Magnesium One of the Most Important Minerals

Magnesium is certainly one of the most important minerals to the body.  Here's a short list of what it does:
1. Supports normal acid/alkaline and blood pH balance.  Are you in balance?  A quick way to check is to get some pH paper and check your saliva and urine.  Saliva pH should be around 7.4.
2. Aids in enzyme activation. Enzymes make everything happen in the body!
3. Helps metabolize blood sugar and produce cortisone.  Keeping your blood sugar levels under control is the key to health!
4. Supports healthy nerve and muscle function.  Works with calcium to keep the nerves firing and the muscles moving!  It is involved in nerve signal transmission, muscle contraction, and heart rhythm.  Keeps the heart beating!
5. Assists in forming bones and teeth.  One of the 18 nutrients I speak of that are critical to bone health.
6. Plays a role in nucleic acid, protein, carbohydrate, and fat synthesis.

As you can see, this is definitely something we need to consume!  Magnesium is found in artichokes, beans and seeds (black, green, navy, pinto, pumpkin, sesame, sunflower), cashews, broccoli, organ meats, seafood (halibut, salmon, shrimp), spinach, Swiss chard, and tomatoes.

K is for Clotting But Also For Bone Health

Vitamin K - easy to remember - K is for "clotting", well there is actually lots more to it!  Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamins (the others being A, D, and E).  While it is best known for clotting, it is also involved in bone mineralization, a critical part of making bone. It also promotes healthy liver function.

But, let's go back to the bone part.  We are all familiar with how prevalent osteoporosis is in this country.  We are bombarded with the advertisements and the need for calcium supplements to magically cure this condition.  As I've mentioned previously it is not just calcium, but there are 18 nutrients required to build bone.  One of them is Vitamin K.  And guess what? Most people are not getting enough of this vitamin either.  It is readily available, but of course you have to like vegetables!  The top food sources are the Cruciferous family of vegetables: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage.  It is also in the dark green leafy vegetables (think kale), eggs, and liver.  For optimal health you should be eating these foods daily.  Your blood, liver, metabolism, and bones depend on it!

Phosphorus - While Calcium Gets All the Notoriety This Mineral is Quite Important Too!

We are bombarded with messages about the importance of calcium for our bones.  Well, without phosphorus all the calcium in the world will not do you much good.  In fact, it may cause harm if there is too much calcium and not sufficient phosphorus.  Phosphorus is the second key mineral by content in our bones.  It supports healthy bone formation, energy production, cell growth and repair (remember blood cells are made in our bones), collagen synthesis (that's what helps make the bone), cardiovascular function, and nerve and muscle activity.  It is a key part of calcium and sugar metabolism.

What happens when the calcium to phosphorus ratio is out of balance? Too much phosphorus and less calcium causes the body to pull calcium out of its storage spots and we get teeth and bone erosion ultimately leading to osteoporosis.  By the way - do you know how many people get too much phosphorus?  It comes from drinking carbonated beverages.  Phosphorus helps make them bubble! Another reason soft drinks are not good for us, besides the sugar or artificial sweeteners being used.  On the reverse, too much calcium and not enough phosphorus causes excess calcium in the tissues.  This leads to things like kidney stones, cataracts, and arthritis.

Phosphorus is supporting may body systems including the circulatory, digestive, liver, metabolic, nervous, kidney, and most important the musculoskeletal.

Food sources of phosphorus include almonds, brewer's yeast, eggs, fish (halibut, salmon), glandular meats, lean beef, lentils, liver, milk, peanuts, poultry, pumpkin seeds, wheat bran, and yogurt.

Zinc - Did You Know Viruses Like It?

Zinc we are often told is good for the immune system.  True, but apparently viruses like it too!  What does that mean?  Taking that zinc lozenge may not always be the best idea if it is a virus you are fighting.

Yet, zinc is a very important mineral, especially for men.  Zinc is one of the key ingredients for the prostate gland.  Men will want to make sure they are getting sufficient zinc.  One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.  Zinc supports the formation of many enzymes and insulin.  The same insulin we need for blood sugar control.  It also assists with wound healing, reproductive organ growth and development, and metabolism of phosphorus, carbohydrates, and proteins.  Putting it simply - zinc helps many body processes work.

Zinc also has a special relationship with copper - one of antagonism.  That means if your zinc levels rise, your copper levels will decrease, or if your copper levels rise, your zinc levels will decrease.  This is very significant for women as too much copper can make them "copper crazy".  Too much copper throws hormones out of balance and results in many of the "female symptoms".  What gets copper levels high?  The big three are birth control pills, copper IUDs, and soy (another reason not to like soy).

Zinc is found in many foods including almonds, beets, carrots, cashews, Cheddar cheese, green peas, lamb, lean beef and pork, liver, milk, mushrooms, peanuts, poultry, pumpkin seeds, seafood (crabs, oysters, shrimp), sesame seeds, spinach, wheat germ, whole grains, and yogurt.  Lots of healthy food choices to get your zinc!

Manganese

Manganese may be one of those minerals that you've never even considered for how important it is for the human body.  While calcium gets all the attention regarding bone health, manganese is also very important for bone formation.  In fact, there are 18 different nutrients required for the body to build healthy bone.  For more on that see my earlier post regarding calcium (Calcium Blog ).

Manganese is also important in the formation and activation of enzymes that metabolize oxygen, carbohydrates, amino acids, and cholesterol.  And perhaps even more critical is that manganese is required to detoxify our body from any naturally produced ammonia.  Ammonia is poison to the body, so it must be removed.

The blood, liver, immune, musculoskeletal, nervous, and reproductive systems all utilize manganese.

There are lots of food sources of manganese.  It is prevalent in nuts and seeds (almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts), legumes (garbanzo beans, green peas, lima beans, navy beans, pinto beans), grains (brown rice, wheat germ, oats, rye), vegetables (beets, broccoli, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes), cloves, liver, nutrtional yeast, pineapple, and raspberries.

Iron

We're all familiar with how important iron is for the health of our blood.  Iron aids in hemoglobin production, which is critical in the transportation of oxygen around the body.  Oxygen fuels the body and hemoglobin helps get it around!  Iron also supports enzyme formation and function - enzymes too make things happen in the body.  The iron containing enzymes are required for energy production and to carry oxygen throughout the body.  Iron is also part of the enzyme system that produces DNA - the blueprint of the body - so it is critical in growth, reproduction, healing, and immune function.

Food source of iron include artichokes, beets, broccoli, legumes (garbanzo beans, green beans, kidney beans, lentils, navy beans, and pinto beans), mushrooms, organ meats, parsley, pumpkin seeds, seafood (clams, shrimp), sesame seeds, and wheat germ.

Iron is tricky as too little can cause anemia—but too much can lead to atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular problems. Unlike other minerals, excess iron is not excreted from the body. Instead, it’s stored in the tissues, accelerating iron overload indefinitely.  To read even more about iron:
http://www.annlouise.com/blog/2011/02/07/iron-is-a-double-edged-mineral/

Selenium

I'm going to focus the next few posts on more of the key minerals we need to consume.  Minerals are important because essentially they make things happen in the body along with enzymes.  Without minerals, things don't happen!  It is that easy.

Selenium acts as an antioxidant with Vitamin E and aids in DNA and protein synthesis. It is these antioxidants that neutralize free radicals and prevent them from damaging tissues and cells.  It supports a healthy immune system response (keeps you healthy), prostaglandin production (these are hormone precursors), and healthy reproductive, pancreatic, and thyroid functions.  If you remember some of my previous comments about synthetic versus natural vitamins, you'll find that real Vitamin E complex contains selenium.  Guess what doesn't?  Yes, synthetic Vitamin E.  Perhaps that is why when "they" do the studies that conclude Vitamin E does not support heart health, if we look closer we learn they are using synthetic and not real Vitamin E.  Seems to make a difference.

Selenium is also important in the blood, cardiovascular, endocrine, enzymatic, immune, integumentary, nervous, and renal systems.  Essentially it is used throughout the body.

Where to get it?  One of the best sources is Brazil nuts.  I have 4-5 every morning in my protein shake.  Other sources include barley, broccoli, brown rice, lamb, lean meats, milk, mushrooms, nutritional yeast, organ meats, seafood (cod, crab, halibut, salmon, shrimp, snapper, tuna), tomatoes, turnips, walnuts, wheat germ, and whole grains.

Folic Acid

Today's nutrient is Folic Acid, also known as Folate.  But, once again (as we've seen with other vitamins), while portrayed to the public as identical, they are not.  Humans are not able to make their own folate, so it is something we need to eat.  Natural sources of folate include leafy greens (collard greens, spinach), citrus fruits, legumes (black beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, lentils, navy beans, pinto beans), liver, eggs, diary products, asparagus, and nutritional yeast.

Folate is critical to the metabolism of nucleic acids and amino acids.  Because of this, it supports overall growth and development and blood cell formation and supports normal growth of the fetus.  Folic acid was added to many foods to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects, in fact there was a mandate to add folic acid to all cereal grain to products in the US.

So, what was discovered?  Well, you guessed it.  From the good intentions of the food police we now have several studies suggesting that over consumption of folic acid to colon, lung, and prostate cancers.  If you are taking folic acid as a supplement you may want to revisit that and look for companies that use natural folate in their products.

Here's a link to the article in Prevention Magazine explaining this: Prevention Magazine article

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 may be one of the most important of all the B vitamins, particularly because only true humanly usable B12 comes from animal sources.  Yes, to all my vegetarian and particularly vegan friends, watch your B12 levels.  There is no such thing as "vegan" or "vegetarian" B12 as far as your body goes.  It needs along with it what is known as "intrinsic factor" which comes from animals.  Fortunately B12 (as other B vitamins) will store in the body, but over time this may become a deficiency.  In fact, a good friend of mine, after years of being a vegetarian has reintroduced more animal product into her diet after seeing a live blood analysis showing a lack of B12 and a move towards anemia.

So what does B12 do?  It is a cofactor for two, yet very important enzymes.  One is used for methionine metabolism.  Methionine is an essential amino acid.  The other enzyme aids in producing energy from proteins and fats.  Overall B12 supports the nervous system, promotes the maturation of red blood cells (hence the tie to anemia when deficient in B12) and other cells, and supports bone and joint health.

B12 is available from animal products such as fish (halibut, salmon, scallops, shrimp, and snapper are best sources), lamb, beef, organ meats, and yogurt.  It is important for the blood, digestive, hepatic, and nervous systems.

Vitamin B6

We're back to the B Vitamins today with B6.  Like all the other B family vitamins it plays a big role in our metabolic reactions, specifically amino acid metabolism (making proteins for your body to use in building itself) and glycogen utilization (blood sugar control).  It is also involved in supporting the production of hormones and neurotransmitters - the chemicals that are directing all your body's activities. 

B6 supports the blood, central nervous, digestive, immune, integumentary, and musculoskeletal systems.

It is found in bananas, fish (cod, halibut, snapper, salmon, tuna), lean beef, mushrooms, nutritional yeast, organ meats, poultry, and wheat germ.

Are you noticing how the B vitamins are so prevalent in animal foods?  Wait until we discuss the next B vitamin - B12!

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid is not Vitamin C)

We' are all familiar with getting out our Vitamin C when we feel a cold coming on as it is known to enhance immune cell function.  Sometimes it works in keeping the cold at bay, other times not.  In addition, we hear varying stories about the effectiveness of "Vitamin C."  Well, the first and most important point to understand is that Ascorbic Acid is not Vitamin C - it is just the outer layer of the Vitamin C complex (remember how I spoke of the 20 factors of the Vitamin B complex? - the same applies here).  We all remember the story of the British sailors who would get scurvy until they started eating lemons and limes.  It was the Vitamin C content of those fruits that saved them.  In fact, if you were to give someone with scurvy some ascorbic acid, guess what would happen? Yes, they would die of the disease.  You see it is the whole Vitamin C with all its parts that does the magic, not the isolated ascorbic acid.  By the way you can make your own ascorbic acid if you like - just mix together sulphuric acid and sugar - now that sounds real healthy!

The other benefits of Vitamin C - it is an antioxidant, so it kills those free radicals to prevent damage to our cells and tissues.  It is also involved in forming collagen which is in our connective tissue.  It also facilitates iron absorption and assists in cholesterol metabolism.  So it is helping the blood, cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems.

The best sources of Vitamin C are not your ascorbic acid pills!  It is found in Acerola berries, broccoli (yes, another reason to eat your broccoli), Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, carrots, cauliflower, kiwi (an excellent source), oranges, papaya, red bell peppers, and strawberries.

Choline

A little known nutrient - choline - is actually extremely important as it is part of lecithin which is a key structural component of all cell membranes.  It is quite certain that any substance that is in every cell in our body would be quite important.  It is involved in cell metabolism, nerve transmission, and regulation of the liver and gall bladder.   

Are you getting enough choline in your diet?  It is found big time in the cruciferous family (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower), butter, egg yolk, flaxseed, lentils, peanuts, potatoes, oats, sesame seeds, and soybeans.  You will often see lecithin from soybeans in nutritonall supplements.  One of the few useful applications of the soy bean!

Choline supports the cardiovascular, biliary, endocrine, integumentary, nervous, and renal (kidney) systems.

Chromium

Today we explore chromium, another important mineral nutrient.  Chromium is involved in metabolism as it supports insulin function in the body.  In this way it helps in glucose and protein metabolism.  What does this mean to the average person?  In short, it helps us control blood sugar levels.  This is one of the most important functions in the body, and much of what our body does, is about keeping blood sugar levels constant.  We get ourselves into trouble when blood sugar levels stay consistently too low or too high, or when they bounce back and forth (like the sugar high).  Therefore, chromium has also been found to help with weight control and managing cholesterol.

Chromium supports the blood, cardiovascular, circulatory, endocrine, hepatic, immune and nervous systems.  As you can see - almost the whole body!  It is found in cheese, liver, nutritional yeast, onions, Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, vegetable oils, and whole grains.  Its common supplement form is chromium picolinate.

Calcium

Calcium is one of the most talked about minerals and for good reason.  It supports strong bone structure, teeth, and muscle tissue, aids in blood clotting function, supports cardiovascular and nerve functions, and helps in normal functioning of many enzymes.  We often hear about it in conjunction with osteoporosis.  Everyone needs more calcium to build their bones, so everyone is throwing down a whole bunch of calcium supplements.  Well, there's a couple of problems. 

First off - is the biggest one.  While it is true that we need calcium to build our bones, it is one of 18 nutrients that are required.  And let's get a little better understanding of how our bones work.  They are constantly breaking down and rebuilding.  What happens in osteopenia and osteoporosis?  The breakdown process continues, but the bone does not rebuild.  Why?  One reason is the lack of the other nutrients required to build bone. What happens when we take certain medications for this?  The breakdown is slowed down, so the bone density scan will show more bone, however, it is weak bone and still likely to fracture.  There are many other resources you can go to read more on this. 

Second - most of the calcium in supplements is not very absorbable for our bodies.  We need to be able to utilize the calcium we take in.  One of the more absorbable forms of calcium is Calcium Lactate.

What else contributes to our calcium shortages?  Soft drink (soda) consumption.  What makes soft drinks bubble?  Phosphorus.  And, phosphorus and calcium need to be in a specific relationship in our body.  So, when we take in excessive phosphorus and don't have sufficient calcium intakes, our body must take it from a storage location.  You guessed it - the bones!

The best sources of calcium are of course from food.  It is also a misconception that this has to come from milk.  Leafy green vegetables are a great source of calcium.  For calcium choose: bone meal, cheese (best are Cheddar, mozzarella, and Swiss), collard greens, flaxseed, liver, milk, molasses, mustard greens, sesame seeds, spinach, turnip greens, wheat germ and yogurt.

Calcium benefits many systems of the body: blood, circulatory, digestive, enzymatic, immune, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems.

Vitamin B3 - Niacin

Vitamin B3, also called Niacin, is one of the most important of the B vitamins.  We often hear it recommended for cardiovascular health, but it is also important for digestive health as it promotes hydrocholric acid production.  Did you know that most people who suffer from acid reflux actually do not produce enough hydrochloric acid?  The "acid" of acid reflux is usually organic acids produced by foods rotting and fermenting in the stomach due to poor digestion.

Here's the technical detail: Niacin is converted to the cofactor NAD which is an important part of how our body processes carbohydrates, fats, and protein (amino acids). It promotes a healthy heart, skin, digestion, cellular respiration, and enhances metabolism and circulation. 

You can get too much Niacin, particularly from syntethic sources.  How do you know?  You get what is called the "niacin flush" - your face and ears become red and hot.  I recently experienced this myself and was able to trace it back to this very source.

Niacin supports the cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic (liver), integumentary, and nervous systems.  It also supports the soft tissue and the tongue.

The best food sources of Niacin are: fish (salmon, tuna, halibut), lean beef, liver, mushrooms, nutrtional yeast, organ meats, poultry, and wheat germ.

Are you noticing a trend - the best sources of B vitamins are mainly from animal products.  Keep that in mind when we get to B12 in a few days!

Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin

Vitamin B2, better known as Riboflavin, is an integral part of enzymes involved in oxidation reduction reactions that drive cell respiration.  What does that mean? It is critical in our cell making energy for our body.  It also supports the function of antioxidant enzymes and interacts with the other B vitamins.  It promotes a healthy immune system and regulates the activity of 50 of our enzymes.  Wow!  Remember enzymes are what make things happen in our body.  They drive everything we do.  This is why Riboflavin is often one of the B Vitamins added back into our "enriched" wheat flour, but as you remember from the  B1 discussion, this is synthetic and our bodies need the real stuff.

We get the "real stuff" in lean beef, milk, mushrooms, nutrtional yeast, organ meats, spinach, wheat germ, and yogurt. 

Vitamin B2 supports the cardiovascular, blood, digestive, endocrine, integumentary, and nervous systems as well as our soft tissue.

Vitamin B1 - Thiamine

Today's Vitamin of the Day is B1, also known as Thiamine.  Did you know that the true Vitamin B complex actually has about 20 different parts to it.  We know these as all the different B's.  One of the main foods that have the B family are whole grains.  Let's use wheat as the example.  There are three parts - the germ, the bran, and the endosperm.  The germ and bran have the B vitamins as well as some healthy fats.  The endosperm is the carbohydrate.  When they make refined flour, the main ingredient in white bread and cookies all that gets used is the carbohydrate.  But the food manufacturers are nice to us and they "enrich" the flour with up to 8-12 synthetic B vitamins.  Doesn't sound like enriching to me - take away 20 and give back 8!

B1 is a required cofactor for some very important enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism.  This supports mental alertness and cognitive ability.  It also maintains appetite and normal digestion.  It aids the cardiovascular, digestive, integumentary (skin), and nervous systems along with the eyes.

You can find B1 in black beans, brown rice (not white), green and split peas, lentils, lima beans, mushrooms, navy beans, nutritional yeast, organ meats, pinto beans, sunflower seeds, tuna, wheat germ, and whole grains.

Vitamin A a.k.a Beta-Carotene

Vitamin A is also known as Beta-carotene.  However, here is where it gets confusing - they are not the same!  True Vitamin A is found only in animal products, such as butter, egg yolks, liver, organ meats and shellfish.  Beta-carotene is found in plant food, such as carrots, red bell peppers, sweet potatoes, winter squash, and particularly leafy greens (collard greens, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens).  And for the animal product to be a good source of Vitamin A, they should be eating green food, such as cows eating green grass.  Think of the animal as a Vitamin A factory!  When we consume Beta-carotene from plants (or vitamin supplements) our body has to convert it into Vitamin A.  And guess what - we aren't that efficient in doing that.  To learn all about Vitamin A click here.

Vitamin A supports the endocrine, immune, integumentary (that's skin), and reproductive systems along with our eyes.  It is required for growth and natural repair of many body tissues, and maintains integrity of blood cells and epithelial tissue lining the gut, lungs, and reproductive tract.

Foods for Autumn: Nutrition Ideas for the Upcoming Fall Season

September is here and it is my personal favorite month of the year. I enjoy the cooler weather, the start of football season, the “back to school” transition, and of course my birthday! But of course there is more to it than that. The ancient wisdom of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Ayurveda (Traditional Indian Medicine) tells us that each season has its own rhythm and character related to the temperature and weather changes along with the variations in daylight they bring. All of these factors impact our health and vitality as the body responds to the changing of the seasons.


Each season has specific organs to be detoxified, rebuilt, and nurtured during that season. In the fall it is the lungs and the large intestine, in the winter the adrenals and kidneys, in the spring the liver and gallbladder, and in summer the heart and small intestines. In addition each season has specific foods, teas and herbs to support the body during that time. As we move from season to season over the next year I’ll devote one article to each season.

For the autumn the focus is on the lungs and the large intestines. The lungs are the gateway into the body for perhaps the most important nutrient – oxygen. Oxygen provides our cells with the energy to sustain our life. But through the lungs environmental irritants also enter our system, these are the various pollutants and natural substances that we breathe in that can create a variety of symptoms for us such as allergic reactions, asthma, or general congestion. Herbs such as Usnea, Licorice root, and Echinacea root support the lungs as they are soothing, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.

The large intestines are the home to many types of bacteria – both the good and the bad. The good bacteria aid our digestion and convert our waste into beneficial vitamins (B vitamins and Vitamin K) and help digest fiber. The bad bacteria are at the root of many digestive ailments such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and IBS. Many of my clients (and other Americans as well) suffer from these symptoms simply because their gut bacteria is out of balance with the bad bacteria outnumbering the good. I recommend two ways for my clients to increase their good bacteria. One way is through eating nurturing, immune-enhancing foods such as yogurt, kefir, and raw sauerkraut, as well as fiber from flax, psyllium, or chia seeds. The second way is through supplementation with probiotics.

However, with all nutritional supplements there are all kinds of quality out there. You will read all kinds of claims. Here’s what to look for to ensure a high quality probiotic:
• Has living bacteria that ensures the bacteria are alive and active.
• Is packaged in a fermented culture to provide a continual feeding system for the bacteria.
• Includes organic acids to promote the growth of good bacteria in the colon.
• Is enteric coated to keep it intact and survive the stomach and bile acids until it reaches the colon.
• Provides evidence that it is gluten-free, non-GMO, hypoallergenic, and without preservatives.
• Has proven adhesion, meaning it sticks to the walls of the digestive tract.
• Is safe for infants, children, women and men as well as those with compromised immune systems.
• Has multiple strains of beneficial bacteria including the TH-10 strain. TH-10 strain defends against yeast, parasites, and pathogenic bacteria overgrowth that create endotoxins.

The tea for autumn is Fenugreek. It has a lubricant quality that dissolves mucus in lungs and moistens the digestive tract to provide these organs the additional support they need during this season. The list of autumn friendly spices includes cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and anise.

In addition to those foods recommended above for the large intestines, I’d recommend the following: Obtain your protein from lean beef, veal, lamb, poultry, fish, shellfish, and legumes (lentils, black beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, split peas). For fruits go low on the glycemic index with berries, apples, pears, peaches, and nectarines. It is a great time to get local apples! For vegetables (as always) look first for what is in season and eat all the colors of the rainbow.

Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Thiensville. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, e-mail at bernie@brwellness.com, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.

Walking the Talk Part 2: Supporting Food with Supplements

This is the second installment in my “Walking the Talk” series. Previously I answered the most common question I receive from clients (and friends): what I eat and why. Now I’ll answer the second most popular question. If we eat all the right foods, do we really need to take supplements?


In an ideal world we would be able to obtain all our nutrients from food – fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Unfortunately, we do not live in such a world. Most of the plant food we consume is grown on land that is now mineral deficient, making these valuable food sources of vitamins and minerals deficient. Minerals are particularly important as they are the catalysts behind our bodily functions. Since we do not make them in our body we must get them from food. Most of the animal food we consume is from animals that are not healthy since they are being fed the same nutrient deficient food along with antibiotics and hormones. Even if you eat as clean as possible, as I and many others try to do, I stick with my conclusion that we just are not getting everything we need from our food.

Notice that I use the word “supplement”. This means we still need to eat our healthy foods and supplement with what we are not getting from the diet. I’ll tell all my clients I can give you all the supplements in the world, but if you do not eat healthy they will have minimal effect. You may not be feeling any symptoms, but that does not mean things are not happening in your body which will one day be symptoms.

How do we know what our body needs and what we are not getting from our diet? The easiest way is to be in touch with what we are feeling in our body. Symptoms that present are often signs of underlying nutritional deficiencies. Also, there are a variety of tests that I’ll use with clients to determine nutrient levels and/or deficiencies.

When creating a supplement program I consider two aspects. I start with the baseline – the supplements I believe everyone should use. Then I address the specific nutrients that may be lacking (determined as described above through symptoms and testing) and suggests proper supplements

Here’s how that translates for me. The baseline supplements support digestion and our need for a variety of vitamins and mineral support. I’ll start with digestion. We can be eating the best foods in the world, but if we don’t digest well, we won’t get all the nutrients available to us. Constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, acid reflux, headaches, ADD/ADHD, even anxiety and depression are all signs of poor digestion. To support digestion, I recommend digestive enzymes and probiotics. I take enzymes with each meal and probiotics on an empty stomach. As we age we make less of our own digestive enzymes, so another reason for supplementation. Many of my clients report amazing results from just doing these two simple supplements.

The second component of the baseline is what I’ll call a “multivitamin”, but not as you typically find in the vitamin section of the drugstore. I’ll pull together several products to deliver these components. Currently I am taking cod liver oil and high vitamin butter oil from Green Pastures along with IntraMax from Drucker Labs. The cod liver oil and high vitamin butter oil deliver my fish oils and my fat soluble vitamins – A, D, E, and K. The IntraMax delivers a wide range of nutrients including: vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, more enzymes, etc. It is my super “multivitamin” and made from food.

This is another important point. I am a big believer in vitamins and supplements made from real foods, not in the laboratory. Those made in the laboratory are synthetic vitamins and often times not the full vitamin complex. Ever notice why your urine may be bright yellow after taking vitamins? That is why. Your body simply can’t process all these synthetic vitamins.

Next I look at is what I am experiencing in my body. So, as a middle aged male I am concerned about my prostate, heart, and overall energy levels. I take CoQ10 for heart health and to boost energy and I take a variety of glandular to support prostate and endocrine gland functions. I find that many of my clients also benefit from glandular products as they provide the direct nutrition that our endocrine glands require. These glands are among the first to suffer from poor nutrition. How do you know if your endocrine glands need support? If you’re tired, losing your hair in clumps, find your sex drive lacking, or for women if you suffer from PMS or any other female symptom – those are your glands asking for help!

I hope you find this information useful. If you are interested in having a supplement program designed specifically for yourself, please call my office and I’d be happy to help.


Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Thiensville. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, e-mail at bernie@brwellness.com, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.