Diet Versus Supplements

Photo by cottonbro studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-medicines-on-woman-s-face-5701370/

Over my years in practice, I’ve encountered a number of people who think that taking supplements is equivalent to (or possibly better than) eating a healthy diet – and who eat accordingly, much to their detriment.

Now, let me be clear, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with taking supplements (provided they are of good quality and are appropriate to the individual) – I take some myself. But the purpose of supplements is not to allow you to eat a terrible diet and not have any ill-effects!

Let’s look at the definition of “supplement” I found on Google:

“Something that completes or enhances something else when added to it.”

Now that’s a general definition of supplement, not specifically of a dietary supplement, but the definition holds true.

Notice that it doesn’t say a supplement replaces something else.

No quantity nor quality of supplements can completely take the place of a healthy diet.

Yes, it is theoretically possible for supplements alone to fulfill the body’s requirements for essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, etc..

But healthy nutrition is not simply about getting adequate nutrients. There’s also a matter of avoiding excesses of certain nutrients (such as sugars) and toxic substances (for instance, pesticide residues) found in many foods, especially highly-processed ones.

To those ends, supplements are woefully inadequate in comparison to simply eating well.

There’s tons of different diets and eating recommendations for various purposes, from losing weight to easing inflammation, and the specific rules depend on the individual’s needs and desired outcomes, but there are some basics that apply in most situations:

1. Eat foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. If it came in a box, can, or other shelf-stable packaging, and the list of ingredients includes words you don’t recognize, it’s probably best to minimize your consumption of those foods.

2. Eat organic and foods raised as naturally as possible, as much as possible. Conventionally grown produce and most commercially raised meats, dairy, and eggs tend to have greater pesticide and herbicide residues, artificial hormones, and other toxins. The levels of toxins are typically low on a per-meal basis, and most people’s bodies can handle them adequately when consumed infrequently, but when consumed on a regular basis, these toxins can build up and put undue stress on the body and can begin to adversely affect your health.

Organic produce and meats, dairy, and eggs raised without added hormones, antibiotics, and other medications may not always be perfectly toxin-free, but the toxic load they present tends to be significantly lower than that of their conventionally-produced counterparts.

Of course, organic and naturally-raised foods are usually significantly more-expensive, but there’s a good chance that the increased cost gets offset by improved health resulting in reduced health care costs.

3. Bear in mind that there is no one best diet that works well for everyone. It has been my observation that while certain diets may become extremely popular for a time and may be positively life-changing for a small percentage of people, the majority seem to do better with more moderate dietary choices (if for no other reason than it’s easier to stick to moderate eating habits than a complex or highly-restrictive diet).

For most, simply following the first two recommendations as a general guide and not getting too extreme (such as exclusively vegan or, to the other end, keto and meat-based) will not only provide decent nutrition, but also an easier and more practical way of eating.

Some experimentation may be needed to find what works the best for you, but as long as it’s reasonably sound in terms of nutrient intake and relative lack of toxicity, you probably won’t need a ton of supplements.

Again, I have nothing against supplements, per se, but I believe consuming healthy food is a necessary foundation for health. A lack of that foundation is something that supplements can never fully compensate for.

Until next time,

George Best, D.C.

For past newsletters, visit my Beehiiv page.

For information about my practice, including online scheduling, visit gbestdc.com