In the world of health and wellness, there is much talk about the importance of a balanced diet and an active lifestyle.
That is absolutely true, but what if I told you that even if you think you are making the right dietary choices, you may still be falling short on some essential nutrients? That is where basic supplementation comes into play.
"60% of the Dutch people occasionally use supplements to support their health."
Contents
What is basic supplementation?
Basic supplementation refers to the daily replenishment of essential nutrients that our body needs for optimal health. This includes vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other bioactive substances that are often not obtained in sufficient quantities through our normal diet. These supplements are intended to correct any deficiencies and ensure that our body can function properly.
Why do we need basic supplements?
There are several reasons why basic supplementation is important, even if you eat healthily:
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Nutrient deficiencies: Even with a balanced diet, it can be difficult to get all the nutrients you need.
You may not eat enough fruit, vegetables, and fish per week, but even if you do, it is harder to get enough.
This is because they contain fewer nutrients than they used to. How can this be? It is actually very simple: what is not in the soil is also not in the fruits and vegetables on your plate. Since the introduction of more intensive farming methods, our farmland has become severely depleted. Especially when it comes to non-organic farming.
Basic supplements can help make up for any deficiencies.
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Lifestyle and stress: A busy lifestyle and chronic stress can increase the need for certain nutrients. Supplements can help meet this extra need.
Our ancestors spent almost all their time outdoors. We spend much more of our days indoors. We are therefore much less exposed to fresh air and sunlight.
- Hormonal imbalance: Hormonal imbalances and deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals often go hand in hand. And a nutrient deficiency can also be the cause of a hormonal imbalance.
Supplements do not replace healthy food
This could be stated more clearly. Supplements never replace a healthy diet. So it is not as if you no longer need to eat healthily when you take supplements.
But nutritional supplements do offer support. That is why, in our view, basic supplements are a valuable addition for everyone.
Especially because it has become harder to get all your nutrients. And we can also produce vitamins more easily (less time outdoors) and consume more vitamins and minerals (more stress, more 'toxins'). The more stress you experience, the more magnesium you consume, for example.
Important basic supplements
Of course, not everyone has the same needs when it comes to basic supplementation,
but these are 4 supplements that are useful for almost everyone:
Multivitamin
A multivitamin is a dietary supplement with a large number of different nutrients.
A good multivitamin contains highly absorbable forms of vitamins and minerals. And that is where things can go wrong. There are an enormous number of multivitamins on the market with poorly absorbable substances and/or low-dose capsules.
MultiMama is a multivitamin specially developed for women who are planning to become pregnant, during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding.
Omega-3
If you do not eat fatty fish (in principle or because you do not like it) or do not consume it regularly twice a week, there is a chance that you have a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 is very important for the health of your brain, heart, and blood vessels.
Furthermore, omega-3 fatty acids play a role in regulating inflammatory processes in the body. They are essential fatty acids, which means your body cannot produce them itself.
This is especially true for pregnant women, because omega-3 is crucial for the baby's development. Up to 50% of the fatty acids the baby needs are obtained from the mother during development.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is very important for supporting the immune system and is crucial for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which is essential for strong bones.
Vitamin D is partly produced in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. But if you live in a climate where the sun does not shine all year round, or if you have limited exposure to sunlight for other reasons (for example, if you work a lot indoors), you may develop a vitamin D deficiency.
Magnesium
Magnesium is the most important mineral because it plays an important role in many functions. For example, magnesium is involved in the formation of bones and muscles, energy production, and contributes to normal psychological function and plays a role in blood sugar regulation.
Due to our lifestyle (e.g. more stress), we consume a lot of magnesium every day and it is harder to get enough through food. That is why magnesium is in the top 4 basic supplements for home.
Choose quality
When considering basic supplementation, quality is essential. Choose supplements that have been tested for purity and use the most absorbable substances. And choose supplements without unnecessary fillers and additives.
In short, basic supplementation can be a valuable addition to your healthy lifestyle. It can help fill deficiencies in essential nutrients and improve your overall well-being. No single supplement can replace a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, but it can certainly have a positive impact on your health
The information provided does not replace the information provided by a general practitioner and cannot be considered personal medical advice.
