Why Supplements Are Important

Did you take your vitamins today? Do you know if you’re taking the ones that your body needs?

Nearly half of Americans are taking vitamins and supplements on a daily basis and spend over $28 million dollars a year for nutritional supplements. We’ve been told that our food supply is lacking in essential nutrients and vitamins compared to the food our grandparents consumed. We’ve been told that vitamins are good for us and will keep us healthy.

But how do you know if the vitamins you are taking aren’t too much of a good thing?

What are we missing?

We do know that Americans are missing important vitamins and nutrition in the on-the-go/convenience lifestyle of today. Even if you take the time to buy healthy foods and cook at home, it is true that our food supply is lacking in the essentials that keep us living a long life. Vitamin deficiencies are harmful and can lead to disease.

The most common deficiencies are:

• Vitamin D
• Iodine
• Iron
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C

Because of this, food manufacturers began to artificially fortify foods with extra vitamin C, vitamin D or other supplements to make up for the pasteurization process. Then we are taking even more vitamins on top of all of that. Too much of a good thing, however, can make things much, much worse.

What are YOU missing?

One way to determine if you are in need of nutritional supplements is with a physical exam and blood analysis from a functional medicine provider. A functional medicine exam will take a close look at your medical and health history, your diet and your blood analysis results. In many cases, you may only need to supplement part of your diet – especially if the following apply:

• You don’t eat a diet that includes a variety of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and grains.
• You have food sensitivities to particular whole foods that can provide the lacking nutrition.

How can functional medicine help you?

Functional medicine offers a personalized, whole body, patient-centered approach to healing. Instead of a broad sweeping diagnosis and prescription of vitamins, a functional medicine provider will examine you to determine if you’re in need of nutritional supplements. You may also be given other lifestyle strategies to tone down inflammation and imbalance in the body and bring about optimal health. This comprehensive approach to treatment brings the patient and doctor together as a partnership to impact the functionality of the body.

In many cases, imbalances can be restored or improved to help increase longevity and health for the patient.

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