Long ago I became interested in vitamins because I was approached by someone that sold vitamins as a business. I researched quite a lot about vitamin and nutritional supplements. I called pharmacists and asked them their opinion.
The overwhelming consensus from people that are actually in the business of selling pills, all agreed with what I had found from researching vitamin and nutritional supplements on well known medical professionals websites. Whole or real food is always better.
Some of the reasons for this is the complex nature of natural foods. Whereas, a supplement or vitamin may have a good dose of specific vitamins, natural foods have those and what are called micro-nutrients, as well.
Our bodies are amazing biological machines that require natural foods and the wide range of vitamins, minerals or nutrients that are available in real or whole food.
Some chemicals or nutrients occur naturally in living vegetables and fruits. Those nutrients are hard to duplicate because they occur naturally. In vegetables and fruits there is also natural occurring fiber, which we know is very good for us.
What Should We Do?
It seems to me that eating a well balanced diet is the best medicine. But if we are not getting a good diet should we use nutritional health supplements?
I am not a doctor, so all I can do is make a suggestion. I am starting to notice that hospitals and some insurance companies are also making suggestions of drinks like ensure or boost. I have noticed that there seems to be an encouragement by medical professionals for people that are becoming elderly and or recently hospitalized to perhaps try or use these types of drinks.
I have tried some of these drinks and have noticed they did in fact make me feel pretty good, although I won't endorse a particular brand.
In summation, as a layperson, that has tried nutrition health supplements, I think our best bet would be to provide ourselves with the widest range of real whole foods first. That balanced diet of whole food is reasonably inexpensive, considering the benefits. If you want to explore nutritional health supplements, find out what the doctors and insurance people recommend.
I know it may seem a little odd concerning health advice from the insurance profession, but after all, if you get sick, they are the ones that have to pay! So, if an insurance company recommends or will even pay for a nutritional supplement, you might consider their motivation, to keep you healthy at quite literally all costs!
