Foundational Nutrition for Better Health

A diet rich in a variety of unprocessed food sources and fresh vegetables is the best source of the nutrition our body needs. Many of us in this fast paced world generally don’t get all the nutrients our body needs from our diets. This is where quality vitamins and supplements can be beneficial, and just about all of us can benefit from a whole food based multivitamin and an Omega-3 supplement.

Whole Food Multi-Vitamins - Providing What Nature Intended

Including a multivitamin in your diet can be a great way to make sure you have all the foundational nutrients needed every day. But when it comes to multi-vitamins there are two major choices, whole-food source vitamins or vitamins synthetically manufactured in a lab.

Synthetic vitamins are designed to imitate the vitamins that we get from whole food. These vitamins meet the molecular structure requirements, but in the process they are no longer in the same complex forms found in nature. Compared to food, they are like “homeless” chemical isolates.

Whole-food sourced vitamins are more bioavailable. The quantities of chemically isolated vitamins don’t mean they are as potent as a food source. For example, Vitamin C in a whole-food complex is more useful to the body then the ascorbic acid found in a synthetic vitamin. Your body just won’t fully recognize and absorb all of a synthetic Vitamin C. Much of those milligrams listed on the back label are just passing right through.

The major advantage with a whole food source is that you don’t just get the chemical form, but a complex of the vitamins, minerals and herbs that also contain the plant’s natural biochemistries. Some of those natural compounds left behind are the phytonutrients, which are antioxidants that slow down the process of cell and tissue damage. It takes more effort to make a multivitamin this way, but your body knows the difference.

Omega 3s - A Building Block for Health

Omega-3s are Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), which are considered “essential fats” because they are required for good health but cannot be produced by our bodies. The benefits of these oils are numerous – they serve to nourish brain, heart, eye and kidney tissues and they have been shown to benefit the immune system and digestive system health in addition to supporting healthy metabolism and a positive mood.

Essential Fatty Acids are the body’s building blocks for producing beneficial compounds called eicosanoids. Eicosanoids exist in every human cell, and impact the function of all bodily systems. Eicosanoids manage blood pressure, support good circulation, and regulate pain by supporting the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response. Essential Fatty Acids are also vital structural components of cell membranes that surround and protect all cells in the body.

The most beneficial Essential Fatty Acids are Omega 3s which provide EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). EPA and DHA work together, however, each fatty acid has unique benefits. EPA reduces inflammation, improves cardiovascular and circulatory health, and is beneficial for autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. DHA is crucial for brain, nerve, and eye cells, and benefits cognition, fetal and infant development, pregnancy, and depression. The scientific consensus is so strong on Omega 3s that organizations such as the American Heart Association agree EPA and DHA maintain heart health and prevent heart disease.

In order to prevent deficiency and foster optimal health, EFAs should be consumed regularly. Unfortunately the typical “factory farmed” and highly-processed Western diet under-delivers these vital good fats. Today, the best sources of Omega 3 EFAs are cold water fish and fish oil supplements. Because of toxin levels prevalent in seafood, a purified fish oil that guarantees purity can provide a good alternative to obtaining optimal daily intake of Omega 3s.

Including a quality whole food multi-vitamin and an Omega 3 supplement in your is a great way to fill any gaps in our dietary nutrition. When life gets busy and demanding, it’ll help ensure you feel and function at your best every day.