Do you really need supplements?

In the modern world, where information is transferred quickly, hundreds of times faster than 20 years ago, we have busy and stressful lives. With an increased amount of information being processed, the number of decisions that has to be made has also increased. The fact that we are so busy leaves us with less time to think about our health and our diet. As a result, our bodies are depleted of many essential nutrients. If this is not enough, we live in an environment with polluted air, chlorinated water and a concoction of other toxins found in everyday products that we use.
According to scientific research, only one third of all cancers diagnosed are as a result of genetic factors. So in other words, defective genes are only responsible for 30% reported cancers. The other two thirds can be attributed to environmental factors and diet. Eating a healthy balanced diet goes a long way in preventing cancers and other chronic diseases. However, it isn't a guarantee. Other environmental factors could also result in the depletion of vitamins and minerals. Smoking is one of the biggest culprits in depleting vitamins from the body. Did you know that smoking leaches of vitamins C from the body which can negatively impact on the immune system? So it does not help to eat a healthy balanced diet and in particular activities that flood the body with toxins.
An increase in stress also means at the human body needs more nutrients and vitamins than normal. Taking a vitamin supplement is usually considered sufficient to keep us operating at peak efficiency. With an explosion of different products, we are faced with various choices in supplements, whether they are vitamins, minerals, amino acids and probiotics. It can be very confusing that each one has a special ingredient that helps the body to absorb the supplements more quickly, or so we are led to believe.
Do we really need all these supplements? Are they beneficial to us, or are they simply a marketing gimmick designed to drive up profits? Many pharmacists and doctors advocate combining two or more vitamins and minerals into a dose. Do these combinations actually work? Does one vitamin work better with one another or is this just another gimmick?
Before deciding on a supplement, it is always best to consult a doctor as it is he who has a full history of your health, and he will be able to advise you on which nutrients are lacking in your body. Your doctor will also be able to tell you which supplements work well together and how certain vitamins react with each other. Supplements to have a very important role in ensuring that we live quality lives, however choosing the right one can be a tricky proposition if you are going in blind folded. The assistance of a qualified dietitian can also come in very handy as this person will be able to put together a balanced eating plan to ensure that your body absorbs enough nutrients to keep functioning properly.