Does eating a healthy well-balanced diet alone provide all the nutrients that the human body needs to function properly? There are several kinds and brands of nutritional supplements available to the customer, but what are the advantages of using these products?

These are only a few of the questions people might have about nutritional health supplements and the purpose of this article is to answer a few of these questions.

There are various types of nutritional products available today and the health and wellness sector is among the fastest growing sectors currently. This is because of a lot of factors including the increase in weight problems and the more and more people being diagnosed with degenerative diseases.

It is sometimes believed (particularly amongst older generations) that eating a well-balanced diet and exercising regularly is enough to maintain good health, but there’s also the conflicting argument that without supplements, many people’s consumption of vital nutrients falls far short of their body’s needs.

Before I discuss these problems, I would first like to give a brief overview of some of the nutrients that the human body needs to work correctly:

Firstly there are the macronutrients. Macronutrients include Carbs, Proteins and Fats. At the most simplified level, carbohydrates provide our bodies with energy, proteins are responsible for building and repairing muscle tissues and fats supply extra energy reserves and allow for the transportation of micronutrients around the body. Fats are also required for the production of some hormones.

Secondly there’re micronutrients. Micronutrients include vitamins (also known as anti-oxidants) and minerals. Each vitamin (A, B12, C, D, E, K, etc.) and mineral (Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, etc.) performs a specific role in the body and they are all necessary for good bodily function. Deficiencies in minerals and vitamins have been identified as among the primary factors in the growth and development of degenerative disease, as vitamins specifically are responsible for the removal of toxins within the body.

Free radicals are harmful molecules, that are produced by chemical reactions within the body, as well as by factors in our external environment. They attack healthy cells causing them to break down (degenerate), potentially leading to the development of degenerative disease in the long term.

For instance, it has been suggested that to promote perfect health, 400 IU (International Units) of vitamin E must be eaten every day. To put this into context, an individual would have to consume 14.5 kg of spinach every day to accomplish this level. Alternatively, 1kg or almonds would supply the same oxidative support for the human cells. This example should highlight that it is very hard to consume 400 IU of vitamin E without integrating nutritional supplements. This value is significantly higher than the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for a number of reasons:

Firstly, RDAs were established in the 1940s and were recommendations to prevent diseases such as scurvy and rickets and are often considered to be somewhat outdated. In addition, the external environment in which we live today contains higher levels of pollutants, radiation and some other harmful toxins, which considerably increases our need for anti-oxidants.

It’s known that the amounts of vitamins in fresh fruit and vegetables depletes over time, thus in order to get the best anti-oxidative defence from our foods, we would have to consume them immediately after they were harvested. This is really difficult these days because of the nature of supermarket’s distribution processes.

In summary, top quality multivitamin and multi-mineral dietary supplements could be good for everyone, to ensure the intake of adequate quantities of minerals and vitamins. This can support healthy body function, increase energy levels and may also decrease toxin damage and cellular degeneration inside the body.

Macronutrient supplements (i.e. proteins, meal replacements and wholesome snacking options), also serve a purpose to many people:

An example would be for a vegan who might normally find it hard to consume sufficient quantities of proteins. In this case, a Soy Protein supplement could be of use. Soy protein does not contain animal products and may provide all the essential amino acids that the body needs for building and repairing bodily tissues.

For individuals trying to manage their weight, meal substitutions can supply the proper balance of nutrients in a low-calorie supplement. Meal replacements can be a handy method for people with hectic lives to manage calorie intake.

Healthy snacking options may also provide a fantastic method for receiving a good balance of nutrients with little or no preparation. It would usually be more beneficial to an individual’s health to consume a top quality healthy snack bar than to buy a snack from a convenience store.

Therefore, the use of macronutrient snacks usually depends upon an individual’s health goals and personal nutritional requirements.

Andrew Smith is an Independent Associate for Usana Health Sciences, who manufacture world leading supplements. To read a thorough Usana products review go to this site: usana products uk