How a Better Diet Can Help You, and the Role of Nutritional Supplements

For the chiropractic patient, inflammation in the body can result in greater joint pain.  The latest research is revealing that excess inflammation may also contribute to many diseases including heart disease.  The modern diet, which is overly rich in omega-6 fatty acids (pro-inflammatory), tends to lead the body into a more inflammatory state.  High omega-6 oils to avoid include cooking/baking oils such as corn, peanut, safflower, sunflower, soy and hydrogenated oils (high in trans fat).  These are often found in fried foods, bakery products and margarine.

A better diet consists primarily of vegetation (including vegetables, fruits, nuts and roots) and lean (non-red) meats and fish.  This is a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (anti-inflammatory).  For cooking, use virgin/extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil.

While no pill can make up for a poor diet, supplements play an important role in achieving optimum health.*  As a chiropractor, I have spent significant time studying the role of nutrition and supplements in healthy living, and I would like to share some of my opinions with you on this important topic. If you are interested in nutrition and supplements from a chiropractor's point of view, please feel free to discuss this with me during your appointment.  Or, if you would like to get started, here are my recommendations for nutritional products I feel are very beneficial.

I have chosen to offer Metagenics nutritional supplement products because of their excellent track record over the years of producing the finest quality professional supplements.  Metagenics is one of only a handful of supplement manufacturers to be certified Good Manufacturers Practice by NSF.  Without quality ingredients, even the best scientific formula won’t live up to its health-promoting potential.  Furthermore, Metagenics is one of only a few supplement companies to invest in human clinical tests to determine the effectiveness of their products. 

Products generally are shipped within 24 hours and arrive in 1-5 days.

For the chiropractic patient, in addition to promoting optimum health, supplementation will tend to focus on reducing the base level of inflammation in the body and promoting the healing of injured tissue.*

Nutritional Supplements for Reducing Inflammation and Promoting General Health

Some supplements that may help reduce the general level of inflammation of the body and promote overall health include:*

	Fish oil - an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids (anti-inflammatory)*.  If you are only going to take one supplement other than a multi-vitamin, this is it. I recommend:  EPA-DHA Extra Strength® Enteric-Coated (Metagenics) Concentrated Essential Fatty Acids for Daily Maintenance*
	Multi-vitamin/mineral – this is a good insurance policy to make sure you’re getting a good variety of essential nutrients.  Not all multivitamins are created equal.  Important considerations include the completeness of the multivitamin and how well it can be absorbed by the body.* I recommend: Multigenics® without Iron (Metagenics) Optimum Multiple Vitamin/Mineral Formula*
	or, for an even more complete multivitamin/mineral, I highly recommend:  Wellness Essentials™ (Metagenics) Optimal Daily Nutritional Support in Easy-to-Use Packets*
	Vitamin D – studies have linked insufficient amounts of vitamin D with musculoskeletal pain.  Growing evidence suggests that many people are Vitamin D deficient due to lack of sunlight.  The proper form of this vitamin is important.  It should be D3.* I recommend: D3 1000™ (Metagenics) Bioactive Vitamin D in Microtablet Delivery Form*
Nutritional Supplements and Nutrients for the Healing of Tissue Damage*
	MSM is used by the body in numerous aspects of tissue healing, including the healing of cartilage and ligaments.*            Glucosamine Sulfate – this is one of the building blocks of cartilage that is not readily found in the diet.* I recommend: ChondroCare® (Metagenics) Advanced Joint Support and Protection*
	For more complete joint healing support*, add: Collagenics® (Metagenics) Nutritional Support for Connective Tissue*
Nutritional Supplements for Reducing Glycemic Index Another aspect of the modern diet that promotes excessive inflammation is the high glycemic index of the foods we eat.  Put simply, the higher the glycemic index of a food, the more it is digested like simple sugar.  This raises the insulin level in the blood as the body digests that food.  Higher insulin levels have been linked with increased inflammation, as well as other issues, such as Metabolic Syndrome - a disease in which the body becomes less sensitive to insulin.  This is yet another reason to avoid refined carbohydrates such as white flour and, of course, sugar in all its forms.  Instead, it is best to eat a diet of less processed foods. Given the realities of daily life, however, many of us don’t have time to prepare the ideal meals or eat as we should.  I like to recommend as a snack:
	UltraMeal® Bar Medical Food (Metagenics) Ready-to-Eat Nutritional Support for the Management of Conditions Associated with Metabolic Syndrome*
	Another option is Ultrameal powder.  It can be mixed with water or I like to add it to frozen fruit and mix it in a blender to make a smoothie.  UltraMeal® Medical Food (Metagenics) Nutritional Support for the Management of Conditions Associated with Metabolic Syndrome* One nice thing about these products is that, because of their lower glycemic index, you’ll stay full longer without that “energy crash” that often accompanies a high sugar energy bar.*  Plus, they taste great.

Other Nutritional Supplements:

For those of you who are interested in pursuing a wider variety of supplementation, I have included many other excellent nutritional products for your availability.

Click Here to Visit the Nutritional Supplement Store to Order these products
 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.