Sunday 14 September 2014

Basic Supplement Plan

I believe that everyone should be taking a high quality multi-vitamin & mineral formula, simply because we can’t always be sure of obtaining all the nutrients our body needs through diet alone; we all have busy lives and try as we might, something always seems to get in the way.  Supplements are exactly what they say they are - supplemental to a healthy diet - not instead of; but in my view, the decision to invest in a premium multi-nutrient formula is also a decision to begin to take good care of ourselves.

Multi Essentials One-a-Day / Multi Essentials Men's / Multi Essentials Women's / Ultra Preventive X
 
One other multi-nutrient formula which I highly recommend, but will feature separately in a forthcoming blog post is AdrenoMax; this contains a synergistic blend of nutrients designed to support the health of the adrenal glands, two small glands which sit on top of the kidneys and produce hormones that, amongst many other functions, help us to adapt to stress.  It also contains 5-HTP, successfully used to boost mood and alleviate depression. 

To support this foundation, I also take omega 3 fatty acids; these are my absolute passion and I have great belief in their potent anti-inflammatory properties.  Eskimo Extra is a high potency fish oil supplement containing the important omega-3 fatty acids, EPA & DHA, in their optimal concentration, a 3:2 ratio.  They have been well studied for their role in the support of many bodily systems including cardiovascular health, bone & joint health and in the treatment of psychological disorders such as depression & anxiety.  Be mindful, when buying an omega 3 supplement to always buy a premium product containing an antioxidant for freshness and stability; after all they are a fat and all fats are subject to oxidation & rancidity.
 
Eskimo-3 Extra
 
I also take vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) on a daily basis. This fat-soluble vitamin, strongly associated with the health of our bones, has recently become quite a hot topic with studies revealing increasing prevalence of a widespread, global deficiency.  Our natural source of the vitamin is sunshine, formed in the skin when exposed to sunlight.  A spectrum of emerging evidence is linking this vitamin to a range of health benefits aside from the role it plays in calcium absorption and the promotion of bone formation, including enhanced immune function, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, possible prevention of some forms of cancer and improvements in mood & depression.  In fact, research suggests that deficiency may be exacerbating the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and increased synthesis of vitamin D3 in the skin during the summer is the reason we feel happier during the warmer, sunny months.
 
D3 Lemon Melts 2000

I always think of nutrition in layers; ie when you know that your diet is poor and you aren’t feeling the way you want to, you have to take a long, hard look in the mirror and summon the courage to do something about it.  When you finally make that decision, which can take years for some, you often have to then completely destruct old, outworn and damaging habits that are destructive and self-debilitating and begin to construct a new you.  So your admission guides you to seek help to begin a new dietary regime, which is challenging, but empowering as you finally begin to nourish your body and make informed choices about your own health & well-being.  Then it’s really a question of just how good do you want to feel?  That’s when the supplements can make all the difference in the world and you look back and say “I wish I’d done this years’ ago”! 

Taking this basic plan, we can then start to personalise and build upon it with the antioxidants and other specialist supplements for transitional or demanding times of life or the specific requirements of sport & physical exercise - watch this space!
 
Information & ingredients on each supplement recommended is via the website.
 
"Health is not valued until sickness comes" (Thomas Fuller)

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