Most of us know that we are what we eat, but many of us can also struggle to pack all our meals with lots of vitamins. Warding off wellbeing problems is possible through exercise, regular sleep, as well as vitamins, minerals and supplements, say health experts.
Diet detox
Anti-oxidants have been embraced by lots of us who are keen to protect our wellness from a range of illnesses, like cancer. When the DNA in our cells is damaged then we could develop the disease, which is when cells start to grow in an out-of-control way. Free radicals have been blamed for some of this damage as they can make our cells unstable. They occur naturally in our bodies but we can increase their numbers by smoking, for example, But there are other reasons why we could get cancer that aren’t in our control. These include genetic mutations, viruses that lead to cell damage, and air pollution. To protect cells we can eat foods rich in anti-oxidants, as they can promote healing and strengthen our defences, but can we rely on supplements too?
Supplementing our meals
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that men who took supplements cut their total cancer risk by eight per cent, although some tumours – like those beginning in the prostrate and lung – occurred at the same rates. Getting anti-oxidants from our diet whenever possible is usually recommended, and this is because supplements may lack some of the complex nutrients found in food that interact with other minerals to provide these protective effects. Although much is known about how a healthy diet protects us, scientists aren’t exactly sure how all these nutrients from our diet interact. To get around this issue, the Integrated Medicine Institute suggests whole-food vitamins, minerals and supplements as an alternative. These contain specific minerals like other supplements but they also have the complex make-up of nutrients found in natural sources.
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