Why you may need supplements
While most of us look well-nourished in the western world, the reality tells a very different story.
At least 55 per cent of Aussies have some form of nutrient deficiency, commonly caused by poor food choices, poor lifestyle choices, medications, poor quality ingredients, over-farmed soil, eating out of season and even from cold storage.
Your body will share essential vitamins, minerals and fatty acids on a day-to-day basis to meet your immediate and fluctuating needs. While taking supplements is no replacement for a poor diet, as the name suggests, they may ‘supplement’ a healthy, balanced diet.
Poor nutrition has been linked to an increased risk of many diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
The human diet requires both macro-nutrients, which are the main source of energy, and micro-nutrients, required for all metabolic processes.
Unfortunately, the most abundant source of dietary fuel in the Western diet is nutrient-poor, refined carbohydrates, which explains how most of the population are overweight and undernourished.
Restrictive diets such as veganism can also lead to nutrient deficiencies. Animal and plant foods are complimentary, so for optimal nourishment, we need them both. While some deficiencies can be mild, others can cause a lifelong impact.
Some common deficiencies:
- Vitamin B12. This deficiency is particularly common in aged care facilities where about 14 per cent of patients are low in Vitamin B12. It affects memory, balance, fatigue and usually goes hand in hand with iron deficiency.
- Calcium. This deficiency can be caused by a lack of Vitamin D, and you may not have any symptoms other than muscle weakness and spasms, fatigue or pins and needles. It’s difficult to eat adequate calcium in the diet, needing 1300mg a day over the age of 50. One cup of milk provides only 300mg.
- Iodine. Australia has very low iodine levels but it’s a crucial mineral to support thyroid function. It can cause constipation, fatigue and weight gain.
- Vitamin D. More than a third of Australians have a severe deficiency. It plays a huge role in immunity, lowering in winter because we don’t get as much sun. A lack of Vitamin D causes weakened bones, muscle pain and weakness.
- Zinc. 85 per cent of Australian women and 50 per cent of men don’t eat enough zinc. Oysters are the best source, along with seaweed. It’s crucial for supporting immunity and deficiency can cause hair loss, diarrhea, impotence, skin, and vision problems.
- Magnesium. 85-95 per cent of people are deficient which can lead to osteoporosis, heart disease, muscle weakness, shakiness, cramps, sleeplessness, abnormal heart rhythm and migraine.
You can discover if your body has a low level of these nutrients through a simple blood test when you next visit your doctor, who can advise whether you need a dietary supplement.
As we get older, we may need to a little more help to keep our body running well, so remember, knowledge is power!
This article was written by Donna Aston. Donna is one of Australia’s top nutritionists. She developed the popular AstonRX Metabolic Fat Loss Program, Gut Rehab Program and Quick Start Program. Find out more at AstonRX.com.
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