Should I Take Nutritional Supplements? By Nicholas J. Edgerton, ND, MS-Acu T


here is no absolute answer to whether or not supplementation is necessary, as it depends on the relative case. To err on the side of caution…no it is not always necessary to supplement.


However, there are instances of when it is benefi cial and people can benefi t from therapeutic supplementation. Simply put, food is the foundation of wellness. Supplementation can be avoided for the most part with a healthy, well-balanced, non-infl ammatory diet. Nonetheless, genetic tendencies, injuries, and other illnesses can benefi t from therapeutic supplementation.


Another word for these dietary supplements is nutraceuti- cal, and these terms are used interchangeably. A nutraceutical is a food-derived product with health benefi ts ascertained to that food. It is the combination of the Latin words nutrient and pharmaceuti- cal. Although I currently work as a physician, I am really a scientist at heart. While studying biology, chemistry, and nutrition prior to naturopathic medical school, I had the opportunity to participate in undergraduate nutritional research. The supplements I recommend are evidence-based and scientifi cally proven to produce an effect.


Nutritional Defi ciencies Let’s talk more about food. Is everyone really magnesium


defi cient? Replace ‘magnesium’ with ‘mineral’ and you have a fair question. It is proven that fruits and vegetables today have less nutritional value than their ancestors. Several studies have found modern vegetation to have 15-35% less vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and calcium when compared to the same plant values in the 1950’s. Other minerals (zinc, manganese, lithium, etc.) weren’t recorded in the fi fties, but the trends are expected to be similar. The reason for this is related to modern agricultural practices. Today, vegetation is grown faster and larger, and the plants aren’t able to pull up the same amount of nutrients from the ground. The soil itself is not ro- tated with nitrogen-fi xing plants, thus the soil doesn’t have a chance to replete itself. Additionally, pesticides have been found to sterilize the soil, which reduces the microcosmic ecosystem responsible for generating healthy soil. Not only is the average American eating suboptimal amounts of vegetables, but also the vegetables con- sumed are more defi cient in vitamins and minerals than ever before. Minerals are an integral part of bones, ligaments, connective tissue, and act as cofactors in numerous enzymatic reactions affecting the nervous system, circulatory system, and the immune system. In a world where most processed foods are fortifi ed with vitamins, min- erals remain defi cient in the standard American diet (SAD). Overall, this means Americans need to add even more vegetables to their diet


22 Natural Nutmeg - March 2017


preferably with each meal, and as snacks. Vegetables contain advan- tageous vitamins, minerals, fi ber, and protective phytochemicals.


Therapeutic Supplementation Therapeutic supplementation is the act of supplying a physi- ological system with specifi c compounds to produce a desired ef- fect. However, it is never the fi rst thing I do. Let’s treat the defi nition of supplement with respect: “Something that completes or makes an addition” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Supplements should be used to enhance a well-rounded lifestyle. Supplements should not be used as bandages for poor lifestyle choices. I will never tell someone it is okay to skip the vegetables and just take a multivi- tamin, this is not therapeutic supplementation. One can observe the ‘diet vs. supplements’ conundrum with the diabetic population. Patients wish to reduce their dependence on medication by trying a natural alternative. Of course, there are several botanical medicines that have the support of the scientifi c literature to decrease blood glucose; yet, if the patient is not ready to change what is in their shopping cart, these medicines won’t work to their potential.


With fi rsthand experience working at a health food store,


customers would ask for advice regarding which supplement is best for various symptoms: headaches, back pain, sciatica, bloating, congestion, hair loss, etc. I’d begin by asking what type of food they consume. Customer after customer, I would stress the importance of elimination rather than supplementation; elimination of infl am- matory food groups such as gluten and dairy. For instance, people would present with indigestion, bloating, and heartburn. Instead of recommending supplements, I would speak on considering an elimination fi rst. Some admitted they couldn’t live without regular doses of pizza, and proudly purchased the supplement to ease their digestive ailments. I felt I did my job by explaining the cause of the problem, but in the end just provided an effective and natural band- aid. The bottom line is the customer did not have a ginger or fennel defi ciency; rather, they had a dietary sensitivity promoting infl am- mation in the gastrointestinal tract.


This behavioral problem of not addressing the root cause repeats itself in all body systems. Hair loss is just another example. People are quick to think of biotin, a B-vitamin supplement to promote hair health. Hair loss can be associated with a myriad of problems on a spectrum of defi ciencies to toxicities. Perhaps it’s heavy metal toxicity, hypothyroidism, genetics, microbial infection, age-related, hormone-related, or autoimmune disease. And each of


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