Or can I get all the nutrition I need from food? A question I get asked regularly and it is dependent on a number of factors.
Firstly, a dietary analysis can reveal if there are certain nutrients lacking in your diet that may be contributing to your health concerns. This can then be addressed, first and foremost using food but if this is not possible, perhaps due to food preferences or dietary limitations, then supplementation may be necessary.
Sometimes dietary analysis may reveal a sufficient intake of a certain nutrient however physical signs, symptoms or functional testing results indicate that levels of this nutrient could be low. In this case it may be that digestion and absorption of nutrients is being affected by less than optimal digestive function. Working to improve digestive function would be a focus, whilst using supplements to support deficiencies alongside this may be required.
There are also life stages, life events and specific health conditions that can impact on the level of nutrients we need from our diet. For example, when the body is undergoing stress it can require increased levels of nutrients, including Vitamin C and B vitamins, and as long as stress continues then supplementation of these nutrients, alongside a balanced diet, may be required.
Therefore, it requires a holistic and detailed analysis of your current diet and health history to determine if supplementation is necessary, each individual case is different. If supplementation is required, we use practitioner grade supplements, which can provide optimal amounts of the nutrients required in a form that is easily absorbed by the body. And any supplement recommended will be fully justified in your wellness plan, based on current research.
On a final note, it’s important to take care when using supplements. Supplements can interact with each other and with prescription medications, and as well as lacking in a specific nutrient it is also possible to be consuming too much of a nutrient, especially if you are taking supplements.
If you want more information, or want to take a closer look at the nutrient levels in your diet, please get in touch.
Warm regards
Wendy
Hawthorn Natural Health