Americans, for the most part, eat a crappy diet. You know it's true, I know it's true, and big business knows it's true. Since most people are not willing to drastically change their diets to gain the nutrients their bodies need, big business has been kind enough to give us supplements.
Supplements have many great qualities- if you BUY quality. They can enhance even the healthiest diets, if taken correctly. You can mix and match supplements to fit your health needs. Here are some that every person should take.
1. FISH OIL- High in omega 3 fatty acid. Great for almost everything concerning the heart. Including plaque build up in the arteries, high blood pressure, and triglycerides (fat in the blood). Extra bonus- may lower risk of stroke, lower risk of anxiety, depression, and inflammation in the body.
2. VITAMIN D- The best way to get vitamin D is from the sun, but with skin cancer on the rise; it may not be the safest. Vitamin D is know to ward of breast, ovarian, colorectal, and other forms of cancer. It is also proven that americans do not get enough vitamin D from the sun and fortified foods. Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption, fighting off autoimmune diseases, arthritis, and fibromyalgia.
3.GREEN TEA- Loaded with polyphenols, which is a plant produced chemical packed with antioxidants believed to be more potent than vitamin C. Green tea, is also recognized worldwide for its therapeutic properties, contains powerful flavonoids called catechins. The chief catechin in green tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory, cholesterol lowering, fat burning and other beneficial properties.
4a. ANTIOXIDANTS- Probably the best known ones are vitamins C and vitamin E, beta-carotene, lutein and lycopene. They are part of the family of antioxidant carotenoids that are found in fruit and vegetables. Antioxidants help our bodies battle the chemicals and damage caused by a poor diet and environmental pollutants.
4b. FLAVONOIDS- Are another group of anti-oxidant nutrients, and they are also found in fruit and vegetables. Flavonoids are not produced in the body.
5. FRESH ORGANIC FRUITS AND VEGGIES- It's amazing how smart mother nature is. All of the good stuff our bodies need we can get from a healthy, balanced, plant heavy diet. And here is a fun little fact for you. That nasty chronic inflammation problem that most people suffer from (asthma, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, headaches) can all be controlled or eliminated with a grain or gluten free diet. All of the junk food we eat is having a bigger impact on our bodies than just an expanding waist line.
Bottom line, the best supplements are those found in a healthy diet.