I am always in search of the latest and greatest natural health products. I stay up to date on the research and I love, love reading product labels and studying nutrient formulations. It was a past time of mine long before I went to medical school. I guess we all have our “nerdy” areas:)
While I find the right supplements an invaluable part of changing someone’s health, I always have to bring myself back to…Food First, Digestion Second, Nutrients Next…
There is no way around it, you must get most of your nutrients from good quality, unprocessed, whole foods. It is that simple. If you want to feel vital and energetic, you have to eat vital and energetic foods.
But, how are you digesting your food? Are you able to get the nutrients you need from the food you eat? How well are you breaking these foods down and utilizing these nutrients for energy, repair and rejuvenation? This is a missing component for many people and one we don’t often consider. You can have the most pristine, local, organic, nutrient-rich diet on the block, but ultimalty, how well your body digests the food quickly becomes just as important or even more so.
Often, in my practice, I get patients off of many of their supplements and have them focus solely on digestion–perfect digestion and see how they feel. Often you don’t need a lot of extra vitamins and minerals once your body is able to process food effectively and efficiently.
Nutrients are next because once the diet is clean, digestion is working 100%, then you can really tailor a nutrient plan specifically for an individual. Not everyone needs a host of additional nutrients. Genetics, lab values, family history and symptoms combine to create a clear picture of what someone needs to supplement with.
So, next time you are chopping your leafy greens and swallowing a handful of supplements, make sure give this some thought…
Food first, Digestion Second, Nutrients Next..
Take care of yourself,
Dr. Sherri