| ign="center"> | | | | food we eat. This is because our bodies are |
| Adding dietary nutritional supplements to our diets | | | | "closed systems. |
| has for years been advocated by nutritionists and | | | | Virtually every leading cause of death today was |
| nutritional research scientists. | | | | either unknown or only a minor health concern 50 |
| Now, the American Medical Association has | | | | years ago. Scientific research has proven a |
| reversed its long held policy regarding the need | | | | definite and immediate link for this to the changes |
| for nutritional supplements. | | | | in the food we eat, |
| The AMA now recommends daily use of these | | | | Americans, in general, want to improve their |
| nutrients they had previously considered | | | | health. Over 43% of Americans now take some |
| unnecessary for health. | | | | form of nutritional supplements. |
| Doctors now recognize the absolute need for | | | | Probably this is a result of having experienced a |
| everyone to take dietary nutritional supplements | | | | general feeling of being tired, exhausted, or a |
| every day. | | | | sustained feeling of simply not feeling the way we |
| The AMA has finally recognized and accepted the | | | | think we should feel. |
| preponderance of data that proves a direct link | | | | This indicates that we are concerned enough to |
| proving that the nutrients in our diets are so poor | | | | take some action. The question is whether it is |
| that they are a major cause of our diseases. | | | | enough. |
| While the most commonly recognized nutritional | | | | We probably picked our nutritional supplement, |
| supplements are vitamins, many more nutrients | | | | most likely a vitamin or two, based on some |
| are classified as nutritional supplements. They | | | | advertisement that described our "symptoms". |
| include: | | | | The problem is, if we believe that our diet is |
| 1) Minerals, | | | | deficient in one or two vitamins, is it realistic to |
| 2) Amino acids, | | | | assume that we are getting all the other nutrients |
| 3) Enzymes, | | | | that we get from the same source? |
| 4) Essential fatty acids, | | | | We are the "victims" of advertisers who tell us |
| 5) Fiber | | | | part truths. |
| Our health and wellbeing is greatly dependent on | | | | Companies that market food make large sums of |
| the food we eat. There simply is no other way to | | | | money by capitalizing on our desire to be healthy. |
| obtain the nutrients we need except through | | | | Two of the biggest "buzz-words" in food |
| eating. | | | | advertising today are "Free Radicals" and |
| As early as 1936 the Government reported on | | | | "Anti-Oxidants". |
| the impact of depleted soils. One excerpt from | | | | Free radicals have been proven to cause aging |
| this report states: | | | | and disease, make changes in DNA structures, |
| "Laboratory test prove that the fruits, the | | | | suppress the immune system and cause many |
| vegetables, the grains, the eggs, and even the | | | | other health related problems. |
| milk and the meats of today are not what they | | | | Anti-oxidants are vitally important to our health |
| were a few generations ago (which doubtless | | | | because they destroy free radicals. |
| explains why our forefathers thrived on a | | | | Fruit juices provide vitamin C which provides |
| selection of foods that would starve us!)". | | | | anti-oxidants. |
| In agreeing with what nutritionists and research | | | | Where this line of advertising is misleading, and |
| scientists have been saying for years, the medical | | | | possibly dangerous, is that the public is led to |
| profession is confirming that our food no longer is | | | | believe that simply drinking a glass of juice a day |
| capable of providing the essential elements our | | | | will significantly improve one's health. The glass of |
| bodies need. | | | | juice is beneficial but it certainly is not the "cure-all" |
| At first glance this may seem unimportant but it | | | | to our nutritional deficiencies. |
| is a major change in policy that should not go | | | | Vitamin C and anti-oxidants are absolutely vital for |
| unrecognized by the general public. | | | | health, but so are the myriad of other vitamins, |
| The reasons for this complete reversal of policy | | | | minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and essential |
| are many: | | | | fatty acids that our bodies need. |
| 1) Soils are depleted of the nutrients they once | | | | Furthermore, anti-oxidants are produced by many |
| provided. | | | | other elements of our diet, not just vitamin C, |
| 2) Fruits and vegetables are picked too early. | | | | and vitamin C is needed for many other |
| 3) Processing destroys nutrients especially | | | | processes in the body. |
| enzymes. | | | | If one is truly concerned about their health and |
| Every element needed for growth, health, | | | | that of their family, they need a complete dietary |
| wellness, and even survival must come from the | | | | nutritional supplement. |