Defining Nutrients
Nutrients are primarily supplied to us by the food we eat and the water we drink. They can be divided into two main categories: macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are proteins, carbohydrates, fats, water and fiber.
Micronutrients are so named because in comparison with the macronutrients, they are needed by the body in relatively small amounts. The micronutrients are the vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and phyto-nutrients (plant-based nutrients.) But just because you only need a little doesn't mean they don't pack a punch. Without them you couldn't get the energy out of carbohydrates and fats, or transform the protein you eat into your own lean body mass. Micronutrients have, of course, been in the food supply since the beginning of time. Vitamins and minerals, and their importance in disease prevention, were discovered in the early years of this century. Antioxidants and phyto-chemicals are only now being recognized as nutritional stars in the battle against chronic diseases. Vitamins frequently have antioxidant properties, and minerals are part of antioxidant enzymes. There was a time when food could supply all the macronutrients and micronutrients we needed. This changed in the early part of the 20th century with the influx of white flour, sugar, canned and packaged food, the decimation of top soil, use of pesticides and other chemicals, increased shelf life, genetically modified food, improper hybridization, water contamination and air pollution, to name some, but certainly not all. Today, to create nutritional balance and optimal health requires supplementation. There just are not enough nutrients in the food we eat, unless you grow your own. Organic food is far more nutritious than conventionally grown food. Even so, supplementation is necessary. For nutritional supplements to be effective they must resemble food as much as possible. Therefore, whole food concentrates and herbs are the best choices. Unfortunately few sources qualify. Most supplements, vitamin and mineral formulas are synthetic and are produced by culturing yeast on coal tar. Two companies that meet the whole food criteria are Standard Process and Systemic Formulas. Taking inferior products can actually cause more harm than good. You only need to supplement in areas of deficiency to create balance. Therefore multivitamins and multiminerals are rarely needed. At Hygiea Health, Wellness & Chiropractic our comprehensive evaluation includes a complete nutritional analysis with recommendations and plan of action.
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