Monthly Archives: April 2010

Supplements and Life

Nutritional supplements are extending both the duration and the quality of our lives compared to many of our ancestors. In addition, they have allowed many to adopt a more holistic approach toward wellness, steering clear of many complications associated with prescription medications.

Omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in fish oil have so many benefits, I can't help but not be grateful for it. Fish in many ways represents brain food, by weight the brain represents 60% fat by weight. Of this, 25-30% is the omega-3 fat DHA. Every decision we make as human beings is an orchestrated arrangement of electric signals firing across thousands of cells. Fatty acids play a key role in this process.

Studies in humans have shown that if you reduce the easy and efficiency of communication between neurons, you also will reduce the ability to form and retrieve memories, learn and think logically. Adding Omega-3 fatty acids and fish oil to a diet supports the function of thinking and memory in the brain. Over the long-term, it has been shown that fish oil can improve overall moods. Definitely worth the benefits.

There seems to be little downside in taking a multivitamin. There are hundreds on the markets and millions of people have taken them without side effects. The multivitamin is the best overall protection from not getting the right nutrition. We prefer to eat right but when we don't - consider the lowly multivitamin.

Vitamin D is another supplement I am extremely grateful for. It serves a role as a regulator of calcium metabolism, supports bone health, muscle strength and function, helps the immune system and can support the body's cardiovascular system. Ordinarily produced by the body when it is exposed to sunlight at times when it is not, all kinds of issues may crop up. This can have a direct effect on the tendency for us to become sick during the winter months.

One supplement that is popular is coenzyme Q10 (also known as ubiquinone, ubidecarenone, coenzyme Q, and abbreviated at times to CoQ10 - pronounced like "ko-cue-ten"). This is known to decrease with age so supplementation is often indicated. COQ10 also helps with many chronic deseases.