So your doctor, or someone you know, has been urging you to try expensive nutritional supplements. The problem? The supplements they suggest are far more expensive than you can afford. How badly do you need them? Will you endanger your health without them?
The American Dietetic Association says a healthy diet will give you all the nutrients you need. Of course there are rare exceptions, such as when people have a disease or an acute deficiency. But if you want a little nutritional “insurance”, a good multi-vitamin from your local pharmacy is just fine.
If you’re a Bible-believing Christian, you may have read the promise where God says “As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” (Genesis 8:22) In other words, God is committed to nourishing us from the foods he created — until the planet no longer exists. Could it be that except in cases of diagnosed deficiency taking nutritional supplements is a sign of weak faith in God? Are we doubting that God will keep His promise, so we pick and choose our favorites among the thousands of nutrients to supplement?
But isn’t the soil depleted? Possibly. But research shows that depleted soil doesn’t really grow strong plants. Or the plants are smaller and have less fruit. But the fruit or vegetable still contains the nutrients God intended them to have.
Last year I attended an international conference on nutrition and cancer. Many presenters provided convincing evidence for the benefit (or potential benefit) of different nutrients being studied. But every single presenter ended by saying something like: “Don’t look for a supplement of this or that. Just eat a healthy, plant-based diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.”
Makes good sense to me!
(This article is the first in a short series on this topic. View: <Previous Next>)