Do You Need Supplements?

There is a great market for supplements on the shelves of any grocery store or health market which can be overwhelming. The question is, do you really need supplements? The answer is maybe Yes, and No!

A study showed that in the 1950s an ounce of spinach contained about 120 milligrams of iron, while in the 1990s, the same amount of spinach was said to contain only 4 milligrams of iron. This is due to the fact that farmers have switched to chemical fertilizers that deplete the soil, which in turn deplete our produce as well as whole grains, legumes, and even animal products. The produce may look nice and pretty (and even last longer) but if it is void of vital nutrients, we will not be getting the nutrition we need from our foods. That's why it's best to buy organics if at all possible, and also to encourage the growing of foods organically.

However, it's important to understand that our sewers are known to be filled with enormous amounts of undigested vitamins and pills. Many of the supplements on the market contain fillers and are not digestible, and may be causing more harm than good.

I have often read a saying that I believe to be true, which I have revised somewhat:
"The doctor of [real health] will prescribe no medicine, but will interest his patients in the cause and prevention of disease."

We need to constantly build our systems in order to prevent sickness and disease, so here are a few suggestions:

1) Buy organics if at all possible to insure a higher quality of nutrition. Better yet, grow some of your foods organically, if possible.

2) On a regular basis, eat foods that are naturally high in antioxidants. Antioxidants are great wholesome foods that battle free radicals that cause disease, and naturally build our immune system. Here are some foods that are high in anti-oxidants:
* berries: goji berries, blueberries, wolfberries, many other berries
* other fruits: pomegranate, noni fruit, cherries, apples
* greens: kale, spinach, wheat grass, green sprouts
* nuts: walnuts, pecans
* vegetables: artichokes, red cabbage, broccoli
* green teas

3) There are several liquid antioxidants that are highly beneficial. People are getting such great results with these, because they provide the body with much needed nutrition. Som e great brands include:
* Kyani Sunrise
* Young Living's Ningxia Red
* Xango Mangosteen juice

4) It's best to choose supplements that are soluble (can be stirred into liquid). There are great protein based supplements as well as very poor quality ones. Avoid all whey protein powders, and cheap soy based protein supplements. High quality brand names include:
* Raw Power
* Reliv
* Sunrider
These all can be found in a Google search by those names (or add .com after the name).

5) Powdered greens are also very valuable in providing natural enzymes for better digestion, many trace minerals and vitamins, fiber and more. They can come in the form of capsule such as:
* Juice Plus
Or as green powder drinks, here are some great brand name choices:
* Health Force "Vitamineral Green"
* Wild Oats "Greens 'n Things"

6) If taking any kind of supplements in pill form, choose capsules if possible. You will most likely get much better results if you:
* Make sure they are high quality - yes, that means a higher price. But why pay for something that will do little or nothing for you.
* Don't just buy, research the company and make sure it is a good product.
Yes, disease and most illnesses can be prevented. And the beauty of this is that the solutions are sensible and simple because the real power of prevention lies in the quality of our foods - ones that are high in nutrition which may include great available supplements! But choose wisely, building with high quality nutritious foods and products!

To learn more about improving your health with the right educational tools, take advantage of my special offer at: http://erleentilton.com/special2.htm .

For your best health,
Erleen Tilton