by Dr. Andrew Lipton
Narberth Family Medicine
Receive the Nutrients Your Body Needs with Natural Supplements
- We tend to eat the same foods in our diet and therefore may not consume all the essential nutrients that a diet with a wide variety of foods should provide. Crops very often are deplete in minerals so vegetable and fruits grown in these soils may be mineral deplete.
- Antioxidants are our bodies main defense against inflammation and disease and help in preventing all diseases.
- Even if we eat fatty fish, most of us do not eat enough to provide the adequate levels of EPA and DHA to squelch the inflammation that promotes many chronic degenerative disease.
Our diet alone can not supply the necessary nutrients to perform optimally. I recommend a triad of supplementation for everyone to insure adequate nutrition, to include 1. Multivitamin and Mineral and 2. An additional potent antioxidant such as OPC 3 and Omega 3 fish oils.
Antioxidants
Our number one nutrient in the body is Oxygen. In fact many cells in the body start to die with as little as 4 minutes without oxygen. But… Oxygen is a double edged sword to our body… our most vital nutrient when metabolized, is the source of most of the cell damage associated with aging and inflammation and oxidation. Oxidation in our bodies is like rust on metal. Other oxidative sources in our environment besides oxygen include sunshine, radiation, and many common poisons in our food and water, and toxins in the air and our environment.
Common antioxidants include Vitamin A, C, E and Selenium. There are hundreds of different antioxidants found in our diets and nature, and many have been synthesized in the lab. No single antioxidant is found to be best, so a variety of antioxidants is recommended for optimal health. In the lab, antioxidants are rated by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity(ORAC). The higher the ORAC value the stronger the antioxidant value. Berries and cocoa are two very high ORAC foods. In general colorful fruits and vegetables have higher ORAC values.
Inflammation and Fish Oil
Inflammation in the body is modulated by fats in our diet This has affect on both the risk of developing heart disease( inflammation of the circulatory system) and in reducing the inflammation in or musculoskeletal system that we perceive as joint and muscle pain.
Fish oils, or omega 3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA are also known as essential fatty acids (EFAs), they must be consumed , our bodies can not make these fatty acids.
Overall benefits of EFA supplementation include:
- Promotes overall cardiovascular health:
- Maintains normal cholesterol levels
- Promotes healthy blood pressure levels
- Maintains normal blood flow
- Maintains normal triglyceride levels in the blood
- Maintains acceptable levels of C-reactive protein
- Promotes a healthy complexion
- May enhance mood
EFAs are important to every cell in the body and have additional benefits to the brain, cardiovascular system, and joints. Every cell in the body has a layer of fat around it and needs this layer to perform its normal cell functions. Our brains are made of 50% fat, normal brain function is dependent on consuming the correct fats.
Not all fish oils are equal and not all omega 3s have the same concentration of the therapeutic oils. The most important content of fish oils for the therapeutic value is the Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA).
For routine supplementation of EFAs I recommend at least 1 gram of EPA + DHA. For any inflammatory conditions I recommend a larger dose of 2-4 grams of EPA + DHA PER DAY. EPA is found in the diet by eating wild salmon (better than farm raised), mackerel, sardines and herring. DHA is found in a diet of fatty fish, eggs, red meats.
Start at a low dose and make sure your body tolerates consumption of the oil before increasing the dose. Higher doses of fish oils have been used for treating mood disorders.
To learn more about how natural supplements can improve and optimize your health, schedule an appointment through our online form.
Dr. Lipton has taken advanced training in OMT and is Board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of NeuroMusculoSkeletal Medicine.
Dr. Lipton completed his residency in Family Medicine at Suburban General Hospital, Norristown, Pennsylvania and is Board Certified in Family Medicine. Dr. Lipton was trained in Chelation Therapy by the American College for Advancement in Medicine, a group of physicians dedicated to being open to new alternatives in medicine. Dr. Lipton is also Board certified by the American Board of Chelation Therapy.