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25th January 2009
There Is No Substitute For A Healthy Diet --
Not Even A Handful Of Dietary Supplements!
Cliff Baker
"Excuse me? Just what do you think you're doing?" I asked my friend as she
took literally a handful of pills the other day. "Trying to overdose?"
She laughed. "No, these aren't uppers, downers or even prescription pills.
They're healthy dietary supplements. All of them. I promise."
"Did you know that taking too many pills -- even vitamin supplements -- may
increase the chances of you experiencing liver problems?"
Have you ever seen anyone choke on their supplements? It's not a pretty sight!
In her quest for weight loss and a healthy body, she scoured the pages of health
magazines always in search of the next great supplement that will either rev up
her metabolism . . . provide her with the missing nutrient that will help her
loss weight . . . or that vitamin that could help her burn fat faster!
But it's true. As a society as a whole, we rely too much on supplements to do a
host of tasks that can be done as equally as well . . . and even better . . by a
healthy diet!
The human body, after all, was not really designed to consume nutrients in an
isolated form as you find in supplements. Your body gains the maximum benefit
from nutrients when you "eat" them . . . in the way that they're found in
nature.
More than just a fad . . . Superfoods!
And perhaps that's where we're getting the latest buzz word in the natural
health world --"superfoods." While the term may sound like a fad . . . or a
marketing ploy . . . it's a very apt description just how our bodies use
vitamins and minerals.
Perhaps you've heard about superfoods in relation to disease prevention. But
choosing the right healthy foods can also help you loss weight and burn fat.
The food you eat can also improve your mood.
But you don't have to believe me. This is also the conclusion of Elizabeth Somer,
author of
The Essential Guide to Vitamins and Minerals
The effect that wholesome, well-chosen foods have on your body is nothing short
of "astounding," she explains.
Dr. Michael Finkelstein, a certified holistic physician and board-certified
internist, agrees. "It is important not to allow ourselves to become
romanticized by the fantasies that one, two or a combination of 10 supplements
will resolve our underlying issues," he says.
Even if you're healthy, Somer says, "a few tweaks" here and there in your food
selection "will be amazing." But, I'm going to clue you in on a secret --
you're not going to find these great nutritional benefits from "food in a box."
Processed and packaged foods are among your worst food choices. "Food in a
box" (or a can for that matter) can hardly be considered superfoods.
Finkelstein also warns of something called supplement dependence, the perceived
notion that you can only acquire good health through the ingesting a vast amount
of vitamin and mineral supplements.
But if you're not already eating a wide array of fresh, unprocessed foods, think
about adding the following foods -- in moderation of course -- to your daily
diet. Not only will you discover that you may have less need for that handful
of supplements you believe is so essential, but you'll discover you'll have
more energy for your exercise or workout routine!
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