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NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
CUTTING THROUGH THE HYPE
Dr. Trish Murray
In a perfect world, we would get everything we need from food by eating a nutrient-rich, healthy diet with lots of colorful fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world.
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f you believe everything you read on the internet, supplements are the miracle cure for nearly any ailment. Have you gained weight? Can’t sleep? Got back pain? Do you have memory issues? Are you getting older? Just take this pill, powder, energy drink, or capsule and you’ll have amazing energy, fantastic skin, drop 15 pounds, and feel 10 years younger instantly! In my functional medicine practice, some of the most common questions I get from patients are about supplements. Bombarded by information, people want to know, “What should I be taking and why?” or “What should I avoid?” With so much hype and so many options available, it can be overwhelming. While nutritional needs vary from person to person, and supplements are not a miracle cure, there are good reasons to consider including them in your daily health regime. Why Take Supplements? In a perfect world, we would get everything we need from food by eating a nutrient-rich, healthy diet with lots of colorful fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect 22
world. Studies have shown that most people are deficient in key vitamins and minerals, due to a “nutrient gap.” Another reason to supplement your diet with vitamins, minerals, herbs, or adaptogens is to optimize the performance of a dysfunctional or deficient system. This is specific to your individual needs, which may be to heal the gut and optimize digestion, absorption, and/or the microbiome. Supplements may also be used to optimize the function of your immune system, your detoxification system, or your adrenal system. In our modern world, there are several reasons to take supplements 1. Nutrient depletion of soil and crops is rampant after generations of farming and pesticide use. Also, produce that is harvested and shipped long distances has fewer available nutrients than fresh fruits and vegetables picked locally, in season. 2. Your ability to properly absorb nutrients from food may decrease with age or may be disrupted if, like many Ameri-
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