Many people would argue that a healthy, balanced and varied eating planshould be sufficient to provide you with all the nutrients you require.
I happen to be one of them. I firmly believe that you should receive all your nutrients from your daily foods. That is why my eating plans are brimful of Nature's bounty. I know for a fact that a well-nourished, healthy body will shed weight successfully and maintain that reduced weight and that optimum, balanced nutrition is the most important factor in this process.
But everything is not what it seems.
Our nutrients succumb to all kinds of robbers and thieves. For starters, there are the unavoidable hazards: factory, vehicle and water pollution and cigarette smoke; food processing and additives; poor food quality, Then the stress factor and its presumed antidotes enter the equation: sugary nibbles, medication and excess alcohol, Let's examine more closely the effects of these everyday hazards on our nutrient reserves.
1. Stress steals nutrition
Some researchers claim that a fit of anger (such as losing your temper and banging your head against the steering wheel of your car in a traffic jam) can 'steal' as much as 3 grams of vitamin C from your reserves.
Whether this claim is accurate or not, one thing is certain: stress robs you of your nutrients, It causes a skyrocketing of nutritional needs and vitamins C and B (particularly pantothenate) are withdrawn from the body at an alarming rate. Minerals are also withdrawn from your body under stress and should be replenished as they are withdrawn. But the average Ms Executive (whether taking care of a corporation or a household) who endures stress week in and week out, year after year, is not likely to consider eating bucketsful of fresh fruit and vegetables after each stressful incident! And if she does, where will she find the freshest and most wholesome foods, free from pesticides, fungicides, antibiotics and steroids?
In our modern society nobody can be assured of that any more. If you experience daily stress, you need a supplement.
2. Tobacco, drinks and drugs deplete nutrients
Using any form of drugs or alcohol invariably takes its toll on your nutritional reserves. For every healing or preventative benefit that allopathic (prescribed) drugs mayoffer, there is usually a trade-off as far as nutrients are concerned. Some medications (or alcohol) create a vitamin or mineral deficiency by either blocking their absorption, speeding up their excretion or otherwise interfering with the metabolism.
If you are on medication, smoke or drink alcohol regularly, you are likely to be in need of a supplement.