How to Be Healthy

 The importance of vitamins in human health has been established only in the last century.  Even basic vitamins such as vitamin C have only been discovered in the 20^th century; for example, vitamin C was discovered in 1927.

 Why do I need supplementation; I feel fine?  The answer to this question is both simple and complex.  The only time we recognize that something is wrong in the function of our body is when it comes under attack or if it stops working.  Is there any way that we could know if our body is working to its best ability and highest potential?  The answer is obviously no.  What is the average response to the simple question,” How do you feel?”  Invariably the answer is I feel normal, when in fact what is meant is that we feel the way we always feel.  This answer is the same even if it is normal for us to have ten colds a year, or to have chronic bloating or gas after eating, or to have no energy throughout the day.  We have only our own experiences to go by and how we feel on a daily basis becomes normal to us, as we have nothing else to draw a comparison to. 

  Nutritionists would have us believe that it is possible for everyone to receive everything they need from a normal, varied diet.  As mentioned previously, we can not even meet the RDA for most nutrients through diet alone and there is a big difference between this and having the levels of nutrients needed in order to have excellent health.  Why is it unlikely that we would be able to get the proper levels of nutrients needed in order to maintain our health from food alone?   As mentioned previously in an earlier chapter, not only are the soils stripped of mineral content, we now have irradiation of food and genetic manipulation of seed stocks to contend with as well.  By the time foods get to market, most of the water-soluble vitamins have been oxidized and are gone.  There are over 50,000 different chemicals licensed for use in foods.  Our water is contaminated, as is our air.  The percentage of population that is dying of chronic disease is rising every year.  These facts make it more important for us to recognize the importance of a healthy foundation.  In order to maintain good health, consistent use of supplementation is called for.  

The question that needs to be asked is no longer “Do I need to take vitamin supplementation?”  Now the question is “How much do I need and how often and which supplements are the best for me?”

  Within 10 years, almost half of North America’s population will be over the age of 65 as the baby boom generation retires.  This phenomenon will create a huge strain on an already overburdened health care system.  If you thought that line-ups in hospital emergency rooms and in doctors’ waiting rooms are long now, in 10 years if the present trend continues, people will be dying well before they’re able to get in to see a doctor.  It only makes sense to maintain the best health you can possibly achieve.  We must maintain the highest nutritional density we can to sustain good health despite the fact that mineral and vitamin content in food is continually declining. 

  For example, in 1948 there was 152 mg of iron in one cup of cooked spinach.  In 1994 on average, there was 5 mg of iron.  Do not fool yourself into thinking that regular supplementation will counter the effects of a poor diet high in junk or processed foods.  It will help to some degree however the best program to follow is to include a wide variety of live foods grown organically in nutrient rich soils as often as you can and include daily use of a vitamin and mineral supplement.  Consistent use of supplementation is one of the keys to health maintenance and disease prevention.  It doesn’t make much sense to take vitamin C, zinc and other supplements only when you have a cold and after the cold is finished to stop taking them only to repeat this action over again whenever you fall ill.  You’re literally going from one deficiency crisis state to another.  Just as exercise will do no good if you only do it once a month, sporadic supplementation will also be of little value over a lifetime.