Whole-Food Multiple Supplements
The natural counterpart to the synthetic multiple vitamins is the
whole-food multiple-vitamin/mineral supplement made from real
foods. Ingredients for these products include a variety of vegetables
such as kale, Brussels sprouts, beets, carrots, broccoli, spinach and
parsley; fruits such as citrus and berries; and natural brewer’s yeast,
which contains B vitamins. These supplements contain a food dose of
vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, and, since they’re made from
real food, they probably contain nutrients not yet discovered!
Omega-3 Fats
Omega-3 fat from fish oil is one of the best nutrients to improve fat
balance. In my practice, I found through dietary analysis that signifi-
cant numbers of patients were deficient in omega-3 fat. It has been
estimated that more than 50 million people in the United States are
affected by essential-fatty-acid imbalance. Omega-3 oils are most use-
ful in reducing the condition of chronic inflammation. Fish oil con-
tains both EPA and DHA, vital for many aspects of optimal health
and fitness, especially combating inflammation. A variety of other
foods complement this task, including ginger, garlic, turmeric, citrus
peel and sesame oil. When buying oil-based dietary supplements,
read the labels: make sure the oil has been tested for oxidation and for
heavy metals and other potential toxins found in the oceans. Agood
guide is to use fish oil labeled as containing “0” cholesterol. Many
have levels of only 2 or 4 mg of cholesterol, but this may infer they
may not have been cleaned of potential toxins.
Some people take flaxseed oil as an omega-3 supplement.
However, there are two important factors to mention again. Since
flaxseed oil is extremely susceptible to oxidation when exposed to air
or heat, it is best to purchase it in capsules. And, flax oil does not con-
tain EPA. Conversion to EPA in the body is not very effective, and
requires vitamins C, B6, niacin, and the minerals magnesium
and zinc.
Black-Currant-Seed Oil
Black-currant-seed yields a high-quality omega-6 oil containing
gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which is converted to the group 1 anti-
inflammatory eicosanoids. People with allergies, especially in the
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