How many of us have made a resolution this year to be healthier? Did we promise to quit smoking, start exercising, or lose weight? Our quest for better health certainly intensifies at this time of year as try to make ourselves a little healthier.

It is difficult to make changes to our lifestyles, and anyone who makes a serious attempt should be applauded. I’d like to suggest one additional resolution: adding appropriate nutritional supplements to your diet. Regardless of your health goals this year, the simple act of taking a few nutritional supplements can make a significant difference in improving your overall health—even if you are already “healthy”.

Some may feel that the jury is still out regarding nutritional and herbal supplements, however there are many noteworthy studies indicating the numerous health benefits of taking a few vitamins each day. For example:

• People who took a multivitamin/mineral for at least 10 years experienced a 30% reduction in colorectal cancer.
• Women who supplement with a multivitamin/mineral have a significantly reduced risk of having a child with birth defects such as spina bifida.
• Women who supplemented with adequate vitamin D along with the minerals of calcium and magnesium had a drastically reduced risk of hip fracture and osteoporosis.
• Individuals who supplement with vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid lower their level of Homocysteine – a risk factor for heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
• Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids not only helps to reduce seasonal allergies, but all other conditions of inflammation (the underlying cause of most major illnesses) as well.

These are just a handful of the reported benefits that regular supplementation can afford. In a perfect world, we would get all of our essential nutrients from the food we eat. Unfortunately though, we don’t live in a perfect world and don’t eat perfect diets, leaving our bodies devoid of what they need. Not only that, but much of the soil used to grow our food is nutrient depleted. So even if you were consuming a well-balanced diet, your food may not be as nourishing as it should be.

In searching for nutritional supplements, quality is of paramount importance. Many over-the-counter vitamins contain unnecessary ingredients: dyes, additives, preservatives, dairy, wheat, corn and other possible allergens. These extra ingredients are not only useless; they are potentially harmful to some users. Look for the purest vitamins with the fewest added ingredients.

Any supplement can be hard to digest and assimilate. A healthy digestive system is essential to get the most out of any medicine. Because absorption of medicines is difficult for most people, I am not a fan of the “one-a-day” –type combinations. These pills are packed so tightly with vitamins that it is nearly impossible for your body to break them apart and absorb them. To get the full benefits of a multivitamin, choose one that should be taken more than once a day. This ensures that they are more loosely packed and therefore easier to digest and absorb. Not only that, but they give the body a dose it will utilize throughout the day.

In addition to a premium multi-vitamin/mineral supplement, high quality Omega-3 fatty acids, a broad-spectrum anti-oxidant are excellent—and in women, calcium, magnesium and vitamin D all provide extra bone protection.

While I advocate supplemental nutrients, be sure to avoid over-zealousness. Oftentimes, when evaluating a supplement regime, I find that certain ingredients are excessive and/or should be avoided altogether. While supplementation with vitamins, minerals, herbs or other natural therapies can be of significant therapeutic value, I generally advise that individuals seek out the care of a qualified health practitioner to assist in designing a specific nutrition plan that will address their specific concerns or conditions.

Even for people who are healthy and fit, a proactive, preventative health regime that includes a healthy diet, exercise and some high-quality supplements will not only help to maintain you good health not only at the moment, but also in the years to come.

Dr. Eliza Klearman is a Naturopathic Doctor and Acupuncturist practicing in Eagle. For more information call 970-328-5678 or email Liza@DrKlearman.com.