Good Nutrition

We have all heard the term, “You are what you eat.”  Does it mean if you eat a Big Mac then you are a Big Mac?  Not really.  It was a distortion of the original French quote which translated as, “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.”

Makes a bit more sense.  The food we eat becomes the building blocks our bodies use to make muscle, bone, nerves, tendons, organs and the energy to run it all.  Poor nutrition can result not only in  being less healthy, but  in actual diseases.

There are a great number of conditions which can be effectively treated using a variety of nutritional remedies. For acute and chronic pain relief, chiropractic physicians use several types of nutritional supplements ranging from proteolytic enzymes such as bromelain, to basic but effective Vitamin C.  Many patients find chondroitin, glucosamine sulphate and MSM provide them with relief from their joint pain.  Research indicates many of the so-called lifestyle diseases, including heart disease, may result from a diet which promotes inflammation of our blood vessel walls.  Anti-oxidants, including fish oil (Omega-3 fatty acids) may help to reduce  this process and help protect us from heart attacks and strokes, as well as reduce our joint pains as we age.

Current research, while sometimes contradictory, supports the use of multi-vitamins and minerals as part of an overall dietary strategy. Unfortunately, there are so many choices out there it’s hard to know what you should take.  That’s where we can help to sort out the options and the facts from the hype.

For example, there are basically two kinds of vitamins: food grade and pharmaceutical grade. Companies that produce a pharmaceutical grade product do so by voluntarily adhering to strict standards, since the FDA does not regulate vitamin claims and production.

These companies are very picky about the raw ingredients that go into their products, and ensure that what they say is in the bottle is actually in the bottle.  Food grade companies often don’t.  Pharmaceutical grade companies ensure that anything they include in their product has been tested for both safety and effectiveness. There is no law compelling food grade companies to do the same.

How do you know whether the product you are considering is a pharmaceutical grade product?  Generally they are sold in doctor’s offices, and because they cost more to make are not likely to be the cheapest vitamins out there.  Food grade products, predictably, are sold in grocery stores, drug stores, and in “big box” stores. When it comes to nutritional support products, you get what you pay for.

If you have questions on what nutritional products you should be taking to support your health goals, or to help resolve a specific problem, we have answers!