(BPT) - These days, we know more about healthy eating than ever before. But in reality, it's a constant struggle for many of us to consistently consume an optimal diet.
Pamela M. Peeke, MD, MPH, FACP, FACSM, one of the Consumers' Research Council of America's top physicians and chair of the Solaray Science Advisory Board, offers five science-backed tips that can help you navigate the role of supplements in your daily life.
The bottom line: Food, on its own, is often not enough to meet our daily vitamin and nutrient requirements. Smart supplementation can work in tandem with healthy eating to help address nutritional gaps.
- Lifestyles have changed, and so has food quality.
Many people have moved away from nutrient-dense, home-cooked meals to packaged and fast foods. The emphasis has become stopping hunger pangs and caving to cravings rather than fueling the body.
Food preparation can also have a major impact. Some foods require cooking to maximize nutrients, while others can be raw.
- Food is less nutritious than it was 20 years ago.
Researchers behind a study published in The Journal of the American College of Nutrition compared 43 types of produce and found up to 40% declines in certain nutrients from 1950 to 1999. They discovered decreases in the amounts of protein, calcium and iron in the fruits and vegetables analyzed.
- While they should never replace food, supplements can help close the nutritional gap.
Solaray, a pioneer of supplement health and wellness, strives to help people become their healthiest selves through high-quality supplements that work in tandem with food.
For example, its Magnesium Glycinate packs the same amount of magnesium into one serving as found in 50 cups of kale, 10 cups of blackberries, or 61 figs. Similarly, you can get the equivalency of support in 50 cups of yogurt in just one capsule of Women's Mycrobiome Probiotic, or the power of two pounds of Lion's Mane mushrooms in only one SharpMind Nootropics Focus capsule.
- Absorption matters.
Research shows that our bodies may only absorb a portion of the nutrients in food and traditional vitamins.
'Our bodies simply aren't absorbing enough of the quality nutrients we need,' says Dr. Peeke. "Even the most purposeful, curated, 'healthy' food diets will have naturally occurring nutritional gaps. In reality, you are what you absorb.'
That's why Solaray launched their revolutionary Liposomal Multivitamins for enhanced nutrient absorption.†
Liposomes are made up of lipids, or fats. These fat globules encase nutrients, helping protect them from the stomach's harsh acidic environment as the supplement moves into the intestine. This protection is critical for superior absorption.†
- Not all supplements are created equal.
Since 1973, Solaray has scoured the globe for the highest-quality ingredients. Backed by science and rooted in nature, every raw material is stringently tested in its lab for purity and potency.
'The recent patent-pending technology harnessed by Solaray experts is a paradigm shift for the supplement space and will help people finally receive the level of nutrition they expect from their vitamins,' says Dr. Peeke. 'We all know it can be hard to find a trusted source - Solaray makes it an easy choice with their legacy of excellence.'
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