened produce it’s likely you are deficient in at least some essential vitamins and minerals.

The most common deficiencies are iron, iodine, magnesium, calcium, vitamin B12 (especially if you eat a vegan diet) and vitamin D.

Research has shown that in the last 50 years the average potato has lost 100 per cent of its vitamin A, 57 per cent of its vitamin C and iron and 28 per cent of its calcium. You would also need to eat 8 oranges to get the same amount of vitamin A as the one your grandparents ate.

Why?
Farming Practices

• Soil depletion.
• Breeding for size, speed of maturation and pest resistance rather than nutritional content.
• Crops picked unripe to allow for transportation and storage.
• Use of pesticides and other toxins

Health/Lifestyle

• Poor absorption
• Lack of variety of gut flora due to antibiotics and other drugs
• Diet high in processed foods
• Lack of sunlight

Diet and lifestyle is the best way to deal with deficiencies.

• Eat organic as much as possible
• Eat a wide variety of different vegetables, fruits and nuts
• Reduce toxic load by choosing natural skincare and cleaning products

Supplementation

Supplementation is a minefield as there are thousands of different products out there. Many will just result in expensive pee and poop as your body is unable to absorb them. This is due to

• Many of them not being recognised as they are a chemical and not natural to the body.
• Lots of filler and little active ingredients
• You have absorption issues.
• You don’t have enough cell signalling molecules, your cells labourers to use the nutrients.

One supplement that is essential if you live in a northern climate is Vitamin D3 as its difficult to get enough from food. The main source is sunlight however if the sun is below 50 degrees it’s not strong enough. I take a liquid supplement between October and March.

Even though I eat a very healthy diet, I feel when in the UK and often when travelling my body needs extra supplementation. I take products that are food based and easily absorbed. They have made a difference to my health, especially the probiotic.

If you are still confused and unsure what is right for you and your life , or would like to know more about the products I take, please message or email me.