The manufacturers of processed foods spend millions of research dollars investigating what it is that makes us take a second, third, and fourth helping. They know what they’re doing, and the effect is well noted, not just in expanding waistlines, but in very real numbers of dollars and cents.

50% of Americans don’t get enough calcium and potassium

30% of Americans can't get the B vitamins they need from food

If you’re reading this article, chances are, you take supplements. And at some point or another you’ve probably been told that there’s no reason to take supplements or that, at the most, you’re just paying for expensive urine.

But you know that’s not true. You know you feel more vibrant, clearheaded, energetic, and pain-free when you take high-quality supplements.

First of all, food isn’t what it used to be in terms of nutrition. Obviously, it’s no secret that processed and refined food is extremely popular, leading to the epidemic of obesity, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome.

In fact, by 2030, the obesity rate will increase another 8% to include 42% of Americans, so almost half of Americans will be at least 30 lbs. overweight. The percentage of those who are severely obese (more than 100 lbs. overweight) is expected to be 11% by 2030–double the current rate. There are some very real and frightening reasons for this.

The manufacturers of processed foods spend millions of research dollars investigating what it is that makes us take a second, third and fourth helping. They know what they’re doing and the effect is well-noted, not just in expanding waistlines, but in very real numbers of dollars and cents.

In just the past few decades, people have switched from buying grocery staples–the whole foods you’d prepare at home, including meat, eggs, dairy, fruit and vegetables–to processed “convenience” foods. For many, it is either that or going to a drive-through window or out to a restaurant. In fact, the percent of the grocery budget spent on processed foods and sweets has doubled from 12% in 1982 to 23% in 2012.

Overall, nutrient-rich meals have been rejected in favor of nutrient poor, refined and sodium-laden replacements.

Taste Buds, Retrained

One of the reasons for this is that the abundance of processed foods has trained our taste buds to prefer foods that are high in fats and sugar. The processed food companies know this. It’s one of the reasons you see such an over-the-top reaction by the industry for even suggesting that high-fructose corn syrup may be adding to obesity rates. They’d rather keep people addicted to their products.

And yet, even with all of the calories consumed (there are 3,700 calories available for every American daily) there are still nutrient deficiencies. Even government estimates, which may be on the conservative side, mention that at least 10% of Americans have nutrient deficiencies. I would say it’s much more like 90%. Why is that?

"Healthy Foods Aren't"

You’d think it would be as simple as eating better foods. Just add more vegetables, fruits, whole fats, meats, and the problem is solved, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that easy.

That’s because, aside from the prevalence of over-processed, refined, and high-sodium foods, even our healthy foods aren’t what they could be. Many of our fruits and vegetables are being grown in mineral and nutrient depleted soils. So even though you may be trying to eat a healthy diet you’re simply not going to get the minerals that would otherwise come into the plant through the soil. And if you’re deficient in minerals, any vitamins or other nutrients you bring on board through your diet can’t even begin to do their jobs.

For example, more than 50% of Americans are getting less than optimal levels of key nutrients such as calcium and potassium. Other common deficiencies include vitamin D, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and iron.

While much of this is from poor dietary choices or lackluster produce and other foods, blame also falls on genetics, illness, prescription drugs and digestive absorption issues. And all of this is precisely why supplements are so important.

Deficiencies Common

Given the level of daily nutrition for most people, it’s no wonder they are deficient in key vitamins and minerals. Consider this. Just by adding a top-line vitamin B6 alone, (I would recommend pyridoxal-5-phosphate, also called P-5-P), many people could prevent arthritis, autism, carpal tunnel syndrome, congestive heart failure, depression, diabetic neuropathy, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, stroke and much more. But there are many people–some estimates say up to 30% of the population–who have a tough time utilizing B vitamins, whether they are from food or common supplements. In this case, I believe that aside from the nutrient itself, the form it takes (say, P-5-P versus more common supplemental forms of B6) is just as important. After all, P-5-P is already the form of vitamin B6 the body uses, so it doesn’t need to be converted by the liver before it can be effective.

If more people used vitamin D3 (there’s no patent on it so it’s very reasonably priced), I think you’d see much less osteoarthritis, breast cancer, depression, skin cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Almost 60% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D and the amounts of time many people spend outdoors (when the body can soak up the sun and synthesize its own vitamin D) have shrunk considerably. Supplementation in this case also makes good sense.

If iron were added to more supplement regimens, I think you’d see much better energy levels, physical endurance and fewer muscle injuries. Over 7,000,000 women and 700,000 young children in America are estimated to be iron deficient. And make no mistake, everyone needs iron–including men. Anyone who exercises intensively has a 30% greater need for iron. Even if you’re a fan of red meat, that amount of iron will be hard to match through diet alone.

While these are just a few examples, research and common sense bears them out. The recent Physicians’ Health Study examining cancer rates and multivitamin use found that supplementation reduced the risk of total cancer in men. Other studies have shown correlations between multivitamin use and overall health as well, although it remains a controversial topic, especially among conventional practitioners. In my experience, when someone begins a regimen of truly effective supplementation, they are amazed at how much better they feel overall when their minds and bodies can reach their full potential.

Are a healthy diet and a sensible exercise regimen necessary? Absolutely. However, in a world of depleted soils and environmental challenges, they can only take you so far. To be at your best, supplementation–especially with high-quality products is a must like First Milk