REVISITING SUPPLEMENTATION
In 2023, we did a blog on supplementation, but never really went into detail about the different supplements to take for various organs and bodily functions. In this week’s blog, we will revisit supplementation, identify what we can do to help, and set up a 15-week course on the supplements we offer at our facility.
What Are Vitamins and Minerals?
As a reminder, vitamins and minerals are micronutrients that are essential dietary elements required by organisms in varying quantities throughout life to orchestrate a range of physiological functions to maintain health. Each vitamin and mineral have its own function essential for survival and disease prevention. Although the focus is often on vitamin deficiency, it’s important to remember that too much of any vitamin can be toxic and dangerous.
What is Supplementation?
There’s nothing wrong with a little help, right? Sometimes, we don’t get enough vitamins and minerals from the foods that we eat, so we need that extra support in order for the body to thrive and survive. That is the goal of supplementation. What does that mean? Vitamins and minerals in the form of a tablet or capsule provide the support that we need to address an array of conditions including arthritis, decreased bone density, gut issues, immunodeficiency, etc. This does not mean that people should stop eating fruits or vegetables and rely solely on supplements. Supplementation is an aid, not a substitution.
Now wait. If we eat foods high in vitamins and minerals, what is the point of taking supplements? Some foods high in vitamins and minerals may not be readily available or can be very costly for the average individual. Let’s take Vitamin A for example. Carrots contain an extraordinary amount of Vitamin A. It only takes one medium size carrot to provide an individual enough Vitamin A for two days. Carrots are reasonably affordable and readily available. Now let’s take zinc for example. Zinc is perhaps the best mineral for immune support; however, the best source of zinc is oysters. Unfortunately, fresh oysters are not the easiest to obtain and oysters are expensive. In addition, have you ever had fresh oysters? They are a unique acquired taste.
The point is although some foods provide specific vitamins and minerals, they only contain a minimal amount per portion size. Therefore, it is not enough for the body to function properly. Supplementation allows the body to thrive by taking the necessary daily requirements. This doesn’t mean that you need a supplement for every vitamin and mineral as some only require small doses that can be fulfilled by the foods that we eat.
How Do You Know What Brands to Buy?
Before purchasing any supplements, make sure they are FDA approved. We highly recommend avoiding supplements that are not FDA approved or independently verified because there is no guarantee that the ingredients are exactly as described. Why ingest something that has not been approved or tested for that matter? There are so many questions that may be left unanswered.
Second, we recommend not buying supplements from a retail store such as Walmart, Target, Walgreens, etc. Often, these brands are not FDA approved. In addition, they may not be manufactured in a reputable lab. Try researching for reputable labs that have great reviews and provide a variety of supplements at a reasonable retail price.
What Can Our Facility Do to Help?
We don’t sell every vitamin and mineral out on the market, but we do sell supplements to help with immune support, inflammation, digestive breakdown, muscle spasms, prostate regulation, arthritis, enzymes and disc rehydration. The supplements we offer focus on pain, inflammation and increasing organ function. Over the next 15-weeks, we will talk about each supplement we offer separately.
If you have any questions about supplementation, please call us at (724) 547-3377 and checkout our www.laurelmountainchiro.com for more content.
Yours In Health,
Brian M. Steinert, DC
Larry E. Wilkins, DC