Why Do I Need Supplements if I Eat Well?

May 08, 2020

There’s a lot to remember in a day, and if taking your vitamins doesn’t usually get a checkmark on your to-do list, you may be wondering if you can slide it off that list altogether. After all, if you eat your fruits and veggies, isn’t that enough?

The truth is that supplements can play a very important role in helping you achieve prime health, but it’s important to know which ones to take and when they are needed.

Why it’s harder to eat well these days

To be clear, getting your nutrients naturally—from the food you eat—is the best plan. The problem is that in this fast-paced world, it can be difficult to eat an optimal diet.

That store-bought, whole-wheat bread saves you from having to grind wheat like your ancestors had to do, and it has a far longer shelf life than the homemade variety. However, it may be devoid of actual whole grains and packed with the refined ones that cause your blood sugar to spike and put you at a higher risk for diabetes. It might also be loaded with colouring and preservatives that make your bread look pretty and keep it good for longer but hurt your health. The same principles likely apply to the bowl of cereal you ate this morning—lots of sugars and fillers but not a lot of the natural ingredients that your body needs for optimal nutrition.

The bottom line here is that most of us don’t have time to grind our own grains and eat an elaborate salad at every meal. It takes time to shop for fresh ingredients and keep your fridge stocked with them (since many of them expire quickly). It also takes time to prepare them.

In this day and age, the occasional fast food meal is inevitable, and so is the frozen pizza or (sigh) package of ramen. Our highest ideals can give way to practicality when we’re balancing work, family, and community obligations and barely having time to come up for a breath. Thus, the best of us settle for food that has fewer natural ingredients and more unhealthy additives that make food taste good, look good, and be ready to eat in just a few minutes.

There’s also the problem of our taste buds. In this high fructose-everything and heavily salted world, we’ve come to crave certain types of food. Who wants a slice of cucumber when you can have Cheezels? Or an apple when you can the TimTam calling to you from the larder?

Why even the perfect diet may not be enough

Let’s back up and think positively here (and maybe suspend reality just a little). We’ve established that eating well is tricky today, but with enough determination, you could probably eke out a pretty nutrient-packed diet. Unfortunately, even that might not be enough.

As people age, their ability to absorb nutrients from food weakens. Also, we tend to eat less. Can you consume the amount that you used to eat as a teenager? I certainly can’t, and less food means fewer opportunities for nutrition.

In addition, people who suffer from diseases that make it difficult to absorb nutrients (including Chron’s and celiac disease) can eat as healthfully as possible and still not get enough, making supplements vital.

Some important supplements

Let’s look at some supplements that are often necessary beyond the scope of a healthy diet.

Vitamin D and calcium — As people’s bones age, they may require extra vitamin D and calcium to prevent or slow the effects of osteoporosis. Vitamin D is also important for those who don’t get much sunlight.