While the position we take at Stark is that the majority of an individual’s nutrition should come from eating food, the goal of getting everything one needs from food alone is an unattainable goal in this day and age, unfortunately.
Growing physiological demands due to increased stress, along with a widespread decrease in the quality of food from commercial farming practices has left us with the need to “supplement” our nutrition in order to provide our bodies with the nutrients they need.
That is why we suggest that EVERYONE take the following three supplements.***
***Before initiating use of these products, you should consult your doctor to ensure that you do not have any conflicting medical conditions. Also, it is recommended that you consult a medical professional to determine the correct dosages.
- Fish Oil
Fish oil is a dense source of Omega-3 fatty acids. This is important because the ratio of Omega-3s to Omega-6s is a significant health marker, with an excess of Omega-6s being associated with high levels of inflammation and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The ideal ratio of Omega-3s:Omega-6s is 1:1.
Seeing as how the “Standard American Diet” consumes an average of 10 grams of Omega-6s to every 1 gram of Omega-3s, it is reasonable that everyone can use a little bit of help getting to that ideal 1:1 ratio. And in our experience at Stark, every fatty acid index we’ve seen suggests that fish oil is beneficial to everyone. And it’s nearly impossible to eat enough sardines and mackerel to offset the need for fish oil!
- Vitamin D3/K2
There are WAY too many benefits of Vitamin D to list here. And the ways that a Vitamin D deficiency can negatively impact your health is an even longer list!
Vitamin D is involved in nearly every metabolic process. Here are just a few highlights: maintaining healthy bone density, regulating proper immune function, optimizing hormonal balance, absorbing nutrients, and many, many more!
The reason that it is suggested to take Vitamin D3, as opposed to other forms of Vitamin D is because D3 is more effective at raising blood levels of vitamin D
Additionally, we prefer a product with a specific ratio of Vitamin D3 to Vitamin K2, as the combination of the two helps ensure that calcium is deposited into the bones for healthy bone mass, preventing the occurrence of arterial calcification (aka cardiovascular risk!). That is why we specially formulated our own D3/K2 product with the exact ratios of each nutrient to ensure the most benefit.
- Vitamin B Complex
B vitamins are necessary for numerous functions in the body: hormones production, neurotransmitter production and clearance, red blood cells, regulation of DNA expression, and MUCH more! Also, the more active an individual is, the more B vitamins he/she will use.
Because there are so many different B vitamins, and they all occur in differing amounts in the foods we eat, a really good Vitamin B complex should be part of everyone’s supplement regimen.
One thing that is of particular importance is that you purchase a high-quality B complex. For each B vitamin, there are multiple forms, and some of them are more beneficial than others. In some cases, certain forms of B vitamins can be harmful! As a general rule for picking out a good B complex, just remember – you get what you pay for. Going with a cheap, low-quality source of B vitamins may wipe out any potential benefit you may have hoped to achieve in taking it in the first place.
Like all three of the products mentioned here, we have our own B complex that we recommend because we can know with certainty that it has the best forms of each B vitamin and in the right amounts.
Conclusion
The greatest impact will be made on a person’s health when the therapeutic support protocol (aka supplement recommendations) is tailored to the needs of that individual. That is why we create customized treatment plans for those we work with based off the extensive lab tests we run during the assessment process.
However, if you’re unable to work with a professional like the naturopathic doctors at Stark, these three supplements are a great place to start in making sure you’re doing all you can to be the “best version of YOU!”