What is the the solution to combating free radical damage? Supplementation is the only solution. Why? Because a 2017 CDC report revealed that less than 12% of Americans are eating a recommended amount of fruits and vegetables every day.
For most problems, nature provides a solution, and our health is no exception. The human body is miraculous, and when it is supplied with the nutrition it needs, it is able grow, maintain, and repair itself. Proper nutrition is directly linked to the body’s ability to increase energy levels, fight off and recover from illness, improve overall well-being, and reduce the risk of major health concerns. Proper nutrition can also reduce inflammation and free radicals. In fact, antioxidants and other nutrients in certain supplements are crucial for keeping them at bay.
For context, please read the two previous articles for this series. The first article is, "Viewing Health from a New Angle: Understanding free radicals and inflammation" and the second article is, "A look at the long-term effects of Free Radical Damage."
Calorie rich, but nutrient poor
Despite attempts to better inform the public and provide greater nutritional information, the Standard American Diet, also know as “SAD,” is, frankly, rather sad. Over the last 100 years, there has been a major shift in the eating habits of the majority of Americans. We have gone from eating smaller portions and home-cooked, locally grown whole foods to consuming high amounts of over-processed simple carbohydrates and refined sugars. National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys found that “American people consume much lower amounts of nutrients than are recommended.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention helped pinpoint exactly why in its November 17, 2017 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which stated that only 12 percent of American adults eat enough fruit every day, while only 9 percent of adults meet the daily recommendation for vegetables.
All of that adds up to a lot of nutrient deficiency. On average, there are 11 nutrients that Americans aren’t getting enough of on a regular basis, including essential nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and minerals including magnesium and potassium—some of the exact nutrients required to keep inflammation and free radicals from flaring out of control.
Evolution of food
And while fewer and fewer of us are eating nutrient-rich whole foods, it’s possible to find yourself lacking even when you eat well. While the fruit and vegetables you eat may be larger than the varieties enjoyed by your parents and grandparents, it doesn’t mean they have more vitamins and minerals. In fact, the opposite is true. A Kushi Institute analysis of nutrient data compared 12 vegetables from 1975 to those in 1997 and found calcium levels had dropped 37%. Vitamin A levels dropped 21%, and vitamin C levels had fallen 30%!
A similar study published in the British Food Journal compared 20 vegetables from 1930 to their 1980 counterparts and saw that iron levels dropped 22% and potassium fell 14%. Researchers also believe that there have been similar declines in magnesium, zinc, vitamins B6, and vitamin E, but those nutrients were not measured in previous studies.
Equally alarming is what has increased in fruits and vegetables—sugar and starch. The most popular variety of corn on the market now contains almost 40% sugar, and similar increases have occurred in many other fruits and vegetables.
Suffering soil
Faster farming methods aren’t the only reason for falling nutrient levels. There are fewer nutrients in the soil. It was once common practice for farmers to alternate fields and crops between growing seasons to allow the land time to restore itself. Now, farmers must use all their fields all the time to stay profitable, and they rarely alternate what they grow.
Industrialized farming methods and fertilization techniques have also been shown to lower food quality. A study published in Hort-Science in 2009 found that fertilizing raspberries with phosphorus doubled the yield, but caused the nutrient levels of eight minerals to decline by 20%–55%!
The need for superior supplementation
Changing dietary habits and dropping nutrient levels make it harder than ever to provide the body with the critical nutrients it needs to maintain health and longevity. That is exactly why certain supplement solutions were created.
But when you take a nutritional supplement, how do you know if it’s working? How can you be certain it is worth the money you spent on it? How can you be confident it is doing what it says it will do?
While some people may report an increase in energy, an overall feeling of well-being, or even a specific improvement to their health, others may feel no noticeable difference at all until they stop taking their supplements. And while those experiences are valuable, they are not scientific evidence.
While there have been nutritional supplement studies done in the past, they have been quite limited in terms of scope. Most of them focused on just one or two supplements, they only measured a couple of health markers, and most concluded there was little value in supplementation.
The Value of Multiple Clinical Tests
The value of a clinical study is measured by the ability to replicate its findings. Additional studies strengthen the legitimacy of the initial findings and conclusions. Duplication also helps ensure that the results are reproducible and were not due to coincidence or to chance.
While the protocols for studies can be very similar, the subjects of the studies may not. In some studies, the subjects are far more racially diverse than others. They also can be heavier on average and have greater waist circumference. Varying the subject pool will help substantiate the findings that a supplement could have a profound impact on health, regardless of who you are, where you live, and whatever your current state of well-being.
While clinical studies are critical to validating effectiveness, the real power of a supplement comes from the effect it is having on tens of thousands of real people around the globe. If it can have such a profound effect on others, just imagine what the supplement can do for you—although your results may vary, of course.
Finding a Supplement
The most valuable resource we have in this life is time. Once it is gone, we can never get it back.
How we use our limited time will determine not only our overall happiness, but the impact we have on those around us—those who matter most. The value of being able to make the most of each precious moment, or to be able to add a few more moments, is immeasurable.
Luckily, we can make choices that will help us live longer, more vibrant lives. We know that proper nutrition and daily exercise are two of the most critical factors. We also know that free radicals take a never-ending toll on our lives and contribute to a host of degenerative conditions as well as the aging process.
If you are interested in finding supplements that meet these important criteria, then let me introduce you to a company that is a world leader with nutritional and health products. Their nutritional supplements and vitamins deliver proven life changing results. Nutritional support for energy and well being while guarding against free radical activity. They help support normal insulin response, better blood flow and enhance muscle and joint recovery after exercise.
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