Physicians and nutritionists agree that all human beings need regular supplies of macronutrients, meaning calories, proteins, carbohydrates and fats, as well as micronutrients, meaning vitamins, minerals, enzymes and trace elements. Ideally, the food we eat should provide us with these essential nutrients, as they cannot be made in our bodies. Unfortunately, the nutritional quality of our food has been steadily decreasing, particularly in the last century. In the past, people ate foods that were whole, fresh, in season and grown locally. Not only their health, but their whole quality of life was the better for it. Now, most foods are fractionated, processed, preserved, available in any season from any area, and contain "enhancing" additives. This type of diet is neither adequate nor balanced, and it does not provide us with the necessary micronutrients to achieve or maintain good health.
In addition to a nutritionally inferior diet, the excessive stress of modern life also increases our needs for some of the micronutrients, and depletes our body's stores of others. The general complexities of society, the increased pace of life, the greater mental and emotional rigors of jobs, and the decreased support system of family and friends all contribute to lowering our overall standard of health and our resistance to diseases.
There is another important factor in our ability to obtain and utilize sufficient vitamins and minerals. The many toxins in our environment harm us directly, with both short term and long term effects, as well as diminishing the nutrients available in our foods. Our soil is depleted of much of its natural elements and is loaded with pesticides and herbicides. Our air and water has been polluted by industries, automobiles and the Greenhouse Effect. The homes we live in and the places we work contain toxins from building materials and techniques. Toiletries, cosmetics and drugs also contain many toxins. Fortunately, many of the micronutrients we normally need also offer protection against some of today's toxic environmental agents.
Poor diet, stress, pollution and the need for protection are real problems that we all face. The above reasons should convince us that taking regular, daily vitamin and mineral supplements is not just for correcting serious deficiencies due to malnutrition. We should consider such supplementation as part of a total program of health care for life in today's world when we cannot guarantee the nutrients we consume through our diet. Consult your naturopathic physician for advice about supplementation.
