By Angie Doust
Yesterday I received an email from a friend in her late 50’s saying, “If I had known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself .” How great the wisdom of hindsight can be.
Too often when it comes to our health we only think of how we feel today. But the fact is the top five leading causes of premature death - cardiovascular disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory disease and diabetes – are degenerative diseases. Diseases caused by damage our bodies, little by little, over 10, 20 or 30 years until we end up with a life-threatening illness.
Current health research is now showing a direct link between nutritional imbalances, lifestyle factors and many common conditions and degenerative diseases. From problems with sleeping, low energy levels, mood swings, poor recovery from exercise, trouble with concentration, migraines and psoriasis to chronic diseases such as arthritis and cancer. For example, research shows that 80% of all heart disease is DIRECTLY related to nutritional imbalances.
This research is actually good news! What it shows is that through positive changes to our diet and lifestyle, we can prevent ourselves from getting these diseases in the first place.
Now 100 years ago we could get all the nutrients we needed from our food. But these days that can be difficult. That is where a good quality nutritional supplement can help. In fact, supplementation has become essential to good health these days.
So what exactly should we all be taking on a daily basis to achieve and maintain OPTIMAL HEALTH? Nutritional specialists agree that we all need:
· High-quality multi-vitamin containing vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
· Omega 3 essential fatty acids in the form of fish oil or flax seed oil
· Calcium, Vitamin D and Magnesium
An important thing to be aware of is that just like everything else in life, not all health supplements are created equal. So you want to do your own research—a good place to start would be the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements by Lyle McWilliam which compares over 1600 brands of supplements on the market in the US and Australia/New Zealand. It is full of detailed nutritional research and facts.
So the winning combination for health and happiness? Take a good-quality supplement, eat well, drinks lots of water, exercise regularly and laugh a lot! And also remember your children also need the proper nutrients too.
