Nutrition and Supplementation - Affinity Health Clinic - Toronto

March 5, 2010 - PRLog -- Written by Mark Mckoy

First, please don’t get all caught up or bogged down with trying to figure it out. Even the experts (and remember, there are no experts, just people who think they know it all but are only taking an educated guess) can’t figure it out.

What you need to know!
Use common sense (yes, we’re back to that again). Most people know what is healthy and what isn’t (i.e. fruits and vegetables are healthy – McDonalds isn’t). See, that wasn’t too hard. So, in saying that, if you want to live a healthy lifestyle, you have to balance daily exercise with sensible intake.

The Facts!
Most people eat too much and exercise too little. Again, this is not an EXPERT statement, just a simple fact that most people are quite aware of. If you introduce a simple exercise regime and cut down back on food that are devoid of nutrition (i.e. bagels, muffins, cold cereals, crackers, etc), you will be well on your way to a much healthier and more energetic lifestyle. I can hear the shock already. Cereal? Muffins? Bagels? Crackers?
Yes, most processed foods are devoid of nutrients. You will probably get more out of the box than its contents. And these are the foods that most people consider healthy. Let’s not even get into the unhealthy ones and fast foods.

If you are fortunate enough to buy fresh organic meats, fruits and vegetables, you are one of the lucky minorities. For the rest of us, to get the nutrition we need, we have to supplement. Even doctors are starting to agree.  Today’s food supply no longer supplies your body with enough of the key nutrients required for optimum health. Depleted soils, modern growing techniques, preservatives, as well as the cooking and refining processes, all result in lower nutrient content in the foods.

I like to think of supplements as insurance. So to make sure we have all of the nutrients that the body requires in order to stay healthy and energetic, I suggest taking a good quality supplement.

And what is a good quality supplement, and how do we know if it is good?
For those of you taking Centrum or One-a-day (or any drug store brand of that matter) I urge you to consider a more reputable source. It’s your health!

The problem is, most people don’t know what to take. With all of the brands and types out there, I don’t blame you.  Don’t get too worked up over all of the different types of vitamins out there. If you try to figure out how much of each separately, not only will it be near impossible, but also you will drive yourself crazy.
That’s why it’s best to get a supplement that has been formulated to be in balance (you will never figure out how much of what goes with what).

Recommendations!
1.   Eat a diet high in organic fruits and vegetables.
2.   Try to eat whole foods.
3.   Stay away from sugar and salt.
4.   Fats are good for you (in the unsaturated form). As a matter of fact they are essential hence the name “essential fatty acids”.
5.   Make sure you get enough protein. i.e. meat, fish, chicken or eggs.
6.   Take a good quality supplement.  It is almost impossible to get all of the nutrients the body requires for optimal health. Read carefully. The guidelines set out by the Canada food guide state the minimum daily requirements. These requirements are far from the recommended requirements for achieving optimal health.
Ask yourself one question. Would you like to survive, or do you want to LIVE?

For more info on healthy eating and high quality supplements, please contact Affinity Health or go to www.affinity-fitness.com

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Affinity Health offers an all-encompassing, personalized approach to health and well-being. Featuring the DRX9000 Spinal Decompression System. Our clinic offers comprehensive, team-based medical and preventative health care services and non-surgical treatments using the latest in technology and procedures.