Why food supplements?

Our daily diet not only has the task of satisfying our hunger, but also of supplying our body with a variety of vital nutrients. Some of these nutrients are so essential that our body cannot produce them on its own and is therefore dependent on external supply.

In theory, a balanced diet should cover all these important nutrients. But in practice, we often encounter obstacles that make it difficult for us to ensure optimal nutrition. Lack of time due to a hectic lifestyle, special dietary preferences such as a vegan lifestyle or other life circumstances can present us with challenges. Dietary supplements can serve as a helpful supplement here, but can never replace a varied and healthy diet.

It is important to understand that dietary supplements are useful when taken by the right people at the right time and in the right dosage. Individual advice from professionals is crucial here.

A healthy diet should take into account all the needs of our body and provide it with the necessary nutrients. Here we are thinking not only of vitamins, co-enzymes (derivatives of vitamins) and minerals, but also amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids and many other important elements. Since no single food provides all the necessary nutrients in sufficient quantities, variety is the key word.

Nutrition experts therefore repeatedly emphasize the importance of a balanced diet that not only includes a variety of foods, but also ensures that each meal consists of a mixture of nutrient-rich components. The goal is to reliably provide our bodies with everything they need at each meal. And while a balanced diet offers many benefits to our health, we face a number of challenges in our daily lives that make it difficult to achieve this goal.

Taste is key: The taste of food can be experienced directly, while the health benefits of a balanced diet are often abstract. As a result, many of us prefer sweet and unhealthy options and avoid nutrient-rich foods.

Lack of time: Freshly prepared meals are often more nutritious than convenience foods, but require more time and effort. Not everyone has the time or the inclination to spend hours in the kitchen every day.

Personal beliefs: Some people avoid certain foods for ethical or health reasons, such as vegans or vegetarians. This can lead to a deficiency of important nutrients, such as vitamin B12, which is mainly found in animal products.

In many cases, we eat outside or rely on others to cook for us. In families or partnerships, different tastes have to be taken into account, which can mean that we have limited choices.

As you can see - a balanced diet requires not only knowledge about food and its ingredients - but also many other aspects that can often only be partially influenced.

For this reason, even in Europe, where food from all over the world is available to us, certain nutrient deficiencies are widespread. For example, many people do not reach the recommended daily intake of vitamin D, fruits and vegetables.

What can dietary supplements do?

Food supplements can be a valuable support in achieving a balanced diet. They make it possible to specifically compensate for or prevent nutrient deficiencies. For this reason, the individual consultation on their own needs is crucial. Only in this way, the optimal mix of necessary nutritional supplements can be defined.

However, it is important to note that dietary supplements can support many important bodily functions, but they are not a substitute for a balanced and varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, they should always be considered only as a supplement to a healthy diet - never as a substitute.