Dr. Shreder believes the body’s metabolic process can be optimized with proper diet, exercise, rest, and nutrient supplantation.
Based on years of micronutrient testing, even people with the most carefully executed diets usually have “holes” and are missing micronutrients.
Verify with testing which supplements you need. Ask Dr. Shreder about micronutrient testing.
Dr. Shreder uses Fullscript to dispense quality supplements directly to patients while supporting healthy habits.
Is it really necessary to take daily vitamin and mineral supplements?
We’re deep into flu season; many have ramped up our daily doses. This leads us to ask some interesting questions, such as…
These are the kind of questions we’ll be discussing in the following post.
The health of our bodies depends on getting the optimal amount of vitamins and minerals. There are two ways to reach those optimal levels: food or supplementation.
Our ancestors recognized a direct link between what they ate and how they felt and relied on their diets to stay healthy. One example is the ancient Egyptians, who discovered that eating liver allowed them to see better at night. Now we know that having a Vitamin A deficiency can cause blindness and that liver is a rich source of it. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather take a supplement than eat liver!
In the 1700s, it became apparent that sailors developed a disease that resulted in gum bleeding, poor wound healing, severe pain, and sometimes death. Halfway through that century, Dr. James Lind recommended that to remedy this condition that the British Royal Navy use lemons and limes to address this. British sailors came to be known as “limeys.” Today we know that this disorder is Scurvy, which is a disorder that comes from a deficiency in vitamin C, and we know that citrus fruits are high in vitamin C.
Food manufacturers in the mid-1800s began processing rice by removing the outer husk. A new disease began to emerge with the increased consumption of white rice. Characterized by muscle wasting, weakness of the legs, difficulty walking, and mental confusion, it was labeled Beriberi. A scientist named Christiaan Eijkman also noticed that chickens were showing similar symptoms. As it happened these chickens were being fed white rice. Once the chickens began consuming unprocessed rice they recovered! Now we know that Beriberi results from severe vitamin B1 or Thiamine deficiency. In 1912, Dr. Casimir Funk examined rice bran and isolated a complex of micronutrients therein and called them “vitamines,” now known as vitamins, such as Pellagra (vitamin B3 deficiency) and Rickets (vitamin D deficiency).
Fast forward to today, and the average American diet is packed with processed, genetically modified, and nutrient-deficient foods.
This means that it is particularly difficult to acquire the number of vitamins and minerals in our diets that are required for good health. This leads us to a very important question…
Will vitamin supplements help fill in the nutritional gaps?
A vitamin is an organic compound essential for good health, taken in limited amounts.
Generally, “vitamin” is a term used to encompass 4 groups of essential micro-nutrients that our body needs:
Vitamins have a diverse set of biochemical functions. Vitamin D, for example, can provide hormone-like functions, some are antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, and Biotin is integral to making fatty acids.
Vitamins can be categorized into two types:
This pertains to how the vitamin is absorbed, stored, and removed from the body. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve easily, and any excesses are excreted in the urine, whereas fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the liver and fatty tissues for future use. It is important to follow your doctor’s recommendations or manufacturer’s directions on dosing, as taking too many fat-soluble vitamins can be toxic. Over a prolonged period of use, even water-soluble vitamins can cause damage.
Essential Amino Acids can be regarded as the building blocks of life. There are 9 that can only be obtained through food or supplementation. They function to repair body tissue, break down food, provide a source of energy for the body, and build muscle.
Some of the symptoms that indicate when there is a deficiency of Essential Amino Acids:
There are also a couple of types we won’t discuss, called nonessential amino acids and conditional amino acids, as these are produced by the body even when not found in our diet. Conditional amino acids are usually only necessary when you are ill.
Is it safe to take Vitamin Supplements?
Were you aware…?
The FDA does not require manufacturers of dietary supplements to verify that they are safe or provide that the claims listed on their labels are accurate. The FDA does, however, keep a lookout for adverse event reporting on a dietary supplement once it is circulating in the market.
A bit worrisome, right? This can leave one facing a dilemma. If your diet doesn’t provide vital nutrients that your body needs, as is the case for the average American, and the safety of over-the-counter supplements are in question, what do we do?
Consider medical-grade nutraceuticals…
Medical-grade nutraceuticals are dietary supplements that are comprised of the highest-quality ingredients available. In controlled clinical trials, they have proven effective and are manufactured in controlled facilities specifically designed for having the highest therapeutic doses available.
Determining for yourself what supplements to take is no easy task.
As we mentioned earlier, there’s a potential that supplements taken in great quantity or taken unnecessarily can have toxic results. Taking supplements that aren’t necessary can also prove burdensome for your wallet. Some people can otherwise lead a healthy lifestyle but still don’t feel their best, so in that case, nutritional supplements may provide the answer.
How do we know how much to take and what to take?
Micronutrient Testing
This straightforward blood test assesses how efficiently your body metabolizes minerals, amino and essential fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants, and metabolites. The test results can help your doctor determine which essential nutrients your body requires and formulate a custom plan for those requirements. Establishing a nutrient-balanced body can help you meet your health goals, such as involving your cardiovascular health, age management, healthy cholesterol levels, and weight loss, to name a few.
Sound like something that you might be interested in?
Why not learn more about micronutrient testing by talking to Dr. Shreder today?
We hope you found the information contained in this article useful. As always, we wish you good health.
Here’s to looking good, feeling good, and getting the most out of life!
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