Ask the Herbalist

Today’s Question:

I know we don’t eat the raw fruits & veggies we need each day. Is a children’s vitamin beneficial? Or does a woman’s multi-vitamin really provide what the real thing should be providing? What would you recommend (besides eating better, which we’re working on?!)? Shelley S in TN

Answer:

How does the saying go.. “If I had a dollar for every time I heard that” In my experience, I have met very few families that eat what they consider a balanced diet. The truth is that many of us have aspirations of healthy eating habits, yet daily life tends to get in the way. The good news is that you know what you should be doing and are making an attempt towards that goal.

As to vitamins, many wellness professionals believe that by eating a balanced diet, we can get all the nutrition we need. However, the current thinking, based on studies of soil content, produce evaluations and the length of time the average produce travels before getting to us is leading experts into a new direction that includes supplements. The sad truth is that even when we are eating our ideal diets, the nutrient content is not what it could be if it was organically grown in healthy soil in your backyard and plucked minutes before placing it on the table.

So, yes, especially when we are not eating an ideal diet, supplements can be beneficial. The key is to obtain readily absorb-able supplements. There is much to be said, as this topic takes me an entire chapter to explain in my next book, so bear with me as I try to condense it to a few sentences here! Our bodies were created to absorb “whole foods” not chemicals in their raw or man made state. While our bodies sometimes will store these vitamins and minerals, studies show they are not as bio-available as those in a food form. Since herbs are food, herbal vitamins and mineral blends are a good option for some nutrients. Others can be purchased in a whole food form. Our family supplements with either herbal minerals, herbal vitamins and with whole food supplements.

Other important supplements that may be useful in a less than ideal diet are probiotics (more on these in the April newsletter), fish or flax seed oils, and immune supporting herbs.