Do I Still Need Supplements If I Eat a Healthy Diet?

Good nutrition is far more complicated than just eating low-fat or low-calorie foods to maintain a healthy weight. Your body also relies on the many essential vitamins and nutrients found in whole, unprocessed foods. 

Without getting sufficient amounts of nutrients like iron, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D, your overall health and wellness suffer.

Getting all of the nutrients you need isn’t easy, even if you’re focused on eating a healthy diet. In Anchorage, Alaska, Dr. Nichelle Renk and Dr. Mary Beth Calor are here to help. 

In addition to nutritional counseling, Dr. Renk, Dr. Calor, and their team at Alpenglow Pain & Wellness provide dietary supplements to address symptoms like fatigue or a poor immune system.

Nutrients and a healthy diet

When we think about dieting, weight loss may come to mind first. But you might need to adjust your diet even if you’re already at a healthy weight. Or, your focus on weight loss may deplete your body of key vitamins and nutrients.

Without sufficient nutrients, your body suffers. The impacts on your health and wellness depend on the specific deficiencies you’re dealing with. For example, vitamin C deficiency leads to the disease scurvy, which causes old wounds to reopen and can result in tooth loss.

A healthy diet needs to include a variety of fresh foods, including fruits, vegetables, sources of healthy protein and fats, and nuts and legumes. It can be a real challenge to take in enough essential vitamins and minerals.

Accessing the nutrition you need

In areas like Alaska, which has a short growing season and expensive costs around imported foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, getting all of the nutrients you need poses extra challenges. 

Our long, dark winters also often lead to vitamin D deficiencies, impacting your mood, energy levels, and immune system strength.

In the summer months, you may be able to fulfill all of your nutritional needs with a healthy diet of varied fresh fruits and vegetables, lean sources of protein including fish, and plenty of nuts and leafy greens. You may only need dietary supplements in the offseason, when produce is harder to come by.

There’s also the question of how well your body manages to absorb nutrients from your food. Even if you’re eating a very healthy diet, you may not be fully benefiting from complete nutrition and could need dietary supplements.

The health benefits of dietary supplements

Dietary supplements put you in control of your nutrient levels. No matter the cause of a nutrient or vitamin deficiency, you benefit from directly addressing the issue with the right supplements. 

The supplements available to you through Alpenglow Pain & Wellness include vitamins, minerals, herbs, enzymes, and acids. You can take your supplements as liquids, powders, soft gels, or tablets.

Dr. Renk and Dr. Calor help their patients understand the nutritional elements they may be lacking, and they recommend the right supplements to restore full health. They may suggest dietary supplements if you:

• Suffer from fatigue or low energy levels
• Test as deficient in key vitamins or minerals
• Need to boost your immune system
• Are experiencing a medical condition that could benefit from improved nutrition

In addition to recommending supplements, Dr. Renk and Dr. Calor support you in adjusting your diet, so the foods you eat truly contribute to your health, wellness, mood, and energy levels.

To learn more about how dietary supplements could improve your health, contact Dr. Renk and Dr. Calor at Alpenglow Pain & Wellness today. Schedule your initial consultation online or over the phone.