food supplements
I eat a balanced diet of predominantly whole foods, complete with fresh fruits and vegetables, and I am physically active. Food supplements are not necessary. Or are they?
If this question has crossed your mind, you’re not alone. It certainly crossed mine. That’s why I reached out to my friend, Dan Odero of Neo-Life Nutrition, to share his thoughts on this decades-old question. Here is what he had to say.
You are not alone if you, like Maggy, find yourself wondering whether you need food supplements. In this short write-up, I share why we should all favorably consider food supplements.
Many people believe they follow a well-balanced diet and live a healthy lifestyle, yet we still hear of cases where such individuals suffer from various ailments. So, what is going on?
With the dawn of the industrial age and the movement of people from rural areas to cities in search of work, food production began to change. More industries started manufacturing processed foods to ensure the growing population could access food easily and that it lasted longer. From the late 1950s, and with further advancements over the last six decades, the foods that make up a large part of our diets increased, with many of them lacking essential nutrients needed to support good health. At the same time, manufacturers and suppliers increasingly focused on the bottom line, often at the expense of nutritional value.
Unless one grows their own food, it is difficult to be certain that all the nutrients required to maintain good health are being met.
I, too, was sceptical of food supplements. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that I began to understand their importance, though questions still lingered. Are they organic? Are they natural? Can they really deliver the promised benefits? Amidst these questions, I came across a company that prioritised quality in the production of food supplements - products designed to bridge the gaps I felt existed despite my balanced diet. Unfortunately, many manufacturers claim to offer solutions while producing synthetic supplements that fall short, reinforcing the belief that the industry is driven more by profit than by people.
Thirty years ago, when I acknowledged the importance of food supplements, I began taking a few that I felt, guided by sound advice, I needed. Today, I can confidently say I have benefited from using natural food supplements, and I have seen their impact in helping those around me manage ailments caused by, or linked to, poor nutrition. In today’s world, making food supplementation part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle may help prevent avoidable ailments and improve overall quality of life.
Health is truly your greatest wealth.
The above are the views of Dan Odero. To know more about food supplements, you can reach him on danodero12@gmail.com.
NB: This is not medical advice - always speak to your Doctor before you try out any supplement especially if you have an underlying medical condition.
