It’s in the newspapers or on television almost daily; people are grossly overweight, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure are familiar topics. Doctors are overworked and can only spend a brief time with each patient. Additionally, the practice of traditional medicine primarily focuses on treatment rather than prevention.
So what can one do on their own to prevent these health issues, or minimize the chances of having to deal with health problems? Taking the initial responsibility for your own health is the answer. Certainly, see your health care provider for regular checkups, and continue taking prescribed medication, but don’t leave the full responsibility for your overall well-being totally in the hands of others.
Literally thousands of documented scientific studies have shown that vitamins and herbal supplements of many kinds can have a strongly positive affect on the body’s remarkable ability to heal itself and fight off illness. For example, it is a time-proven fact that lack of vitamin C invites scurvy, lack of calcium and vitamin D can cause the bone-softening disease, rickets, etc. Other studies in more recent times, have concluded that nutritional health supplements such as CoQ10 strongly contribute to heart health, B vitamins have long been known to play an important role in cell metabolism. An abundance of scientific research substantiates the broad-spectrum health benefits of EPA and DHA fatty acids in fish oil, and many herbal supplements such as Echinacea, for example, have shown promise as immune system boosters. Additionally, the mineral Zinc is known for its ability to boost antioxidant defenses, strengthen immunity and relieve symptoms associated with the common cold.
Certainly, adequate sleep, exercise, and a diet consisting mainly of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle. However, nutrient-poor soils and the time involved in bringing produce to market, often deplete our foods of the full complement of vitamins and minerals we need to maintain our health and ward off illness. That is why dietary supplements play such an important role in insuring that our bodies are supplied with adequate amounts of these vital compounds. People take nutritional health supplements to obtain concentrated doses of the beneficial nutrients so important to our well-being.
Adopting a healthy lifestyle, even later in life, can often forestall or prevent many age-related diseases, as has been proven in many fully documented scientific studies. Intake of nutritional health supplements in concentrated form, such as vitamins and herbal supplements, in addition to a proper diet, exercise, etc., can significantly improve energy levels, strengthen the body’s immune system, and promote an overall feeling of well-being. Certainly, adding supplements of any kind to one’s diet should be properly coordinated with your health care provider, particularly so if any prescription medications are being taken, or if one is undergoing treatment for a specific ailment.
Summing it all up, the chances of your leading a long life free of debilitating disease are dramatically increased with a dedicated program of positive lifestyle changes, proper nutrients and herbal remedies, and regular checkups by your health care professional.