This is a paper I just finished for my Health and Wellness class. I was limited on how long the paper could be and therefore not everything out there is covered. This paper addresses what I consider 'smart supplementation' for the average person.
An individual’s diet is often lacking in important aspects. Obviously each person has different needs to a certain extent but there are certain supplements that when supplemented with can and will have a beneficial impact on the quality of life. Since there is so much media, marketing, and other types of hype on a number of supplements that can leave the average person feeling overwhelmed, unsure of what they really need, or just plain misinformed. The purpose of this paper is to address five supplements that are beneficial to the average person. These supplements are: Omega 3 fatty acids, multivitamins, multiminerals, green foods, and antioxidants.
Omega 3 fatty acids: EPA and DHA come from cold water fish and other northern marine animals and it seems the benefits of fish oils have only been recently discovered. A typical diet is lacking in these essential fats and supplementing with fish oils can only be of benefit. Fish oils are made up of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). EPA and DHA are especially abundant in “brain cells, adrenal glands, nerve relay stations (synapses), visual receptors (retinas), and sex glands—the most biochemically active tissues in our body” (from Udo Erasmus in his book “Fats that Heal Fats that Kill” page 259). When our diet is lacking in Omega 3 fatty acids it is clear to see that the body cannot function at an optimal level. By supplementing with EPA and DHA one can reverse the negative health effects by adding a few fish oil capsules into Omega 3 deficient diet. With so many individuals consuming a high fat diet, it can only help to replace some of the less nutritious fats with Omega 3 fatty acids for its obvious health benefits.
Supplementing with fish oil has a host of benefits (from Erasmus 260): Reducing the likelihood of heart attack and stroke, more fully open arteries and less atherosclerotic tissue in arteries, lower high triglycerides (by 75 to 50 mg/dl in one study), EPA lowers elevated blood pressure, and prevention of strokes, heart attacks, and other pulmonary and cardiovascular problems.
Smart Supplementation
An individual’s diet is often lacking in important aspects. Obviously each person has different needs to a certain extent but there are certain supplements that when supplemented with can and will have a beneficial impact on the quality of life. Since there is so much media, marketing, and other types of hype on a number of supplements that can leave the average person feeling overwhelmed, unsure of what they really need, or just plain misinformed. The purpose of this paper is to address five supplements that are beneficial to the average person. These supplements are: Omega 3 fatty acids, multivitamins, multiminerals, green foods, and antioxidants.
Omega 3 fatty acids: EPA and DHA come from cold water fish and other northern marine animals and it seems the benefits of fish oils have only been recently discovered. A typical diet is lacking in these essential fats and supplementing with fish oils can only be of benefit. Fish oils are made up of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). EPA and DHA are especially abundant in “brain cells, adrenal glands, nerve relay stations (synapses), visual receptors (retinas), and sex glands—the most biochemically active tissues in our body” (from Udo Erasmus in his book “Fats that Heal Fats that Kill” page 259). When our diet is lacking in Omega 3 fatty acids it is clear to see that the body cannot function at an optimal level. By supplementing with EPA and DHA one can reverse the negative health effects by adding a few fish oil capsules into Omega 3 deficient diet. With so many individuals consuming a high fat diet, it can only help to replace some of the less nutritious fats with Omega 3 fatty acids for its obvious health benefits.
Supplementing with fish oil has a host of benefits (from Erasmus 260): Reducing the likelihood of heart attack and stroke, more fully open arteries and less atherosclerotic tissue in arteries, lower high triglycerides (by 75 to 50 mg/dl in one study), EPA lowers elevated blood pressure, and prevention of strokes, heart attacks, and other pulmonary and cardiovascular problems.
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