When I was in naturopathic medical school, one of my nutrition professors put it plainly when describing the need for basic nutritional supplements, “If you are alive and breathing, you should at least be on a multivitamin and fish oil!”
Due to depleted vitamin and mineral contents of our soil, even organically grown fruits and vegetables are lacking in proper nutrition. This makes basic nutritional fortification essential. Additionally, due to the overabundance of omega 6 fatty acids in our diets coming from corn, sunflower, and safflower oils, our need for a proper ratio of omega 3 essential fatty acids from sources such as fish oil is critical.
I also recommend a B Complex Formula and Vitamin D as additional basic foundational vitamins. The B vitamins are imperative for proper cellular metabolism and the benefits of vitamin D are innumerable.
If most people regularly took these four vitamin supplements then many health issues would and could be avoided and improved.
Multivitamin
Patients will often inquire about which type of brand of multivitamin to take. There are many on the market. The easiest way to ensure you are procuring the best possible quality and efficacious supplement, be sure to chose something your healthcare provider can give you. Usually, a healthcare provider has access to higher quality supplements from reputable companies that maintain excellent standards. These companies do not typically sell their products directly to the consumer, but through the healthcare provider who then distributes them to patients. This certainly eliminates much of the guessing.
In general, your multivitamin should be complete in its array of nutrients but at the same time have adequate amounts of the things offered. This needs to be balanced. Sometimes, a multivitamin will have many different things in it, but without the potency of each thing to make it effective. On the other hand, it could have a smaller array of potent factors in the formula, but not offer a large enough array of what the body needs. Again, check with your healthcare provider.
Essential Fatty Acids (Fish Oil)
One of the most common problems in our diets today is the lack of “good fats.” One of the key essential fatty acids or “good fats” that is missing is the Omega 3 fatty acids. The two key Omega 3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Both of these essential fatty acids have been linked to lowered cholesterol and triglycerides, improved heart health, decreased joint pain, and lowered inflammation. When inflammation is high in the body, diseases of all types can occur. Essential fatty acids keep inflammation to a minimum that helps you to stay at your maximum.
Potential problems with Fish Oil:
- Patients are very concerned about the taste and quality of fish oil. When fish oil has been manufactured poorly with little concern for quality and purity, then the potential for a rancid, fishy odor and taste is high. Be sure to chooe a high quality fish oil that is free from odor. In fact, when the quality is high, fish oil can have a very pleasant taste.
Vitamin B Complex
A vitamin B complex supplement should contain a complete array of the B vitamins to include at least B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, Biotin, and Folate (Folic Acid). These vitamins are absolutely imperative for energy production in the cell and this formula should not be underestimated in its ability to help improve energy levels in general. When cells are being driven by stimulants such as thyroid hormone, caffeine, and others, the demand for B vitamins increases to make the chemical reactions occur, and ultimately you feel your best.
Potential problems with the B Complex formula:
- Nausea, flushing, anxious energy: The best strategy to alleviate these problems is to take the recommended amount in divided doses such as 2-3 times per day versus once daily and/or lower the overall amount of the dose. Taking a lowered tolerable amount is better than taking nothing at all.
Vitamin D
See an additional blog post for the amazing benefits of Vitamin “Hormone” D…
Disclaimer: All the information on this blog is intended for educational purposes only and not intended to replace the advice of a qualified licensed medical practitioner nor treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
